Spelling Development

5 Year Old Continues to be largely prephonemic or early phonemic - initial consonants begin to appear as representing words and are sometimes strung together in sentences as ISTBFL (I see the butterfly)

6 Year Old Letter naming (I lik to et candee -- I like to eat candy) and "transitional" spelling (My frends ride bickes) predominate at this age; growing sense of phonetic clues is emerging and should be taught extensively

7 Year Old Correct spelling slowly emerges from transitional with increased phonetic and sight word fluency; a formal spelling program appropriately begins; "invented" spelling should still be accepted because revision is still not seen as necessary or important; capitalization and punctuation easily taught

8 Year Old Correct spelling improves; compound words taught; use of dictionary, alphabetical order; phonetic mistake patterns more noticeable and students with real difficulty in spelling easier to spot; practice with capitalization and punctuation continues

9 Year Old Use of dictionary improves as does first draft spelling; functional spelling as in journals, other subject writing shows increasingly fewer mistakes; weekly testing appropriate; basic capitalization and punctuation usually mastered

10 Year Old Enjoy memorizing spelling lists and are challenged positively by difficult words; ability to do well on tests and to spell well functionally do not always coincide

11 Year Old Accurate or difficult depending on child; most enjoy challenge or difficult words; dictionary skills emphasized

12 Year Old Functional for most; use of "spell checks" for those severely challenged as well as other computer interventions

"Yardsticks; Children in the Classroom Ages 4-14" by Chip Wood