Learning path · Spelling

One word. A closer look. Another try.

Say a word you understand, notice how its sounds are written, and try it with the model covered. Checking is part of practice, not a penalty.

Open Spelling Bee Try the paper routine

Before you begin

Pick a word that fits the learner

Start with a familiar spoken word and some letter–sound correspondences the learner has met. Ask what the word means and use it in a sentence. If that is hard, explain the meaning before asking for its spelling.

Choose two or three words with one useful feature, rather than a long list of unrelated difficult words. Use the phonics or spelling sequence taught in class where possible; a tool's level label is not an age test.

Worked example

Worked example: “ship” has four letters, not four sounds

The letters s and h work together as one sound, so “ship” has four letters but three sounds.

Say and notice

Say “The ship sailed away.” Say ship slowly: sh · i · p. In this word, the letters sh work together to represent one sound.

Write sh | i | p in three spaces. Count the four letters, then the three sounds. Do not add an extra spoken vowel after each consonant.

Cover, write and check

Look closely at ship, cover it, and write it from memory. Uncover the model and compare one part at a time. If “sip” was written, point to sh and say its sound together.

Try again once, then use the word in a sentence. Later, compare shop: the middle vowel changed, but sh stayed together.

Not every English spelling can be worked out from a simple sound-by-sound rule. For a word such as “said”, notice the unexpected ai spelling as well as the parts that are familiar. Pronunciations can vary.

Practice plan

An untimed routine for screen or paper

  1. Choose: pick two or three familiar words, perhaps from a book or a classroom list. Discuss one spelling feature.
  2. Model: an adult says the word and a sentence, or use the “Hear the Word” control in Spelling Bee. Replay if needed; it is not a listening-speed test.
  3. Try: type or write a spelling without the model visible. Say the sounds, use letter tiles or sketch the word's parts if helpful.
  4. Compare: look at the correct spelling together. Notice a part that was right and one part to revisit, then cover and try that word once more.
  5. Pause: leave the screen and look for one of the words in a book, label or handwritten sentence.

A short session of around five minutes is a suggestion, not a rule. You can stop after one word; there is no need to extend a streak or move to a harder level.

About the tool

Know what the tool can and cannot do

Check sound first

Spelling Bee uses the browser's built-in speech voice. Check the volume and listen to a sample before handing over the device. Voice availability and pronunciation depend on the browser and device; no microphone recording is needed.

A quiet alternative

If speech is unavailable or sound is not appropriate, use the paper routine above with an adult reading aloud. The current Spelling Bee tool requires browser speech support; it is not a silent word-list editor.

Keep personal details out

Practise the requested word, not names, addresses or other personal information. No account is needed. Our worksheet generator currently covers clocks and maths, not custom spelling lists. For thoughts on keeping screen practice short and useful, see screen time that actually helps.

Choose a spelling level Find parent & classroom guidance

Clock Master and Math Tank are time and maths games, not spelling courses. For a different subject, choose the telling-time path or times-tables path, then follow its game links.