“We had planned to stop the tutoring after the 11+ exam, but with the next lockdown and more disruption to her education, we quickly relented when she literally begged us to continue going! The sessions are adjusted to her needs and she describes them as ‘really fun’ and she likes it that the work is specific to her level and much more individualised than the class work at school.”
Fun Spelling Rules
Making Spelling Fun
One of the ways we can help students with their English is by having some fun with some commonly misspelt words. In many exams marks are allocated for spelling, it also builds confidence to know that you have spelt a word correctly without resorting to spellchecker.
I had a rather eccentric school English teacher who believed that if you could spell ACCOMMODATION (two C’s and two M’s) you would pass your O level and he made the whole class recite it most lessons.
Alternatively you could just test each other over a meal or on the way to school, we all love a challenge and the rules mean ‘no phones’.
Here are a few you might want to test each other on:
SEPARATE is a tricky word, two A’s separated by a P.
Big Elephants Are Usually BEAUtiful.
I before E except after C applies to BELIEVE, FRIEND and RECEIVE.
You can DEFINITELY find the word with FINITE in it.
Do you go Really Red And Smile Shyly when EMBARRASSed?
You certainly do if you are caught short with DIARRHOEA, you need to Dash In A Real Rush, Hurry Or Else Accident.
You can even put some words to music as RHYTHM Helps You To Hear Music.
Give it a go, no need for a special OCCASION (although if it is you’ll need to travel over two seas (C’s) to get to it.
To enhance students’ spelling, incorporate fun practices with tricky words, as exam scores often include spelling accuracy, boosting confidence without spellcheck reliance. An eccentric English teacher swore mastery of “ACCOMMODATION” ensured exam success. Engage in spelling challenges during meals or commutes without phones. Practice words like “SEPARATE,” with mnemonic aids like “Big Elephants Are Usually BEAUtiful” for “BEAUTIFUL,” and the rule “I before E except after C” for words like “BELIEVE.” Reminder mnemonics for “EMBARRASSED” and “DIARRHOEA” can assist recall, as can setting words like “RHYTHM” to music. Use these techniques anytime, not just for special occasions.
