Why is it important?
Keeping a spelling journal helps students build ownership of their learning. It promotes self-reflection, allowing them to notice patterns in their errors and focus on the words they struggle with most. Over time, it also becomes a record of progress, boosting confidence as they see how far they’ve come.
How to use a spelling journal
Set It Up: Choose a notebook or digital tool dedicated to spelling. Divide it into sections, such as “Tricky Words,” “Word Patterns,” and “Review Words.” You can also add space for drawings or mnemonics.
Daily or Weekly Updates: After lessons, the student writes down words they found challenging, including the word, its meaning, and an example sentence.
Use Colour and Imagery: Highlight tricky parts of words with different colours or draw images that remind the student of the word’s meaning or spelling. For example, they could draw a bee next to “believe” to reinforce the “bee-lieve” mnemonic.
Review: Dedicate a few minutes each week to review previous entries, practising the words in different contexts (e.g., writing sentences or doing quick quizzes).
Add Personal Challenges: Encourage the student to choose one word each week to “master,” ensuring they can spell, define, and use it confidently in a sentence by the end of the week.
Where to get one
Spelling journals can be purchased online or in stationery shops, but any notebook can serve the purpose with a bit of customisation. For digital learners, apps like Microsoft OneNote or Google Keep can be adapted into interactive spelling journals.