How they help
Supports Struggling Spellers: Provides immediate corrections, building confidence and reducing frustration.
Encourages Independence: Students can produce polished work without needing constant teacher input.
Teaches Spelling Rules: Tools like Grammarly offer explanations that reinforce spelling patterns and rules.
Saves Time: Streamlines written work, enabling students to focus on content over mechanics.
Clicker is a child-friendly word processor designed for primary school students. It features a talking spell checker, word prediction, and realistic speech feedback, making it particularly helpful for younger learners.
Best for
Supporting primary students with diverse literacy needs, including those with dyslexia or emerging writing skills.
Ages 7-11
Pros
Provides visual and auditory feedback to reinforce spelling.
Includes Clicker Grids for scaffolded writing, helping students form sentences and phrases.
Encourages independent writing with talking books and word banks.
Cons
Requires a subscription.
Limited to younger age groups and not suitable for secondary students.
Built-in spell checkers
Integrated into tools like Google Docs and Microsoft Word, these spell-checkers underline errors and suggest corrections in real time.
Best for
Supporting primary students with diverse literacy needs, including those with dyslexia or emerging writing skills.
Ages 7-11
Pros
Free and widely accessible.
Easy to use for students with basic computer literacy
Cons
Lacks detailed explanations of errors.
Limited functionality compared to specialised tools.
Grammarly provides advanced spelling and grammar corrections with detailed explanations, helping students improve their writing skills.
Best for
Students working on essays, reports, or creative writing tasks.
Ages 11-16
Pros
Encourages self-correction by explaining mistakes.
Works across multiple platforms and devices.
Useful for more complex writing tasks
Cons
Requires internet access.
Advanced features need a paid subscription.
Tips for implementation
Start with the Basics: Introduce younger students to Clicker or built-in spell-checkers for foundational support.
Monitor Use: Ensure students use these tools as learning aids, not as a replacement for developing spelling skills.
Promote Proofreading: Teach students to review their corrected work to reinforce learning and identify patterns in their mistakes.
What to Watch Out For
Accuracy Limitations: Some tools may miss context-specific errors, so review final drafts together.
Grammar Suggestions: Advanced tools may offer grammar corrections that distract from spelling-focused tasks.
Technology Dependence: Ensure students still practise traditional spelling strategies to maintain well-rounded skills.