First, make learning about words fun for your child. Ask your librarian for suggestions of books that stress this theme. For example, try

The Word Eater by Mary Amato.

Do what you can to expose your child to new words. Play word games. Give your child crossword puzzles to work.

Also:

• Help your child learn to say words correctly. Sing songs and recite poetry—so she can hear how words sound. Pronounce words correctly yourself.

• Give your child writing tasks. Letters. Thank-you notes. Invitations. Your shopping list. Labeling objects.

• Encourage your child to proofread her schoolwork for spelling errors.

• Point out misspellings you see. And praise your child when she finds misspellings.

• Don’t always spell words for your child. Help her think of possible ways to spell a word until she can find it in a dictionary.

• Encourage your child to keep a list of words that give her trouble. Review the words with her until she masters them.

• Talk about tricky pairs of letters. Help your child distinguish between w and m, n and u, l and t, b and d, i and l.

• Encourage lots of reading. Help your child find books on her favorite topics.

• Teach your child the meaning of any words she doesn’t understand.

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