There is an aspect of learning to spell more accurately that is a skill for the whole of life. It is the moment when your ‘guts’ tell you that something in the word you have just written is wrong.

I have a surefire method that I teach to my learners young and old so that they can independently improve in spelling accuracy. I use it myself. In fact, all reasonable spellers use it even if unconsciously. But that is not the subject of this post. The ‘gut feeling’ is.

I talk with my school aged learners about what they do in class when they make spelling mistakes. Do they get a feeling in their body that something is wrong? Do they listen to that feeling and go back to the word or do they ignore it? They look at me quizzically. I then tell them that that feeling is their inbuilt ‘diviner’ for navigating life. Listen to it when spelling and not only will spelling improve but they build an important habit to guide them when out in the wide world on their own.

Have you ever left home feeling like you have forgotten something and ignored the feeling only to realise later what it was that you left behind (and needed)? Ever met someone and felt that something wasn’t quite right. Ever walked into a room and just sensed something was going on? Can you recall times when things didn’t go well and can recall the ‘gut feeling’ warning sign beforehand?

At this end of life, I can recount significant moments when I didn’t heed that feeling. Nowadays I try to ensure I respond to it and I am always rewarded when I do. It’s like receiving a random Christmas gift. Spelling is a lifeskill the benefits of which aren’t limited to its practical applications. Spelling improvement involves listening to an inbuilt capacity that operates across our entire lives. Heed it and improve more than just spelling.

(But if you want to learn how to improve your spelling, the picture is a clue.)