Journeying Further: About this Spelling Book

This spelling book is designed to help your child to develop confident spelling skills through regular, manageable practice.

Many sets contain five carefully selected words: three phonics-based and two tricky words.

The Two-Week Practice Approach

Each spelling set is designed to be practised over two weeks. This extended timeframe is crucial for effective learning. When children encounter the same words multiple times across several days -  spaced repetition - they can develop quick recognition and increased spelling ability. If your child is able to recall the words, please keep rehearsing to improve their chances of permanently recalling them. Spacing out practice over time, rather than trying to learn in one session, helps information move from short-term to long-term memory.

Daily Practice Tips

Keep practice short and positive: just two to three minutes daily is more effective than longer, infrequent sessions. Regular practice and repetition strengthens memory and builds automaticity (research from the Education Endowment Foundation).

• For phonics words: Help your child to sound out each part of the word and identify the pattern that they are learning. Use the button at the bottom of the page to view a phonics mat.
• For tricky words: Encourage your child to spot the 'tricky part' that doesn't follow the rules and find ways to remember it.

Supporting Your Child

• Focus on celebrating your child's effort and progress, not just correct answers. Phrases like, "This one should be easy for you." can make mistakes feel like failures rather than learning opportunities. Comments like, "It's ok. Let’s figure out what this mistake can teach us." develops positive learning determination and a healthier attitude toward errors.
• Make practice fun and varied to maintain interest. Under adult supervision, why not try spelling words by writing on top of a sandwich bag filled with a little colourful shower gel? Try writing words in a little cooked spaghetti! For more ideas to motivate and to encourage positive conversations about inaccuracies, please visit our activities page for more ideas.
• Stay patient – there is no single timeline for learning.

Retaining and applying learning

Remember: consistent practice over the two-week period will give your child the best chance to master these spellings and to build their confidence as a speller.

Encourage your child to write these words accurately (not just say the letters) to help with fluency. 

Why click below to use handwriting to reinforce each word. These is also a button to find sentences for each set. Trying to write previous words in sentences can be more challenging. Why not make your own sentences out of words taken from different sets?

Thank you for supporting your child to flourish.