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How to Handle Spelling Rule Breakers

Learning how to spell words that don’t follow the rules can be … well boring. And we can’t have that!

In All About Spelling, we’ve labeled unruly words like said, who, and been as “Rule Breakers,” and we’ve created several motivating ways to make learning to spell these words a bit easier … and a lot more fun!

The word "been" is a spelling rule breaker since it doesn't follow typical spelling rules

When your student encounters a Rule Breaker in All About Spelling (or the real world!), just reach for one of these activities and let the fun begin!

Feed the Puppy - a spelling activity

Feed the Rule Breaker to the puppy!

When you encounter a word that breaks the rules, this adorable puppy is ready to help you deal with the misbehaving word! Download our Feed the Puppy activity.

Jail for Rule Breakers - a spelling activity

Throw the Rule Breaker in jail!

A short time out just might help control those Rule Breakers. Download our Jail for Rule Breakers activity.

Have an older student? Older kids like these treatments of unruly words just as much as younger ones do, so pick your favorite and see how those tricky words stick in their minds!

Two More Ways to Handle Rule Breakers

  1. Writing Intensive

    1. Look at the Word Card and then look at an empty spot on the table.

    2. Picture the word on the table and spell the word aloud three times.

    3. Using a finger, “write” the word on the table three times in VERY BIG LETTERS.

    4. Spell the word on paper three times.

    In the space of a minute or two, your student will have practiced the word nine times.

  2. Tactile Practice

    In this exercise, your student “writes” the Rule Breaker on a tactile surface, using his pointer finger instead of a pencil. Some surfaces to consider include:

    1. Sand in a shoe box lid

    2. A sheet of fine sandpaper

    3. “Feely” fabrics such as burlap, velvet, or corduroy

    4. Salt poured into a baking pan

    5. Plush carpet square

We treat Rule Breakers differently from other words to help kids learn them soon after they are introduced. Two effective ways to burn something into memory are frequency (repeated review) and intensity (different and surprising treatment), so keep these ideas in mind as you handle the Rule Breakers. Doing whatever it takes to enable your student to spell these words correctly right from the start will prevent problems later.

Most Words Do Follow the Rules

Thankfully, the vast majority of spelling words do follow consistent patterns. And when kids first start out, we are careful to work only with words that follow the rules. This helps kids internalize the fact that there are reliable rules and that they can make sense of spelling. They discover that they don’t need to resort to guessing or memorizing strings of letters.

So before introducing the first Rule Breakers, make sure your student can spell hundreds of “law-abiding” words. Then—and only then—begin teaching the unruly ones.

Which spelling words cause your student the most difficulty? Let me know in the comments, and then download my free e-book called “Six Ways We Make Spelling Easy” below!

Six Ways We Make Spelling Easy Report

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Jessica

says:

Yes, I’ve always told my kids that the rule breakers belong in jail. Haha! I love your direction of establishing the rule before the rule-breaker!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you, Jessica! And great point about learning the rule before the rule-breakers.

Nicole

says:

Thanks for these activities. My son is always requesting a game for his reading or speeling lesons!

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Nicole! I’m glad we have resources to help your son have his games!

Christina

says:

I forgot how much tactile spelling can help! Time to pull out the sandpaper and carpet squares again for these rule breaker and new rule words we keep missing.

Robin

says: Customer Service

I’m glad this was a good reminder for you, Christina! Working with tactile materials is a great way to solidify learning.

Amber

says:

Thanks for the tips

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Amber.

Tracy Buechler

says:

Thanks for the helpful info.

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Tracy. I’m glad it’s helpful.

Dana M.

says:

Thanks for the helpful tips!

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Dana!

Whitney Parkinson

says:

This is so helpful- I definitely see why teaching the rule following words first would be important!

Robin

says: Customer Service

I’m glad this was helpful, Whitney!

Andrea

says:

I’m not sure I ever learned spelling g rules as a kid, and have no confidence in my own spelling most times. I’m very excited to teach this to my children.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Andrea,
I hope you find All About Spelling increases your own confidence with spelling as you teach your children! I know it did for me!

Sarah

says:

I am so excited to start doing AAS with my kids! I personally have a hard time with spelling and any word that doesn’t follow the rules. I’m so relieved to find a program that teaches my children how to master spelling but in a fun and exciting way. I’m also excited to get to learn right along side my kids to improve my spelling as well!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Sarah,
I think you will be very pleased with All About Spelling. It uses explicit instruction, not leaving students to guess or figure it out on their own. It’s a wonderful approach for spelling mastery!

Ashley

says:

Thank you for the great curriculum and helpful activities your company creates!

Robin

says: Customer Service

You are so welcome, Ashley!

Elba J

says:

All About Spelling has been a game changer for my little one and to be honest even for myself. I came to the States when u was 19 years old. I went to college to learn English and most of my vocabulary was pure memorization. Teaching my daughter using this curriculum as well as All about Reading has helped me so much to understand the language better. So thankful for great resources like this.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Elba,
Thank you for sharing your story about learning English and how All About Spelling and All About Reading are helping you and your daughter! Wonderful!

Sara

says:

My kids love this dog! Cute activity!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you, Sara!

Gerry Pedersen

says:

Kids enjoyed level 1 looking forward to level 2.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Wonderful to hear, Gerry! Thank you.

Jackie W

says:

This make sit so fun and easier to remember.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Glad this is helpful, Jackie.

Thảo

says:

I am trying to know about all rules English spelling. Can you send me all rules English spelling, please?

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thảo,
We don’t have a single list of all the spelling rules outside of our All About Spelling program. However, here is a list of beginning rules to get you started.

Ashley Gilley

says:

I love these free resources! It’s helped so much.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Ashley,
Thank you for letting us know these resources are helpful! Great to hear!

Duane

says:

What a great way to teach spelling!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thanks, Duane!

Nyomi

says:

Really looking forward to starting this spelling program. My child really likes to understand the why of things.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Wonderful to hear, Nyomi! Let me know if you have questions about placement or anything else. I’m happy to help.

Alison

says:

This looks like it will help my struggling reader. Thanks!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Alison,
I’m glad this will help your reader! However, if you have questions or need more, please let me know. I’m happy to help!

Katie

says:

My son really appreciates learning the rules behind the rules!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Katie,
I think many of us enjoy learning about the whys behind the rules!

Mikayla

says:

I have been struggling to teach this to my kids in an effective way these look like just what i have been looking for and i cant wait!

Robin

says: Customer Service

I’m glad this will be helpful, Mikayla!

Jessica

says:

I’ve always struggled to help teach the why this happens, thank you for making it so simple

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Jessica. I’m glad this was helpful.

Megan

says:

Sounds like my learner would love this

Robin

says: Customer Service

Great to hear, Megan!

Edna Williams

says:

With my kids, I greatly appreciate this!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Glad it’s appreciated, Edna!

Mea

says:

With AAR and AAS my children are actually excited for their reading and spelling lessons each day.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Oh, so wonderful, Mea! I love that your children are excited for learning!

Emily

says:

I cannot wait to try this with my kids! They will have so much fun putting rule breakers in jail and time out!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Wonderful, Emily!

Samantha

says:

My kids like throwing words in jail

Robin

says: Customer Service

My kids did too, Samantha! Sometimes we even threw a word that was not a rule-breaker in jail if it was a tricky word for my child. We said it was in jail for disturbing the peace! The word helmet spent a LOT of time in jail for one of my kids.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you, Christine!

Gena Brown

says:

Thanks for the ideas!

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Gena!

Dailo

says:

Thank you so much.

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Dailo.