If you’re anything like me, you have been trying new recipes while at home due to the pandemic. I have added new ingredients to my pantry and spice drawer, expanding my repertoire of meals along the way. Now that I have made some dishes over and over, I don’t have to look as carefully at the spice jars or even the recipe, as I remember what is what- and most of the steps. Yet the first time I made any new dish, I got all the ingredients out on the counter and read each label on the containers before I measured and added them to my bowl. The attention I paid was extra important when I tried various types of baking like bread, as many of the ingredients look the same once in the spoon- baking soda, powder, flour, sugar (all white!). If you mess up with those parts, the whole is a disaster!

Learning to spell new words is like cooking a new recipe. In order to make sense of a sentence or story (meal), the words (ingredients) must be recognized. If we leave the labels off the containers as we cook, or we can’t understand (read) them, we won’t be able to create a successful meal. So why do we make our students guess spelling, make up spelling or test them on spelling? Would we do that if we asked them to create a meal from a recipe? At INSL LLC we understand that students who use a visual learning system need to see the shape of ideas (words) to make a mental image of them. In order to process the idea of the word (the meaning), our brains must see the word as a whole shape, so trying to read or spell in parts (letters or sounds) doesn’t help our brains understand words. When we work with learners, we want them to use the ideas to communicate, through writing or speaking to share their thoughts and creations. So instead of testing them, forcing them to make up spelling (i.e. “write all the sounds/parts you know”, or “try your best”), we give them the words- not orally (they can’t process them auditorily) but written out. Educators and parents can help by having ready a pile of sticky notes, index cards, scrap paper- so when your learner needs a word, write it for them- ideally, have them watch you write it (that adds another layer in their brains). Labeling the ideas with words spelled correctly is like knowing what the yummy ingredients are in a dish- which is key to a successful creation!