Use invented spelling: A simple writing strategy for kids

Welcome back to the collaborative Simple Writing Series, a weekly feature hosted by This Reading Mama and The Measured Mom!  Have you missed any lessons?  Click here to see my introductory post and links to our first five lessons.

 Invented spelling. Have you heard of it? If you’re in education, you’re certainly familiar with the term and perhaps with the controversy surrounding it.

Invented spelling is NOT:

• a substitute for learning to spell
• an excuse for children to spell the words they’ve learned incorrectly
• a barrier which will prevent children learning to spell correctly

Invented spelling IS:

• a strategy which allows children to approximate spellings before they are developmentally ready to spell them correctly
• a tool which allows teachers to see what a child does and doesn’t understand about how words work
• a useful skill which helps children write more creatively, as they are not confined to vocabulary that they can spell conventionally

Can you tell that I’m a BIG fan of invented spelling for writers who need it?  Learn how to teach this simple writing strategy for kids: visit This Reading Mama for Lesson 6: Use invented spelling! 

And click on the image below to see the rest of our Simple Writing Lessons!

Free Spelling Games

Get this fun variety of sample spelling games from the membership site! The download includes resources for spelling CVCE words, long vowel teams, and multi-syllable words.