Phonics is important for beginning spellers. The first two levels of Spelling You See reinforce the basic phonics that children have been learning in reading instruction. However, research has shown that focusing on phonics rules after the Phonetic Stage of spelling ultimately does not help children learn to spell.

Children need to develop a strong visual memory for how common words are spelled. This occurs in the Skill Development stage, which typically lasts for several years. By the time students arrive at the Word Extension and Derivational Constancy levels, they already will have a strong sense of how English spelling works and will be ready to focus on more advanced word study, including English spelling patterns that some might describe as “rules.” Learn more about the Five Developmental Stages of Spelling.

Yes! Here are some tips to help you use Spelling You See with an older student.

1. Use the Readiness Guidelines rather than age or grade to determine placement.

2. Explain to your student that he should expect the reading level to be easy so that the focus is on spelling, not reading.

3. If the placement guidelines suggest Wild Tales, but that level appears to be too young for your student, consider beginning with Americana. Be particularly careful to read each passage aloud before having the student read it back to you.

4. Although the passages are purposely easy to read, the content of Americana through Modern Milestones is designed to be interesting for all ages.

5. The progression of skills between and throughout the levels is gradual, so be flexible in choosing a student’s starting point.

6. If your student finds Modern Milestones difficult, she is probably not ready for the Word Extension stage. Try starting at American Spirit or Ancient Achievements instead.

7. An older student who is brushing up on spelling skills may be able to shorten a lesson by omitting a copywork or dictation page. The parent should monitor progress closely to make sure this is appropriate.