In a World of Spellcheck, Why Spelling Matters

Before we discuss this LOL, auto- and spell-correcting world we live in, there is one thing we want to be sure you take away from this post:

There is no question that spelling matters to early learners. Learning the foundational elements of the language they will use for the rest of their lives is essential.

Whether from a book or on a phone, or from a magazine or on whatever new technology is to come, reading will always be integral to our lives. Although reading and spelling are different disciplines, considerable, consistent research clearly indicates that explicit and incremental spelling instruction is crucial for early learners to become proficient readers.

For more information about the similarities and differences between reading and spelling, visit our What’s the Difference Between AAR & AAS? blog post.

“But … Spellcheck!”

It’s usually when our early learners reach that peer pressure–filled elementary school age that the “Why do I have to learn spelling when there’s …” challenges begin.

If you have a preteen or older homeschooled student – or if perhaps you’ve wondered if battling with your teen over spelling is worth it – this article is for you.

Many articles have already been written about how spellcheck isn’t perfect and how over-reliance or dependence on these tools is having negative effects on long-term spelling ability. There are articles about spellcheck and autocorrect often having difficulty with homophones (for example, dear and deer) and plenty of stories about potential jobs lost because of spelling errors in resumes or in emails to bosses. All these points are true, but what really matters is the following:

Why Spelling Matters

Spelling instruction may seem “old school” to young learners, but science-driven research, combined with recent discoveries uncovering how our brains work, has shown that “old school” taught with new multisensory methods is best for mastering spelling and reading.

This generation of students has amazing new technologies at their disposal that facilitate everyday life. Spellcheck, autocorrect, grammar apps, and audio pronunciations are useful tools that can help us in many ways – and who knows what AI will bring?

The bottom line is this: there is no substitute or shortcut for learning how to spell and read proficiently. For learning to last a lifetime, it takes incremental instruction taught explicitly using multisensory teaching methods. Add in as much practice and review as required until mastery, and you have the bear ingredients needed to be a successful speller and reader for life.

(… “Bear” ingredients?!!! It was supposed to be “bare” ingredients! Arghh! Spellcheck fails again!)

To learn more about how we help you teach reading and spelling to your homeschooled or tutored student – and for free teaching tips and activities – please visit the links below:

• 7 Ways to Make Spelling Logical
• 20 Best Tips for Teaching Reading and Spelling
• Why We Teach Reading and Spelling Separately