November 22nd, 2009 
Beginning in the very early grades of school, many teachers allow and even encourage students to use inventive ways of spelling. Through this method, children spell words phonemically how they sound rather than by the true spelling.
When this tactic first began, it worried many. It became a fear that children would never use the correct spelling of certain words. However, it was determined that this method was appropriate at certain developmental stages of a child’s life. Yet the question soon arose, when and is it important to teach a child to spell correctly?
The answer is most definitely yes. While it is acceptable in correlation with a child’s development to use inventive or phonemic spelling in kindergarten and even into first grade and beyond with unfamiliar words or spelling strategies, as the student progresses so should the method of spelling.
However, the way that child learns to spell correctly may be somewhat different now from in the past. At one point in time, children learned to spell simply through memorization and repetitive spelling of words. However, now children are learning more about the rules and why words are spelled a certain way. Learning by this method allows students to carry over what they know into numerous words than simply learning to spell only one.
While there are children and adults that get through life depending on spell checkers and dictionaries, it is very important that teachers continue to teach spelling to children. When a person writes, the first thing that readers notice is the spelling and grammar. Using spelling and grammar carries over into future years.
Children will write papers as they grow older. In their adulthood, they will send letters of importance to friends, family, potential employers, and coworkers. The way that a person spells greatly reflects the first impression that others gain from their writing. This impression typically carries over to form an impression of the person’s intelligence.
When teaching children to spell, it is important to make note that spell checking through technology is not always accurate in finding grammar mistakes as well. Children should learn to depend on their own spelling skills rather than those of a computer. Computers do not check that the word is the correct spelling in that particular case, just that it is the correct spelling of a word.
In order to get a good start, begin by teaching children to spell words that are most commonly used in writing. Focus on words that are most likely to be misused or misspelled in text. If inventive spelling is still allowed, the correct spelling should be used once the word has been introduced to the class. Circle these words and have the student correct the spelling mistake.
There are many opportunities in life that being a good speller is important. Good spellers often scan through letters, emails, and memos and immediately notice the incorrect grammar and spelling of others. Once the eye and mind have been trained to spell, they automatically begin to detect mistakes.
When someone is a poor speller, they are perceived to be less intelligent than others. This can be especially difficult in the business world of email and written correspondence. If you can’t spell correctly, it is difficult to make a good impression.
A good speller can often use larger and more descriptive words that make their writing sound more interesting and intelligent. In fact, being a good speller will benefit a child much longer in his or her life than simply making the grade on a spelling test.
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