Helping Kids Who Can’t Write Learn How to Spell

I am in the unique predicament with my son. He knows how to read and spell words, but he cannot write. It makes it a bit difficult for those nice little workbooks when he is supposed to fill in the blank with the correct letters/numbers since he cannot write! (He is 3 years old.) So we have devised a few ways to continue learning how to spell in a fun way- without the need to write.

We have this fantastic learning tool/game that we love! It comes in this neat school tin you see below which also has a handle on it for easy-carrying. Inside the “Magnet School” tin are letter & number magnets, along with corresponding flashcard where you can put the first letter of each word.

I mix up all of the cards and all of the letters, then randomly place them on the table, one at a time. He then has to tell me what the word says, and find the letter that it starts with.

Another option if your child cannot write is to find creative ways to have him/her find the appropriate word, and yet still use their fine motor skills. Take this worksheet below for an example. You can ask them to find the word “nut”, and when they have ask them to color in the flower that it’s in. You can also do this phonetically and ask them to color in all of the flowers with the long O sound.

My son loves these word matches because they are so easy to draw! Have the child read the first word, and then find the corresponding picture. Help them sound it out if they can’t read it. These are very simple for you to even make yourself. You can make your own sheets by hand, or by using clip art on the computer.

Lastly, if it is a real struggle for your child to write or draw, incorporate a reward chart into their day! It’s very simple to make your own chart with stickers. Occasionally to brush up on some learning we’ve been using the Hooked on Phonics Kindergarten workbooks, which come with the reward charts you see below. After my son has completed each section he can place a sticker on his chart.

Another great product is Melissa & Doug’s See and Spell wooden box where the child has to find all of the letters in the word, and place them into the puzzle. We are hoping to buy this one soon!

Don’t forget to encourage your child to keep working on writing!! Even if all they do is try to draw a wobbly circle and straight lines- it’s a great start!! 🙂