Spelling Stars
Guides to spelling practice at home
These guides answer the questions parents ask most often about spelling practice at home: how dictation differs from a simple spelling test, why listening matters as much as writing, and how to fit a few minutes of practice into a busy week.
Find practical ideas for using your child's spelling list, planning short practice sessions and preparing for spelling tests at home.
What a dictation list is, how the audio is generated, and what a parent sees when their child has finished writing it out.
Explore how listening and writing can work together during spelling practice, with practical ideas for using your child's word list at home.
A short, repeatable evening routine for primary spelling, what to do in each of the ten minutes, and how to keep it going for a whole term.
A practical plan for the evening before a spelling test: review difficult words, try a short quiz and leave time for a good night's sleep.
How spelling tests and dictation assess different skills, and how you can help your child prepare for both without doubling the work.
Explore words that primary school children may find difficult to spell, with explanations of tricky patterns and ideas for practising them.