Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I correct spelling errors?

Answer

Sound Errors - Step 2
  • During Step 2 - Spell Sounds, check the students' answers for each sound.
  • As soon as you see an error, stop dictating sounds. Don’t say, “I see a mistake,” or call out the student who makes the error.
  • Write the incorrect spelling on paper or a whiteboard and show it to your students. For example, if you asked for the spelling of the /er/ sound, but a student wrote "r," you would say, “I see an "r,", which makes the sound /r/. I wanted the /er/ sound.”
  • Cross out the incorrect spelling (in this case, "r") and have everyone say the correct sound (in this example, /er/).
  • If teaching multiple students, ask a student who got it correct what they wrote. If only teaching one student or no student got the sound correct, ask what makes the /er/ sound.
  • Once the correct answer is given, cross out the incorrect spelling and write the correct one (in this example, "er").
  • Tell the students that if they made a mistake, they should cross it out and write the correct spelling. Now all students should write and say the sound again two more times.
Word Errors - Step 4
  • During Step 4 - Spell Words, check the students' answers for each word.
  • As soon as you see an error, stop dictating words. Don't say "I see a mistake," or call out the student who made the error.
  • Write the incorrectly spelled word and display it to the students. For example, if a student wrote cloun instead of clown, say: "This is cloun."
  • Ask the students to say the correct word. (In this example, clown.)
  • Have the students Touch Spell the word.
  • When you get to the sound that was written incorrectly, have your students stop and grab that finger. Ask them, “What sound did you hear?” Don’t give them the answer.
  • Once a student says the correct sound (in this example, /ow/), ask what letter or letters make that sound. As soon as you get the right answer, write the correct word and show it to the students. 
  • Tell the students if they made a mistake, cross it out and write the correct spelling of the word (in this example, clown).
  • Have everybody write and say it again two more times.