How to Keep Spelling Lessons Motivating

Motivation for Spelling Any daily activity—whether it’s washing the dishes, walking the dog, or working on spelling lessons—has the potential to become a bit repetitive after a while, which is why the ability to keep your children motivated and open to learning is an important part of being a master teacher. A happy, nurturing environment is essential to a pleasant educational experience, because if your children are frustrated and dragging their feet, no one is learning… and no one is happy! Thankfully, there are several things you can do to encourage an upbeat and motivating atmosphere for spelling lessons—and you can start today!

Set up your child for success.

Don’t even think about sitting down for a spelling lesson if your child is cranky, hungry, or has lots of pent-up energy! Go for a brisk walk around the block or send the kids out to the backyard for a 10-minute recess. Have a high-protein snack to keep the brain energy up, and get the good endorphins working in your child’s favor! By starting your lessons on the right foot, your child will be more receptive to learning—and enjoying!—the new material.

Work at your child’s level.

It’s important to select the appropriate level of spelling instruction for your child. If you start at a level that is above your child’s head, he’ll start out feeling as if he’s already behind, which can promote feelings of inadequacy and stress caused by your child’s inability to perform up to the level expected. Try to avoid focusing on grade level—in fact, let go of grade levels. If your child needs to learn the rules for adding Silent E, go back to that lesson, no matter what “grade” he’s in.

Correct mistakes in a helpful, instructive way.

Tailor your responses to the type of spelling mistake. For example, if your child misspells a word that you feel he should have been able to spell, ask him to self-check his spelling to see if he can spot the mistake on his own. If the mistake is related to your child’s pronunciation of the word, remind your child to “pronounce for spelling.” You can also review any spelling rules that are applicable to the situation. Encourage your child to practice the misspelled word by spelling it with letter tiles and then writing it on paper.

Use charts to show progress.

It’s motivating to see where you’ve been and how much progress you and your child have made together. Take the time to track your advancement on the progress chart and celebrate each accomplishment accordingly. Make cupcakes, go to the beach, or visit Grandma—small celebrations can commemorate the occasion and provide incentive and excitement for future lessons.

Avoid negative comments.

As motivating as the progress chart can be, you can just as quickly put a damper on your child’s enthusiasm by making negative comments during lesson time. Take steps to minimize negativity, and avoid expressing your own frustration or impatience with your child. Stay away from phrases such as:

“You’re not trying."
“I’ve already taught this to you!"
“I don’t think you’ll ever get this!”
“Just concentrate.”

These types of negative comments are never effective. No child ever thinks to himself, “Oh, you’re right. I will improve my concentration right now.” Instead, these phrases build frustration and resentment toward spelling, and part of your child’s brain shuts down. Give a hug, take a break, and come back to the lesson later, when both of you are ready to approach the lesson with a fresh perspective and your customary enthusiasm.

Point out the positive.

A friendly, supportive teacher draws frequent attention to a child’s achievements, and doesn’t become bogged down in the process of perpetually pointing out the child’s shortcomings or mistakes. Make it a point to regularly praise your child’s good work and progress, which will build your child’s confidence and encourage him to strive for further success. During your spelling lessons, include positive phrases such as:

“Very good! You are a quick learner!”
“You remembered that from yesterday—great!”
“Way to go!"
“Excellent—you did so well!”
“You are doing great!”

Encouraging words have a positive impact on children, so don’t withhold this verbal affirmation of your approval.

The method with which you approach spelling lessons can have a huge affect on your child’s motivation. When you use the All About Spelling program, tips for building motivation are built right into the lesson plans—making it easy to stay on track, stay motivated, and stay enthused about spelling!