How Can I Help a 14-Year-Old With Spelling?

Teenagers can begin to get frustrated if they have difficulty spelling. They typically know letters, sounds and common spelling patterns. However, mastering irregular words and unusual patterns can be difficult. Visual exercises can help teens master spellings of words that are difficult for them. Concentrating on learning how to spell just a few words at a time that are similar in structure can also boost their confidence and spelling skills.

  1. Small Study Sessions

    • Staring at spelling words for an hour can be frustrating and tiring. Instead, have your teen study just 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Frequent review in short bursts can help your teen remember how to spell more words than studying all the words at one time, according to the Child Development Institute. After he masters a few words or a particular spelling pattern, have your teen review old words when he moves on to another group.

    Separate the Parts

    • Teach your 14-year-old to break up words individually to learn how to spell them. Tell her to identify how many syllables a word has and to write down the syllables as she says them. She can also separate a word into a prefix, base word and suffix to learn how to spell individual pieces. This can also help her identify meanings of words and spelling patterns as she learns what the affixes mean, the website Math and Reading Help suggests.

    Look for Patterns

    • Split groups of words into categories. For example, have your teen study all the words that have a certain number of letters or a certain spelling pattern like ̶0;tr̶1; blends at the beginning of the word one day and another group the next. This helps your teen identify similarities and differences and make connections between words.

      You might also create a list of words that have similarities in pronunciation, definition, origin and part of speech. Have your teen compare the words to create his own ideas about which patterns are evident. Another option is to create word sorts that encourage your teen to put individual words into groups based on their spelling patterns or word features, suggests Education.com. Write down several words similar to the ones your teen is trying to spell on pieces of paper or index cards. Then have her put the words into groups based on their similarities.

    Develop Visual Memory

    • Developing visual memory can help your 14-year-old remember how to spell words, according to the Child Development Institute. Help your teen remember the shape of a spelling word by drawing a black line ̵1; straight, not curved ̵1; around it. Then he can color it in. Another idea is to have your teen say the word with proper pronunciation, spell the word out loud while he looks at it, and then try to spell it without looking as he writes the word in the air or on the table with his finger. Post different lists of words around the house, highlighting in color the letters that give him trouble. Write a word down correctly; then write a few misspellings around it. Have your teen circle which one is correct.

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