A personal spelling journal gives a child one place for important words they repeatedly misspell. It works best with a small active set and one memorable cue for each word.

Build the entry together

Choose words from current schoolwork or homework. For each one:

• write the correct spelling;

• mark the difficult part;

• add a pattern, related word, picture or memory trick (mnemonic); and

• include a short example sentence.

For because, a child might use a memory trick already taught at school, such as “Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants”. For carefully, connect it with care and careful.

Review, remember and remove

Review three or four words at the beginning and end of the week. Cover the entry before the child writes the word, then check it straight away.

Keep the journal available during ordinary writing. Encourage the child to look there before asking an adult.

Remove a word after it is used correctly on more than one occasion. Do not allow the journal to become a long list of past mistakes.

At first, choose words and cues together. Gradually let the child decide which recurring spellings deserve an entry.