A user has recently contacted @Reks asking advice on which spelling list to use with a four-year-old learner. Which spelling words to use as a starting point mostly depends on the learner’s learning potential and motivation.

As a teacher and a parent of a four-year-old boy, I would suggest to start with making your own custom list consisting only of words with the same vowel. Two- and three-letter words consisting of one vowel would be the first choice. The initial list of spelling words usually contains words with the phoneme presented with letter ‘a’ as in DAD. 

When the learner seems to have grasped the first spelling list, it is time to move to the next spelling list with words containing another vowel (‘i’,  or ‘e’…).

Build A Word Easy Spelling with Phonics iOS application by @Reks offers users a chance to create their own custom spelling word lists from the pool of over 800 words.

To customize the app please follow these four steps:

1. Go to Settings (Press&Hold)

Build A Word Phonics

 

2. Tap onto “Tap to select or create active list”

 

Build A Word Phonics

 

3. Tap ‘+‘ next to Customizable Lists.

Build A Word Phonics

A list of all the words will be shown.

Build A Word Easy Spelling With Phonics

You can tap a word you wish to add to your spelling list. If you wish to create a word family, type in the Search Box the letters or a letter you wish your desired spelling words to contain. E.g. ‘a’. In the ‘a‘ case all the words that contain “a” will appear. Tap next to those words you wish to add to your spelling list.

Build A Word Easy Spelling with Phonics

 

4. When you are finished creating your spelling list, tap DONE button located in the upper right corner of the word list.

 

To name/rename the custom spelling list please follow these three easy steps:

1. Tap RENAME button in the upper right corner of the screen.

Build A Word Easy Spelling with Phonics

 

2. Type in the name of the spelling list in the box.

Build A Word Easy Spelling with Phonics

 

3. When done, tap UPDATE (blue) button.

Build A Word Easy Spelling with Phonics

 

 

 

Now, you should select (tap) the spelling list you wish to use in the app.

Build A Word Easy Spelling with Phonics

 

Start the LEARN Mode first.

 

 

Build A Word Easy Spelling with Phonics

 

To download Build A Word Easy Spelling with Phonics from iTunes go to: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/build-word-easy-spelling-phonics/id436102581?mt=8