Learn How To Spell With Online Tutorials

By Author: Leola Hardin
Total Articles: 37
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One of the earliest things a child learns at school is how to spell and how to count. Counting is something which once learnt remains with you forever, whereas learning to spell is a continuous process as every word is spelt differently. It is every parent's desire to have their child acquires a sophisticated and advanced capacity for spelling and vocabulary.

Throughout all stages of education, from primary to secondary school and onto higher studies at university, college or postgraduate level, a child is expected to learn new words. A comprehensive grasp of spelling is an essential skill for all pedagogic levels and contexts, and there are many ways you can assist your child to reach his or her highest spelling capacity. One option is accessing an online spelling tutorial for this purpose. These websites generally feature accessible and practical lessons that are designed to create genuine interest, facilitating enjoyable and effortless spelling acquisition whilst simultaneously increasing the recipient's vocabulary capabilities.

Identify Confusing Words and Learn To Spell Right

The English language ...
... is renowned for its irregular, inconsistent and thus confusing ways of spelling. For instance, there are many ways to pronounce the same set of letters. 'Put' is pronounced differently from 'but' or 'hut.' There are several words featuring the letter combination 'ough' and all are pronounced differently: though, through, thought, cough, trough, bough, bought and so forth. Conversely, several different letter combinations or patternings exhibit the same phonology: 'sh' is pronounced the same as 'ti' in 'should' and 'promotion,' for example. It is these myriad irregularities that are embedded and inherent in the English language that present an ongoing challenge in any learning environment, and particularly when a young child is striving for a strong grasp on spelling.

Various pedagogic methodologies have been specifically developed to address and overcome these challenges. The first step to in the quest for flawless spelling is to identify the problem words and devise some strategies to facilitate memorization of these words. The spelling tutorials featured on these websites will assist you and your child to develop an understanding of the idiosyncrasy or specificity of each word, and thus to learn how to ensure correct spelling in each case. Certain strategies will be deployed concomitantly, to facilitate correct pronunciation. For example, children need to develop an understanding of words with silent consonants, vowels or both. It is only through a systematic deconstruction of these words and their components that the child can learn the correct pronunciation and spelling, and comprehend and reconcile the seeming contradictions between the two aspects of the word.

Some Basic Rules to Memorize Spellings

* These 'how to spell' websites feature specially formulated methodologies and strategies to assist you to develop creative memory aids for correct spelling. The following are fundamental principles in the acquisition of flawless spelling.
* The first rule is to memorize the words in the old fashioned way. In other words, one aspires towards 'imprinting' the words in your long-term memory. Certain exercises are relevant to this mode of spelling acquisition - games such as hangman, for example, reinforce the 'imprint' method by localizing or focusing on specific words.
* The second rule is to apply oneself to close study of difficult words. By virtue of repetition, the specific words will become imprinted in your memory. When you study the same words again and again, your brain receives the signal and stores it in permanent memory. This is a basic axiom of language acquisition in early childhood development, and can be equally applied at all stages of learning.
* Another methodology is that which is known as kinesthetic learning, which entails memorizing words by associating them with a series of movements. For example, you can trace out the letters of the words you are spelling on your hand. Movement of the hands and the sensory experience creates a synergistic effect which assists in remembering the words.
* The easiest and most efficacious mode of spelling acquisition, however, is to foster a habit of regular reading. The subject matter is largely immaterial, as it is the practice and act of reading which is of paramount importance. Read everything that comes in your hands. You can read a newspaper, magazines, story books, novels, and non-fiction books. This not only increases literacy and vocabulary with little conscious effort, but it also subconsciously reinforces the storing of 'difficult' spelling configurations in one's memory.

For adults and children alike, the acquisition of flawless spelling of new words will always present a challenge. By availing oneself of the how to spell websites and other online resources, the spelling of these words is demystified and replaced with pragmatic and applicable methodologies for spelling acquisition. Proficiency and fluency in any language is founded upon a solid capacity for good spelling and a strong grasp of vocabulary and semantics, so spelling will always be of the utmost importance to ensure a polished, confident and capable manner.
There are many websites which offer tried and tested pedagogic methodologies to assist in learning how to spell different and difficult words. Online spelling tutorials are an excellent and effective way to understand the rules behind spelling and memorizing words.