Natural+Spellers+vs.+Non-Spellers

  Are you one of those people who is thoroughly befuddled by spelling? Or, perhaps, you have a child or student who just doesn't get it? //Well, pay attention! You are either a natural born speller or you're not!//

//If you are a natural speller, you don't need spelling workbooks, because you can just spell...and if you're not a natural speller, you don't need spelling workbooks, because they won't work!//

//**And here's something else that doesn't work for non-spellers: writing the words over and over again. Why? Because people who don't get spelling are not print/writing learners. If they were, they would be able to spell!**//

If you don't believe us take a poll of adults who are "poor spellers" and ask them if they had to write their words over and over again when they were in school...

By the way, we are talking about English here, because it is such a weird language. As you know, so many of our words don't make sense. That's because English is a mixture of lots of other languages. And it's also the reason we have spelling bees. For languages like Italian and Spanish, there are no such things as spelling bees, because all the sounds are consistent and there are no tricks. Does that mean that non-spellers should just give up? Well, not exactly. You see, if you work with learning styles you can learn skills in just about anything. So, here are some tips for those who are befuddled by spelling :

1. Realize that English words are really hard to spell because so many words don't make sense. Often, non-spellers think there is something wrong with them - there must be some code that they are not catching on to. The truth is, there isn't!

2. Accept that it's okay to be a rotten speller - it's not the end of the world. People who are not writing/print learners are usually hands-on or picture learners with incredible gifts in other areas.

3. Decide whether you would like to learn some spelling strategies that work for your learning style (or ask your children or students if they would be willing to learn some new strategies).

4. Try out the new strategies and see if they work. Or invent your own! Here is an example of a strategy for non-print learners:

Let's take the word "friend." It happens to have a letter that really doesn't belong - the //i//doesn't need to be there because it doesn't say anything, but for some weird reason it's there.

Now a print/writing learner has a natural ability to make some kind of trick to remember that //i//, files it somewhere in the brain, and knows the word from that moment on.

A non-print/writing learner needs to make a picture of some sort. You can use a 5x8 card, markers, or colored pencils.

Now, look at the letters. Chances are you always know the //f// and //r//, so write //fr// kind of small. If you always know the //nd// at the end - leave some space and write //nd// kind of small.

Now write a giant //I// in a different color, maybe put a face and stick arms and legs on it. The //e// could go with the //nd//, and you could say **I** am a friend to the **end**.

When non-spellers start using this strategy they find out that they are actually better spellers than they thought, because they begin identifying the letters in words that they always know for sure, and realize that usually there are only 1 or 2 letters that they need a trick for in order to spell the word correctly.

We hope these tips will transform spelling into a more relaxed and enjoyable activity for you, or an adult or child in your life.