Dictation is the process where the parent speaks while the child transcribes exactly what the parent is saying. This is a method used by, but not limited to those who follow the Charlotte Mason approach to home schooling. Dictation is primarily used to reinforce grammar and spelling skills. This is an effective method if done correctly and consistently. For the purpose of this blog I will focus on how dictation can be used to master spelling.
The first step is to choose a passage from your child’s reading, the Bible, a Hymn, etc. to use for dictation. Give your child a copy of the chosen passage to study at the beginning of the week. Allow your child to study it throughout the week. The goal is for your child to be confident in his ability to spell the words in the passage. You do not want him to guess at the spelling of the words. Learning through dictation places an emphasis on habits which instill the correct lesson and does not confuse it with an incorrect lesson.
Once your child is ready, you can proceed with dictation. Read the passage word by word or sentence by sentence depending on your child’s ability. Encourage your child to write as neatly as he is able during dictation. Keep an eye on every word your child writes. If he spells a word incorrectly, quietly cover it up with a Post-It or piece of paper, and then move on. Do not stop dictation to have your child correct a misspelled word. The word gets covered so the child does not get into the habit of seeing incorrect spelling.
Once dictation is over, take note of which words are misspelled. There should not be many errors since you are only taking dictation after the child has adequately studied the passage. Again, I want to emphasize that this is about habit and training and not guesswork. Any missed words should be given to your child to copy the correct spelling either by going over the passage again or simply writing the misspelled word five to ten times. It is important to only allow the child to view correctly spelled words.
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