When your child is struggling with spelling
6 min read · updated 2026-09-15
Spelling stress shows up in tears over homework and avoided writing. Random lists rarely fix it — patterns and decoding do.
First checks
Can they hear sounds in words (phonemic awareness)? Do they know common grapheme-phoneme links? Is handwriting so slow that working memory collapses mid-word? Each cause needs a different fix.
Home habits that help
- ✓ Teach word patterns (e.g. -tion, split digraphs), not only weekly lists
- ✓ Keep practice short and daily
- ✓ Praise risk-taking in drafting; edit spelling afterward
- ✓ Read aloud together so print patterns become familiar
When to bring in a tutor
If school interventions have not moved spelling after a term, or writing avoidance is spreading to every subject, a specialist English tutor can run a structured programme online.
FAQs
Could it be dyslexia?＋
Persistent spelling and decoding difficulties deserve a conversation with the school SENCO. Tutoring can still help while assessments are explored.
Do spelling apps replace tutoring?＋
Apps help practice; tutors diagnose which patterns are missing and adapt weekly.
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