You should see spelling training as mandatory basic training if you see yourself making silly spelling mistakes while writing or typing. 

So, when should you feel that you need spelling training? There are some clear indicators.

For example, the first and most prominent indicator is making the same mistake over and over again.

Do you misspell common words like weird, video, or friends?

These two are some of the most commonly misspelled words in the English language. The issue is some of us can't even figure out the correct spelling in the first place.

First of all, I want to remind you that you are not the only one – everyone makes spelling mistakes, even an English literature scholar!

So, instead of getting upset and blaming yourself, you should take part in rigorous spelling training sessions.

But from where should you start? What kind of strategy should you follow?

Hold your horses; I might just have the perfect solutions!

 

Getting to the Root – Why Do We Make Spelling Mistakes So Often?

Do you often feel frustrated because of making so many and frequent spelling mistakes?

Maybe, the problem isn't with; maybe, the problem lies within the English language!

English is NOT an ancient language. If you look at the age of the languages in our world, English is a middle-aged language.

So, this English language has many roots, and an abundance of words of this language comes from a number of other older languages.

About 60% of the English words come from old German and French language. Moreover, about 30% of the words have Latin roots.

Many other languages also played a big part in polishing the modern English language. 

That’s why you see so many English words having “patterns.”

For example, words like kindergarten, doppelganger, iceberg, uber are borrowed from the German language. 

Similarly, words like villa, picture, is, have, later, herb, island, etc. have Latin roots.

Having so many different word patterns coming from different other languages makes us very confused about the spelling of the words.

 

Don’t Blame Yourself – These Words Are Confusing!

Sometimes we feel very, very angry, seeing some words in the English language.

Let me make myself a bit clear.

Take a look at these words – bought, brought, fought, sought, drought.

Do you see any pattern?

Yes, they all look and sound very similar.

Now, look at these words – caught, taught, naught.

This is where things get confusing and interesting. These words also have Germanic roots. They even sound similar to the words in the first batch.

However, as you can see, there is a small yet significant difference.

The first batch has – ought as the suffix while the second batch has – aught as the suffix.

As you can imagine, these are some of the most commonly misspelled words in the English language.

Just like this example, there are a lot of confusing word patterns that just seem to contradict each other.

So, don’t blame yourself!

 

From Where Should You Start?

A lot of us can't begin a robust spelling training session because we don't know where to begin.

Should you get a good dictionary and start cramming the words from the beginning?

No, definitely no!

Not only it would be a hectic task, but also it will not be a sustainable solution. You need to follow a rule that will have a long-term impact on your spelling skills.

That’s why your spelling training has to be intuitive.

Before you start anything, you need to understand your capability and your current situation. The more data you can collect about yourself, the better.

Here’s a smart solution that you can follow!

 

Start with The Vocabulary Test

Your spelling training should begin with a vocabulary test. How many words do you know?

So, how can you know that?

Just head to the English vocabulary test from SpellQuiz.

 

The test will begin after you press the “Start” Button.

It starts from the beginning – the grade 1 test.

Once you click the "Play" button, you will hear a sentence that a first grader should be able to type flawlessly.

The tools will repeat each sentence twice, first at a normal pace, then, at a reduced pace.

Your task will be to type it down flawlessly.

Remember, you will have to correct the capitalization and the punctuation marks too.

After that, click the “Check” button.

Then, you can check your progress through a few parameters –

• Your progress percentage
• Time elapsed
• Smart Score
• Mastered words

You will have to follow this procedure until the tool figures out your current vocabulary level.

Each time, you will be given a slightly complicated sentence.

Finally, the tool will assign your vocabulary skills to a certain level. The tool tries to find two things –

• Equivalent grade level
• Approximate word collection

Upon getting the results, you will have a close idea about your current status.

Now, it's time for you to take part in the spelling training sessions!

 

Start with the Sight Words List

Are you familiar with sight words?

Sight words are the most common words (around 1,000 words) in the English written language. Experts suggest that about 75% of the written words you see in the children’s books and magazines comprise of the sight words or you can try checking this sight words list.

That means these are the basic words that you should be practicing first.

Everybody misspells complicated words. But only a few misspell the sight words.

In our website, SpellQuiz, you will find three types of sight words –

• Dolch Sight Words
• Fry Sight Words
• Modern Sight words

Then, these categories are divided into smaller segments. Like this –

Dolch Sight Words

1. Pre-Kindergarten Dolch Sight Words
2. Kindergarten Dolch Sight Words
3. First Grade Dolch Sight Words
4. Second Grade Dolch Sight Words
5. Third Grade Dolch Sight Words
6. Noun Sight Dolch Words

Fry Sight Words

1. 1st 100 Fry Sight Words
2. 2nd 100 Fry Sight Words
3. 3rd 100 Fry Sight Words
4. 4th 100 Fry Sight Words
5. 5th 100 Fry Sight Words
6. 6th 100 Fry Sight Words
7. 7th 100 Fry Sight Words
8. 8th 100 Fry Sight Words
9. 9th 100 Fry Sight Words
10. 10th 100 Fry Sight Words

Modern Sight Words

1. First 50 Words of Top 150 Sight Words
2. Second 50 Words of Top 150 Sight Words
3. Third 50 Words of Top 150 Sight Words

 

You can check the sight words by clicking each button. You can go through all these sight words.

I know, memorizing all the spelling of sight words can be tough a challenge. That's why I would suggest you download the printable copies of these lists.

The printed copies will bolster your offline practice sessions.

After all, you can't do everything online.

Some Japanese educational practices suggest that practicing anything with pen and paper helps your brain to understand or memorize things better.  

 

Let’s Learn the Sight Words in the SpellQuiz Way

All the practice sessions and spelling training modules are designed with an expert team of linguistic experts.

They suggest that dictation is the best form of practicing spelling. And, SpellQuiz has a large collection of dictation examples. 

So, why don’t you practice the sight words with the help of dictation?

To do so, you need to head to the spelling tab.

Here, you can see a button called sight words. It will lead you to the list of the Fry Sight words.

Are you looking for other lists like the Dolch list or the modern sight words list? Don't worry; the Fry Sight words list comprise of the other words too.

There are four sight words lessons –

• 100 Fry Sight Words Lesson
• 200 Fry Sight Words Lesson
• 300 Fry Sight Words Lesson
• 400 Fry Sight Words Lesson

So, you can learn all of the 1,000 words in the Fry sight words using a dictation-based learning system.

Just the vocabulary testing panel, you will have helpful tools like Smart Score, time counter, mastered words, etc. here in this section.

So, that’s how you can sharpen your skills of sight words.

Before you continue to other spelling training sessions, I urge you to master this level first.

 

Understanding the Spelling Section of SpellQuiz

Okay, now the ground is all set!

You are ready to participate in the main training segment.

Before we begin, let me give you an idea about the Spelling section of SpellQuiz. There are thirteen stages (excluding the sight words).

Each grade constitutes of three categories of sessions –

• Basic Spelling Exercise
• Basic Spelling Lesson
• Advanced Spelling Bee

Not all the grades have the same number of such practice sessions.

For example, grade 1 to 12 has five spelling exercises, five spelling lessons, and six spelling bee sessions. On the other hand, grade 11 has five spelling exercises, five spelling lessons, but five spelling bee sessions.

The adult section constitutes of only five spelling exercises.

The advanced tools of the SpellQuiz show you the percentage of completed or mastered words in each session.

Okay, enough about the platform. Let me get to the main point!

From where should you begin?

 

Let’s Begin the Actual Spelling Training!

Do you remember your current vocabulary level from the vocabulary test?

Good!

It will come in handy.

Suppose, the vocabulary test has suggested your current level is grade 3. You might be studying in grade 5 or grade 2 in real life, but your spelling skill suggests that your cognitive skill is equivalent to grade 3.

So, you should start from grade 3.

Similarly, if the test suggests your level to be grade 7, your practice should start from grade 7.

First, I would suggest you start with the Spelling Exercises. 

There is a term in Japanese culture – Kaizen. It means continuous improvement. What I ask of you is to follow the Kaizen mantra.

So, you should start slowly but practice regularly.

Don’t rush and complete all the spelling lessons in one day. It'll not have a long-term impact on your brain.

Take at least a few hours of break between each session. Remember, slowly, but gradually, you will reach the pinnacle of success.

Once you finish the Spelling Exercises, move on to the Spelling Lesson section.

Similarly, you should complete the Spelling Lessons.

Now Comes The Big One – Spelling Bee!

The words in the Spelling Bee section are quite hard compared to the previous two sections.

Why?

These practice sessions aim to robust your practice for the Spelling Bee competition. So, obviously, there are advanced and complicated words.

What if you have completed all the sessions from a grade?

What should you do next?

Yes, you move on to the next grade!

For example, if you have completed the “1st grade spelling bee words,” you should start practicing the “2nd grade spelling bee words.”

Remember, it’s always better to learn new things.

You might find the words too complicated and often misspell.

Tell yourself, "It's okay; I have already mastered the words from my grade; I am only exploring now."

You can play a game with yourself – what is the highest level I can reach?

 

Let’s Introduce Some Fun!

Let’s take a break! I know all the “training talks” have already bored you.

SpellQuiz has recently introduced a fun way to practice spelling. Actually, players don’t even feel that they are practicing!

I am talking about the Spelling Bee Online (SBO).

It’s a game where you can participate in the online or the virtual version of the famous spelling competition Spelling Bee.

Let’s take a look at the game mechanics.

After you start the game, you will see a typing window.

Once you start, a timer will start, and you will hear a word.

Your job will be to type the correct spelling of that word. And, you will have 15 seconds to type it down.

After typing the word, you will have to press “Enter.”

The tool will speak out another word then.

Just repeat the same activities.

During each take on the game, you can make a maximum of 10 spelling mistakes. Your goal is to reach the maximum level and get the maximum SBO score you can.

After completing ten words, you will reach the next level.

As you can imagine, the first levels are quite easy, and you will find words like – At, To, Sit, etc.

As you level up, the words tend to get complicated. I mean, you will start to get words like Bourgeois, Mississippi, Schappe, etc.

The best thing about SBO is that you will be competing against other real players in real-time from all around the world!

There is also a leaderboard!

The leaderboard gets updated in real-time and shows the name and nationality of the best players. There are four sections in the leaderboard –

1. Daily Top List - The best players of the day with maximum mastered word count
2. Weekly Top List – The best players of the week with overall mastered word count
3. Top This Month – The best players of month day with overall mastered word count
4. Top All Time – The best players of all time with overall mastered word count

So, what do you think? Are you up for the challenge?

 

Hey, Quiz Time!

Sometimes you will have to take an odd route to have good spelling training.

I think a fine strategy is playing different quizzes rather than taking part in the active practice sessions.

SpellQuiz has a collection of witty quizzes.

So, let’s take a closer look at the quizzes –

 

You would never guess the origins of these words!

Yes, you have guessed it right – you will have to guess the origin of the few words.

For example, you will have to tell the origin of words like Vampire, and you will get four options like – Turkish, Romanian, Hungarian, or Serbo-Croatian.

You need to click the right answer.

You will get 30 questions just like this one.

Also, there is a progress tracker to monitor your progress.

This quiz will increase the curiosity about the English language among the students.

Are you getting hyped?

 

How Well Do You Know the Conditionals?

This quiz is more about English grammar than spelling training. So, rather than focusing on spelling, it will try to assess your grammatical skills – especially your knowledge regarding conditionals. 

Take a look at this example.

You will be asked to fill gaps like this one – “If I ___________ that my heart rate has gone up on Fitbit, I _________ running more slowly.”

What should be in the gaps?

As it is a quiz, you will get four options.

What is your job?

Find the correct answer!

Can You Pass The Hard Spelling Words Test?

This quiz focuses directly on spelling training. The quiz tries to assess your spelling skills regarding the most misspelled words in the English language.

For example, tell me something, what word should be in the gap of the following sentence?

“Luckily, Teddy became __________ only a couple of hours after the surgery.”

• Concious
• Conscious
• Consious
• Conscous

You will find similar questions in the quiz. If you are harnessing yourself to better at spelling, the quiz will try to assess your progress.

 

Difficult Spelling Quiz - Only 1% of People Can Get 30/30 – Are You One of Them?

This is another great quiz for the students who are participating in the spelling quiz. Just like hard spelling quiz, it also deals with the commonly misspelled and complex words.

Can you tell me which of the following word has the correct spelling?

• Counseller
• Councellor
• Counselor

It seems tough, doesn't it? Well, you should have guessed it. The name of the quiz suggests that the quiz will be difficult!

 

Geography Quiz - Are You One of the Few People Who Can Ace This World?

The final quiz in SpellQuiz doesn't have much connection with spelling training. Rather, it's a question regarding geography.

Well, it’s good to take a break from the hectic spelling training sessions, isn’t it?

So, what kind of question will you see here?

Simple geography-related questions.

For example, “What continent does the Nile River flow through?”

 

Final Thoughts

Yes, spelling training is a long and hard task to complete. It takes grit and patience. But with sheer will and mental strength, you can overcome anything.

I believe, if you follow the smart spelling training sessions, you will get better at English spelling in no time!

Best of luck!