Learning to spell can be a challenge for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for dyslexic children who struggle with reading long words. There are a number of things that parents and teachers can do to help children overcome this challenge.

What words should a 7 year old spell?

Sight words: These are words that children should recognise and be able to spell without sounding them out. Here are some common sight words for 7-year-olds:

• a, I, is, in, it, the, at, on, up, and, me, my, we, go, to, do, see, look, no, he, she, you, yes, no

Phonetically regular words: These are words that can be spelled by sounding them out. Here are some common phonetically regular words for 7-year-olds:

• cat, bat, mat, fat, hat, sat, rat, sat
• big, pig, dig, wig, fig, jig, rig
• hop, top, cop, pop, mop, sop, nop
• can, fan, pan, man, tan
• like, bike, strike, spike

High-frequency words: These are words that appear frequently in English writing. Here are some common high-frequency words for 7-year-olds:

• for, not, are, was, have, then, with, your, that, of, when, this, like, some, do, one

Tips for Teaching Spelling to 7 Year Olds

Here are a few tips for teaching spelling to 7 year olds:

Break down long words into smaller chunks. This will make the words seem less intimidating and will help children to focus on the individual sounds that make up the word. For example, the word "elephant" can be broken down into the following sounds: "eh," "luh," "funt."

Use mnemonic devices. Mnemonic devices are memory aids that can help children to remember how to spell words. For example, the word "bicycle" can be remembered by the following mnemonic: "B is for both, I is for in, C is for centre, Y is for you, C is for can, L is for left, E is for end."

Make spelling fun. There are a number of fun activities that can help children to learn how to spell. These activities include playing spelling games, using spelling apps, and reading books with lots of sight words.

Be patient. Learning to spell takes time and practice. Be patient with your dyslexic child and don't get discouraged if they don't make progress as quickly as you would like.

Additional Resources

There are a number of additional resources that can help parents and educators teach spelling to 7 year old's. These resources include:

• Relearn Basic Words
• 100 Common Words
• Tricky Words
• High Frequency Words

Tips for Struggling Dyslexic Readers

In addition to the tips above, here are a few additional tips for struggling readers:

• Make sure your child is getting enough sleep. Sleep is essential for cognitive development, including reading.
• Provide your child with a variety of reading materials. This will help them to develop their reading skills and vocabulary.
• Read aloud to your child regularly. This will help them to develop their phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear the individual sounds in words.
• Practice reading with your child regularly. This will help them to develop their fluency and comprehension skills.

With a little time and effort, you can help your child to overcome their reading challenges and become a confident reader.

Learning to spell can be a challenge for anyone, but it is especially important for dyslexic children who struggle with reading. By following the tips above, you can help your child to learn how to spell long words and become a confident reader.

Top 10 How can I improve my 7 year olds spelling?

1. Make Spelling Fun and Engaging: Incorporate games, puzzles, and interactive activities into their spelling practice. Use spelling apps, online games, or create your own spelling challenges to make learning enjoyable.
2. Break Down Long Words: Divide long words into smaller chunks to make them less intimidating. For example, break "elephant" into "eh," "luh," and "funt." This approach helps kids focus on individual sounds that make up the word.
3. Utilise Mnemonics: Mnemonics are memory aids that transform tricky words into something more memorable. For instance, teach them the mnemonic "B is for both, I is for in, C is for centre, Y is for you, C is for can, L is for left, E is for end" to remember the word "bicycle."
4. Emphasise Sight Words: Sight words are words that children should recognise and spell without sounding them out. Focus on teaching them common sight words for their age level.
5. Encourage Regular Practice: Dedicate time each day to spelling practice. Consistent practice is crucial for improvement.
6. Celebrate Progress: Recognise and celebrate their achievements, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement boosts their confidence and motivation.
7. Seek Additional Resources: Use on-line reading programmes apps, to provide additional practice and support.
8. Provide Diverse Reading Materials: Exposure to a variety of books, magazines, and age-appropriate reading materials expands their vocabulary and enhances their spelling skills.
9. Read Aloud Regularly: Reading aloud exposes them to new words, proper pronunciation, and storytelling techniques, which can improve their overall spelling skills.
10. Be Patient and Supportive: Remember, every child learns at their own pace. Be patient, encouraging, and supportive throughout their learning journey.

What is the average vocabulary of a 7 year old?

The average vocabulary of a 7-year-old is around 5,000-6,000 words. This includes both receptive vocabulary (words they understand) and expressive vocabulary (words they can use).

It is important to note that these are just averages, and there is a wide range of normal vocabulary development. Some children may have a vocabulary of 3,000 words at age 7, while others may have a vocabulary of 8,000 words.

Here are some factors that can affect a child's vocabulary development:

• Socioeconomic status: Children from higher socioeconomic backgrounds tend to have larger vocabularies than children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. This is because they are exposed to more language and have more opportunities to learn new words.
• Parental education: Children whose parents have more education tend to have larger vocabularies than children whose parents have less education. This is because parents with more education are more likely to read to their children, talk to them frequently, and expose them to a variety of language experiences.
• Early literacy experiences: Children who are exposed to early literacy experiences, such as reading, writing, and storytelling, tend to have larger vocabularies than children who are not exposed to these experiences.
• Individual differences: Children simply learn at different rates. Some children are naturally faster learners than others.
• Learning difficulties: Such as dyslexia, can effect a child's ability to read and spell new words.

If you are concerned about your child's vocabulary development, there are a number of things you can do to help them:

• Read to your child often. This is one of the best things you can do to help your child's vocabulary development.
• Talk to your child often. Engage in conversations with your child about a variety of topics.
• Sing songs and say rhymes with your child. This helps them learn about the rhythm and patterns of language.
• Play word games with your child. There are many fun and educational word games that can help children learn new words.
• Encourage your child to read on their own. Provide your child with access to a variety of books that they are interested in.

With a little effort, you can help your child develop a strong vocabulary and become a confident reader and writer.

Why can my 7 year old read but not spell?

• Reading and spelling are different skills. Reading involves decoding written words into sounds, while spelling involves encoding sounds into written words. These are two separate cognitive processes, and some children may be stronger in one than the other.
• Children may not have focused on spelling rules or strategies. In school, children are typically taught spelling rules and strategies, such as sounding out words, using phonics, and memorising sight words. If a child has not had the opportunity to learn these rules and strategies, they may struggle with spelling.
• Children may have difficulty with visual memory or auditory processing. Visual memory is the ability to remember what you see, while auditory processing is the ability to understand spoken language such as dyslexia. If a child has difficulty with either of these skills, they may have trouble remembering how to spell words.

If you are concerned about your child's spelling ability, there are a number of things you can do to help them improve:

• Talk to your child's teacher. They can assess your child's spelling skills and recommend any interventions that may be necessary.
• Play word games with your child. There are many fun and educational word games that can help children learn new words and improve their spelling skills.
• Encourage your child to read aloud. This will help them to develop their phonological awareness, which is the ability to recognise the sounds in words.
• Help your child learn spelling rules and strategies. There are many resources available to help parents teach their children spelling, such as workbooks, websites, and apps.
• Be patient. It takes time for children to develop their spelling skills. With practice and support, your child will eventually be able to spell well.

Here are some additional tips for helping your dyslexic child with spelling:

• Make spelling practice fun. Don't turn spelling practice into a chore. Make it fun and engaging by using games, puzzles, and other activities that your child enjoys.
• Focus on a few words at a time. Don't overwhelm your child with too many new words at once. Start with a few words and focus on teaching them how to spell those words correctly before moving on to new ones.
• Use a variety of teaching methods. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to teaching spelling. Use a variety of methods to help your child learn, such as sounding out words, using phonics, and memorising sight words.
• Be patient and encouraging. Learning to spell takes time and practice. Be patient with your child and encourage them even if they make mistakes.

With a little effort, you can help your child develop strong spelling skills.

Fun games to help improve spelling

• 100 Words
• Goal Ladder
• Rule of 10
• Tricky Words
• Memory Tags
• Muscle Memory

For dyslexia friendly activities to do with a child see "Mooki Cards". Complete with 56 cards and storage wallet. Perfect for using at home or in the classroom. Order your "Mooki Cards" here!