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How to Practice Spelling Words at Home

The most reliable way to practice a weekly spelling list is a few short sessions across the week, not one long session the night before. In each session your child hears the word, spells it from memory, checks the answer straight away, and then repeats the words they missed.

A routine that works

Set up the list once. Type in the week's words, with a meaning and a sentence for each if you can. With the words in one place, practice can start in seconds each day.
Keep sessions short. Ten to fifteen minutes a day is plenty for most children, and it is easier to keep up than a long weekend session.
Say the word first, then spell it from memory. Your child hears the word, and the sentence if it helps, then spells it without looking at the list.
Check straight away. Seeing the right spelling and the meaning right after an answer helps it stick.
Redo only the misses. Spend the rest of the session on the words that were wrong, not the ones that are already easy.
End with a game. A short game means the last thing your child remembers about practice is a pleasant one.
Do a test run the night before. One try per word, like the real test, then a last look at anything missed.

Why short sessions beat cramming

Spreading practice over several days generally helps children remember words for longer than the same total time in one sitting. Short sessions are also easier to keep going, which matters more than the exact number of minutes.

Practicing spelling at home with Better Speller

Better Speller is built around exactly this routine, using your child's own list.

Add each word with its meaning and an example sentence, or import a list from a file.
Practice mode gives several attempts per word (three by default, and you can change it in settings). Test mode gives one.
Hear Word and Hear Sentence read each word aloud, or you can record the words in your own voice.
After a session the results mark every word right or wrong, with a button to practice just the missed words.
Four games (Word Search, Spelling Choice, Fill in the Blanks and Unscramble) are built from the same list, so a game is practice too.
It is free to try with up to 35 words, with every feature included.

Common questions

How long should a child practice spelling each day?

Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for most children. Short daily sessions across the week work better than one long session before the test.

What if my child keeps missing the same words?

Keep them in a missed-words round and give each one a sentence. Hearing the word used in a sentence, in a voice your child knows, often makes it easier to remember.

Do I need to buy anything to practice spelling at home?

No. Better Speller is free to try with up to 35 words and every feature included. A one-time purchase unlocks unlimited words, and there are no subscriptions.

Try it with your own list

Better Speller is free to try, with no account and no ads, on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android.