Spell checkers in the classroom

For students with lower scores in spelling

Spelling tools such as Grammarly and built-in spell-checkers are practical resources for the classroom, helping students identify and correct spelling errors in real time. These tools not only catch mistakes but also explain them, encouraging students to learn as they write. They’re accessible on most school devices, including computers and tablets, making them valuable for projects, essays, and classroom activities.

How they help (Primary)

Supports Struggling Spellers: Provides immediate corrections, building confidence and reducing frustration.
Encourages Independence: Students can produce polished work without needing constant teacher input.
Teaches Spelling Rules: Tools like Grammarly offer explanations that reinforce spelling patterns and rules.
Saves Time: Streamlines written work, enabling students to focus on content over mechanics.

How they help (Secondary)

Supports struggling spellers: Provides immediate feedback, reducing frustration and helping students edit their work more effectively.
Builds independence: Enables students to produce accurate written work across subjects without constant teacher input.
Reinforces spelling knowledge: Tools that explain corrections help students understand patterns, especially in subject-specific vocabulary.
Supports extended writing: Allows students to focus on ideas and structure while maintaining accuracy in longer responses.

Activity

Clicker

Clicker is a child-friendly word processor designed for primary school students. It features a talking spell checker, word prediction, and realistic speech feedback, making it particularly helpful for younger learners.

Best for

Supporting primary students with diverse literacy needs, including those with dyslexia or emerging writing skills.
Ages 7-11

Pros

Provides visual and auditory feedback to reinforce spelling.
Includes Clicker Grids for scaffolded writing, helping students form sentences and phrases.
Encourages independent writing with talking books and word banks.

Cons

Requires a subscription.
Limited to younger age groups and not suitable for secondary students.

Activity

Built-in spell checkers

Integrated into tools like Google Docs and Microsoft Word, these spell-checkers underline errors and suggest corrections in real time.

Free and widely accessible.
Easy to use for students with basic computer literacy
Lacks detailed explanations of errors.
Limited functionality compared to specialised tools.

Activity

Grammarly

Grammarly provides advanced spelling and grammar corrections with detailed explanations, helping students improve their writing skills.

Students working on essays, reports, or creative writing tasks.
Ages 11+
Encourages self-correction by explaining mistakes.
Works across multiple platforms and devices.
Useful for more complex writing tasks
Requires internet access.
Advanced features need a paid subscription.

Tips for implementation

Start with the Basics: Introduce younger students to Clicker or built-in spell-checkers for foundational support.
Monitor Use: Ensure students use these tools as learning aids, not as a replacement for developing spelling skills.
Promote Proofreading: Teach students to review their corrected work to reinforce learning and identify patterns in their mistakes.

What to Watch Out For

Accuracy Limitations: Some tools may miss context-specific errors, so review final drafts together.
Grammar Suggestions: Advanced tools may offer grammar corrections that distract from spelling-focused tasks.
Technology Dependence: Ensure students still practise traditional spelling strategies to maintain well-rounded skills.
Age Considerations

Use tools alongside teaching, not instead of phonics and spelling practice
Focus on noticing corrections, e.g. discussing why a word was changed
Limit over-reliance, encouraging pupils to attempt spelling first before checking
Use simpler tools, such as built-in spell checkers or child-friendly programmes like Clicker
Combine with explicit strategies, e.g. sounding out, segmenting, and using word banks.

In secondary school, spell checkers can support independence and accuracy, particularly for extended writing, but should still be used thoughtfully.

Encourage students to:

Use tools to review, not replace thinking, checking spelling after drafting rather than relying on live corrections
Engage with feedback, understanding why corrections are suggested
Remain critical of suggestions, as tools may miss subject-specific or context-based errors
Continue practising spelling strategies, especially for key academic vocabulary
Avoid over-dependence, ensuring they can spell high-frequency and subject-specific words without support.

Spelling apps to practice

Practising Spelling Patterns

Spelling Tactics And Apps For The Classroom

Regular spelling Assessment