Special Situations Lesson Idea: A Multi-Style Approach to Spelling

This spelling technique incorporates all learning styles: visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile.

Adapted from PULL – Project for Unique Learners in Literacy by LVA–Illinois, 1994 and The Source for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia. LinguiSystems, 1999.

• A list of words that your student has difficulty spelling.
• Paper and pencil.

• For each word, reinforce the message with each of the four methods.
• Visual: The student looks at a word written in large print on a piece of paper and reads the word. The student then says the word and visualizes the word with closed eyes.
• Auditory: The tutor reads the word and the student listens with closed eyes.
• Kinesthetic: The student opens eyes and writes the word in the air moving his/her entire arm while saying each letter in the word.
• Tactile: The student traces the word on the desk while saying each letter in the word. Then the student writes the word on a piece of paper with pencil/pen.
• Example:

Student looks at word and says “friend”.
Tutor says “friend”.
Student closes eyes and listens to “friend”.
Student says “friend”.
Student opens eyes and traces the word in the air, says the word “friend”.
Student traces “friend” on a table and says the word as he or she traces.
Student then writes “friend” on a piece of paper.