Blog posts
Spelling is the foundation of effective communication, but it can also be a source of frustration for many students. Fortunately, understanding a few key spelling rules can significantly enhance your ability to spell words correctly. Join us as we explore the top five spelling rules that every student should know- you’ll be a confident and proficient speller in no time!
The Magic Silent ‘E’
One of the most iconic spelling rules involves the magic of the silent ‘e’. When a word ends with a consonant followed by the letter ‘e’, not only is the ‘e’ is usually silent, but it also affects the pronunciation of the preceding vowel by...
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In the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), precision is paramount. Whether you're a student, researcher, or enthusiast, mastering the spelling of scientific terms is essential for effective communication and comprehension. Join us as we explore spelling in STEM and discover strategies for tackling complex scientific words with confidence.
Understanding Scientific Terminology:
Scientific terminology may seem like a labyrinth of letters and symbols, but fear not! Many scientific words derive from Latin or Greek roots, which provide clues to their pronunciation and spelling. By breaking down these words into their constituent parts, you can unlock their...
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In today's digital age, spellcheckers and grammar correction tools offer quick fixes for our writing oversights. Though these automated tools are helpful, relying solely on them can sometimes lead to overlooked mistakes and missed opportunities for improvement. In this blog post, we'll explore the art of manual proofreading and share effective techniques for spotting spelling errors.
The Limitations of Spellcheckers
While spellcheckers are invaluable tools for catching many spelling errors, they have their limitations. Here are a few common scenarios where spellcheckers may fall short:
Technical Jargon: Spellcheckers may struggle with specialised terminology or...
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English is a language known for its quirks and irregularities, making it a challenging to learn. For ESL (English as a Second Language) learners, navigating the intricacies of English spelling can be particularly daunting. However, by understanding common pitfalls and employing effective strategies, ESL learners can overcome spelling challenges and enhance their language skills.
Silent Letter Strategies
Silent letters add an extra layer of complexity to English spelling. These letters appear in the spelling, but they are not pronounced.
TIP: When you learn words with silent letters, use the Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check spelling activity. Click on the speaker to hear the word...
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Introduction to Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs can be tricky. Unlike regular verbs, which follow predictable patterns when conjugated, irregular verbs have unique forms that don't conform to standard rules.
In this guide, we'll focus on their past simple and past participle forms to help you wield them with confidence.
Crack the Code: Past Simple and Past Perfect Tenses Explained
Before we dive into some spelling patterns, let's break down two important verb tenses: the past simple and the past perfect.
The past simple tense is used to talk about actions that happened in the past.
For example:
She ran five miles.
We went to the shop.
They ate...
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Would you like to launch a spelling bee competition for your school, academy trust, or school district? Spellzone's multiplayer function allows you to effortlessly host spelling bee competitions to engage students while supporting spelling development. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of setting up and executing a spelling bee event using Spellzone. Whether you're aiming to showcase your school's top spellers or foster friendly competition between schools, Spellzone will ensure your event runs seamlessly.
Let’s get started…
Enabling Multiplayer Games on Your Spellzone Account
Before diving into your competition, make sure multiplayer games...
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Understanding the Role of Silent Letters in Spelling
Have you ever noticed that some letters in English words don’t seem to be pronounced when spoken aloud? These silent letters, though tricky to navigate, are an essential part of English spelling.
In this guide, we'll delve into the world of silent letters, exploring common patterns, understanding the historical context, and learning practical tips. By the end, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and skills to master silent letters with confidence.
Tip 1: Learn Common Spelling Patterns
Common silent letters in English include: k, w, b, t, l, n, h, g, and p. You can use the letters than come...
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Understanding Homophones: Your Key to Confident Spelling
Homophones, words that share similar sounds but differ in meanings and spellings, pose a challenge for many English learners. Whether you're a student striving for academic excellence, a professional aiming for clear communication, or simply someone eager to improve your language skills, mastering homophones is crucial.
In this detailed guide, we'll delve into the intricacies of homophones, providing you with spelling strategies and practice word lists to become proficient in identifying and using homophones accurately.
Exploring Spellzone's Homophone Guides
Spellzone offers an extensive archive of homophone...
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Learning English spelling might feel a bit like navigating a maze, especially when getting ready for a spelling bee. Whether you're a student gearing up for your school spelling bee or dreaming of taking part in a bigger competition, we're here to help. In this easy-to-follow guide, we'll share practical strategies, helpful tips, and interactive spelling lists to make sure you're well-prepared for the challenge.
Understanding the Basics: What is a Spelling Bee?
Let's start with the basics. A spelling bee is a competition where participants are asked to spell a broad selection of words, ranging from everyday vocabulary to more challenging terms. The goal is to test...
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February is coming to a close, and this month we shared some handy spelling tips for both language learners and teachers. Whether you're navigating the intricacies of English vocabulary or perfecting your heartfelt expressions, our February blogs are here to support your educational journey with fresh perspectives. Let's recap the highlights of the month.
1) Essential Word Lists for ESL Learners: Mastering English Vocabulary
If you're on the journey of learning English, building a strong vocabulary is key. In this post, we curated three essential word lists tailored for ESL learners. From everyday basics to tricky homophones and advanced vocabulary, these lists are designed...
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In the realm of business communication, maintaining clarity and professionalism is paramount. Every email, memo, or report serves as a reflection of your competence and attention to detail. Yet, even seasoned professionals may inadvertently make common spelling mistakes that compromise the impact of their message.
This post delves into these spelling pitfalls, offering strategies to help you steer clear of them and ensure your written communication remains professional and effective.
a vs. an: a comes before words starting with a consonant sound, and an before words beginning with a vowel sound
For example:
a meeting
an email
accept vs. except: accept...
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Valentine's Day presents the perfect opportunity to express your love and appreciation for those dear to you through cards and notes. However, even the most heartfelt sentiments can be diminished by spelling errors.
In this blog post, we'll look at common spelling mistakes to avoid when crafting your Valentine's Day cards, along with tips for proofreading and ensuring accuracy. By paying attention to spelling, you can ensure that your love notes convey your feelings with clarity and precision.
Apostrophe Placement
Common mistake: ‘Happy Valentines Day!’
Correction: ‘Happy Valentine's Day!’
Tip: Remember to use an apostrophe to...
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For ESL learners, building a robust English vocabulary is crucial for effective communication and language proficiency. To support your language learning journey, we've curated three essential word lists focusing on key areas of vocabulary development. Whether you're just beginning to learn English or want to improve your skills, these lists are designed to help you become fluent in English.
Essential Words for ESL Learners: Building Vocabulary for Everyday
Improve your English vocabulary with this handpicked list of essential words for ESL learners, designed to improve everyday communication. From common greetings like 'hello' and 'goodbye'...
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Hello, spelling enthusiasts!
As we say goodbye to the first month of 2024, here's a recap of everything we shared on our blog. In January, we delved into linguistic exploration, schoolwide spelling strategies for success, interactive learning tools, and insights into the teaching, learning, and assessment cycle.
Whether you're a spelling student or a spelling teacher, our January blogs will help you improve your spelling, support your educational journey, and introduce you to new teaching and learning methods. Join us for a quick summary of the information covered this month.
3 Word Lists to Sharpen Your Spelling Skills
In our first blog post of the year, we shared...
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From initial assessments to personalised spelling courses and real-time evaluation, Spellzone streamlines the educational experience for teachers and students, making learning easy and enjoyable.
Spellzone adeptly manages each phase of the teaching, learning, and assessment cycle—identifying needs, planning learning, facilitating learning, assessing learning, and evaluating learning—so that educators can focus on what’s important: teaching.
Initial Assessment: Identifying Learner Needs with Spelling Ability Test
Spellzone begins the educational journey with an initial assessment—the Spelling Ability Test.
This assessment efficiently identifies...
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Are you looking for an engaging and interactive way to enhance your spelling skills or help your students enjoy the process of learning? Your search ends here!
Our online spelling games, available exclusively to Spellzone users, teach students to recognise and remember new spelling patterns, helping them build connections between sounds and spelling, while boosting confidence and spelling proficiency along the way.
Scroll down to find the right game for you!
Pattern Recognition Games
Recognise and memorise common English spelling patterns with our anagram-based games. You’ll be a master in no time.
Spelling Snowball
Winter spelling fun! Embark on a winter...
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Welcome to the new year! Are you ready to make the most of Spellzone in 2024?
Here’s checklist of 24 ways to ensure you're starting the year on the right track:
Spring term is here, why not get ahead on your spring cleaning? If your team has changed, learn how to to update your Spellzone staff list.
Now is also the time to add any new students and remove students who are no longer using Spellzone. More students than last year? Contact us to upgrade your Spellzone subscription.
If you have out-of-date classes on your Spellzone account, learn how to delete them and add new ones here.
It’s time to take stock of 2023’s...
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Welcome to our first blog post of 2024! Here are 3 word lists that will sharpen your spelling skills this month:
Janus Words
Words with double meanings can be tricky. Janus Words, or contranyms, are words that contradict themselves. The word dust, for example, can mean ‘to remove particles’ or ‘to sprinkle them’. These linguistic quirks show how one word can play both sides.
20 Sentence Starters to Help You Introduce, Expand, and Illustrate Ideas
Starting a sentence right matters. Our list of 20 Sentence Starters is here to help you do just that. From additionally to whereas, these sentence starters are tools for introducing,...
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Each month in 2023, we shared 3 word lists to help students build vocabulary and improve spelling. Follow the links to find each month’s word lists: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. Don’t forget all Spellzone word lists can be used in a range of online and offline activities.
We put together a list of every blog series we've shared over the years, including Commonly Confused Words, 10 Words , and American English vs. British English.
We added to our Commonly Confused Words series with berry vs. bury, meat vs. meet, oar vs. or vs. ore, and sleigh vs. slay; and expanded...
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What does each word mean?
A sleigh is a vehicle on runners which is pulled by horses or dogs over snow. As a verb, the word describes the act of riding in a sleigh.
Here is sleigh used in some example sentences:
Santa Claus delivers presents in a flying sleigh pulled by reindeer.
Do you hear the sleigh bells jingling?
We sleighed through the snow.
Slay means destroy or kill.
Here is slay used in some an example sentence:
The show about a teenager who slays vampire.
Where does each word come from?
The word sleigh dates to 1703 and comes from Dutch the ‘slee’, which is a shortened...
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