How does spelling relate to reading

Half of all English words can be spelled just on the basis of letter-sound correspondence. Another 36 percent can be spelled accurately except for one speech sound. Research indicates that learning to spell is a more complicated process than learning to read. It requires direct, explicit instruction just like reading. Knowing the spelling of a word makes the representation of it sturdy and accessible for fluent reading.

While children can memorize how to spell a few dozen words, they will eventually begin to struggle if they do not understand the relationship between the sounds phonemes and letters graphemes in words.

Words are not visually distinctive i. The knowledge about symbols, speech sounds, and meaning actually supports the memory of whole words and helps with reading.

So, in addition to continuing to learn the rules of spelling and orthography, students begin to develop a deeper understanding of the English language. The instruction can include:. This sort of word study enhances vocabulary development and facilitates word recognition and reading comprehension.

It enables students to look at any new word from the angles of sound, syntax, language of origin, and meaning. Reason 3: Students spend much less time spelling than they do reading.

Less practice time equals more difficulty. Since sounds can be spelled in many different ways, students need ample practice, along with dependable spelling rules and patterns. In any given week, much more time is spent on teaching reading than teaching spelling. Even worse, spelling has been dropped from the curriculum at many schools across the nation, leaving kids to their own devices.

That lack of practice—combined with the added complexity inherent in spelling—adds up to many struggling spellers. At All About Learning Press, we understand why spelling is more difficult to learn than reading, and we have dozens of research-based strategies to help your student shine in spelling! Search Enter Search Terms Here Help me with a short demonstration. Before continuing, take out a pen.

Try spelling these three words. Click to hear the word pronounced: Click to see the correct spelling Word 2: Write down the word that refers to the thick spread that we often put on sandwiches or in salads. Click to hear the word pronounced: Click to see the correct spelling Word 3: Write down the word that refers to a black solid shape of a person or object.

Click to hear the word pronounced: Click to see the correct spelling How did you do? Spelling is more difficult than reading for three reasons: Reason 1: Reading involves recognizing words, while spelling involves reproducing words. And this point leads us to… Reason 3: Students spend much less time spelling than they do reading. The contribution of vocabulary knowledge and spelling to the reading comprehension of adolescents who are and are not English language learners. Reading and Writing, 29 , — Ehri, L.

Spellings of words: A neglected facilitator of vocabulary learning. Literacy development and enhancement across orthographies and cultures pp.