Use flash cards. Cut out a picture of an item (such as a telescope or xylophone) and glue it onto an index card. Flip to the other side and then write down the name of the vocabulary word pictured. Flash cards can be effective for providing a child with a link between a specific word and its image. Display a flash card and request that the child spell out the word that describes what she sees.
Rap spelling words. A lighthearted and memorable way to teach children how to spell is by rapping like a hip hop artist. Just repeating the spelling of a word in your normal voice probably is not going to make a lasting impression. Instead, rap out the spelling of the term. Make a child laugh (and help him with his spelling) by rapping something like, "What's the best woodwind in town? It's the F-L-U-T-E."
Ask a child to visualize a vocabulary word. Visualization also can be beneficial for teaching spelling. Tell the child to shut her eyes, relax and try to imagine a certain word in her head. After she has imagined the specific word, ask her if she can spell out exactly what she sees.
Show him how a word is spelled. Present a vocabulary word written on a piece of paper or blackboard. After allowing the child to look at it for a few moments, conceal the word and then tell her to write it out again herself.
Talk about dividing words up. To a child, a long and complicated vocabulary can seem very overwhelming. Encourage a child to make the task easier by telling him to divide a word up into sections that are easier to recall. For example, the word "history" can be "his story." The word "department" can be broken up as "de part ment."
Teach spelling with the help of cereal. One delicious and fun-loving way to teach a child how to spell is by asking her to spell things out while she is eating cereal in the morning. This technique can be very useful for parents who want to help a child with spelling in a relaxed and calm way. As your child is enjoying her morning meal, make requests. Say something like "Jessica, spell the word 'pharmacy.'"