Has Marvellous Spelling been evaluated?
Is Marvellous Spelling aimed at primary or secondary students?
Is Marvellous Spelling only for the English department?
Do students have to learn every word like this?
How does this relate to phonics?
Can it be used by people with dyslexia?
Is Marvellous Spelling accredited?
Can it be used for those learning English as a Second/Other Language?
Do learners remember the words the next day/week?
Do I have to correct every spelling in a student's piece of work?

Has Marvellous Spelling been evaluated?

Yes. Schoolzone has carried out a product evaluation of Marvellous Spelling and found it to be "a very useful tool". The evaluator also stated "the results seem to be very good and children who previously found spelling hard were able to see that it works". If you would like to read the evaluation report, please contact us.

Is Marvellous Spelling aimed at primary or secondary students?

The technique can be used at all stages of education, from Key Stage 1 to 4 through to further and higher education. Marvellous Spelling does not just belong in the classroom; it is also helpful in the workplace, in the community centre, even in the  home… The strategy is useful for a five year old learning their first high-frequency words, or for a successful business manager who finds spelling difficult; it’s for anyone who would benefit from some positive intervention with their spelling skills.

Is Marvellous Spelling only for the English department?

No. Marvellous Spelling can be employed in any subject which requires students to learn to spell new words correctly. Maths, Science, Geography, History and Modern Foreign Languages are all examples of subjects in which students are expected to learn subject-specific vocabulary. Marvellous Spelling can help students to learn the words they need to be able to succeed.

Do students have to learn every word like this?

No. Once students have learned to make pictures of correct spellings, and to practise confidently, referring to their visual memory, the process becomes automatic.   Most students will be successful after half an hour of Marvellous Spelling teaching.   Those who aren’t may need a further two or three half-hour sessions, and these may be the students for whom teachers request email mentoring.  

As soon as students are using the process automatically, their confidence about spelling will increase dramatically simply because they are surrounded by words and can absorb them more easily into their visual memory. They are likely to find that words become a resource rather than a series of worrying hieroglyphics that are best ‘tuned out’ or ignored!  

How does this relate to phonics?

Marvellous Spelling is a visual method for spelling but it can sit comfortably alongside the teaching of synthetic phonics in your school and have a positive impact on your pupils’ spelling, writing and reading ability.

As soon as children understand phonemes (letter sounds) and are comfortable using them, Marvellous Spelling is a very valuable tool. Whilst it is possible to teach Marvellous Spelling to children who do not yet know their letter sounds, (because Marvellous Spelling is a mainly visual technique), it is often much easier to use the method with those who do know them.

Can it be used by people with dyslexia?

Yes, it has been used very successfully with a large number of people with dyslexia – including teachers, who describe Marvellous Spelling as having given them a new access route to writing.

Is Marvellous Spelling accredited?

Marvellous Spelling is not accredited at this stage, but this is something we are currently looking into. Even though it is not accredited, it can support learning in the majority of accredited courses at different levels and across most subject areas. 

Can it be used for those learning English as a Second/Other Language?

Yes. Marvellous Spelling is particularly effective for learning the spellings of words in English. Because of this, it is a helpful tool for ESOL students to have as it not only enables them to be able to spell well, but also to know if the spelling of a word looks and feels right – if not, they know they need to consult the dictionary!

Do learners remember the words the next day/week?

Yes. Younger children will appreciate the chance to show off their new skills and so it is useful to let them practise their first new words. A ‘review cycle’ will help those who want a ‘belt and braces’ assurance (learn the words, review after 15 minutes, after a further 2-4 hours, after 8-12 hours from the last review, after 24 hours from the last one).

Older students, who understand more of the process, can still remember the picture of the words without that practice. It is important to explain how stress and tension can affect recall – of anything, not just spelling, and so relaxing with the “good feeling” is important.

Do I have to correct every spelling in a student's piece of work?

For younger students, it is important to use a pencil to put a line through incorrect spellings and write the correct spelling above it.

For older students where there may be a lot of misspelled words, choose the five most ‘urgent’ corrections. Correct these in the text and copy them again at the end of the piece of work. Remind students to store these new correct spellings in their visual memory.