A recent study reveals that creative writing (or ‘riting’) significantly enhances children’s reading skills. Reading is essential, forming a core part of education alongside math and science. For ages, parents and educators have explored various techniques to teach young children to read, from flashcards and phonics to memorizing the alphabet. However, surprisingly, the most effective method might not involve reading at all.
So What Truly Helps?
Writing – especially with imaginative spelling. A study published in January 2017 in Developmental Psychology found that invented spelling, rather than correct spelling, plays a crucial role in a child’s reading development, often surpassing the benefits of learning the alphabet or sight words.
As highlighted by Parent.co, this new research indicates that writing and reading skills develop simultaneously. It suggests that reading may depend more on writing than the other way around. The study involved 171 first-year schoolchildren assessed on oral vocabulary, phonological awareness, word reading, and invented spelling. After about a year, their reading and spelling abilities were evaluated. Encouraging children to write frequently, even if it means using inventive spellings—referred to by my kids’ teacher as “brave spelling”—is vital for reading growth.
The Benefits of Inventive Spelling
“The process of creating their spellings significantly boosts a child’s ability to decode and learn to read by the end of first grade,” explains Dr. J. Richard Gentry. While he provides a complex explanation about neurological pathways, the essence remains that “practice makes perfect.”
The human brain improves at whatever it practices, including inventive spelling. Gentry states that thinking about how to spell a word allows children to engage in active decision-making rather than just rote memorization. Some parents and educators may worry that promoting incorrect spelling could hinder proper learning, but researchers found the opposite to be true. They discovered a clear link between invented spelling in kindergarten and correct spelling along with enhanced reading scores in first grade.
Encouragement Over Correction
Dr. Gentry advises that parents and teachers should resist correcting a child’s spelling too quickly. Instead, they should encourage the child to read aloud what they have written. In essence, we parents should relax a bit. The unique spellings our children create are not detrimental to their educational journey—in fact, they are beneficial.
We often find joy in our kids’ handwritten messages like “I LUV U” or “MOM IZ PRETEE.” Now there’s an added incentive to celebrate these notes and display them on the fridge. They not only bring smiles but also contribute to our kids’ engagement as budding readers.
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Conclusion
In summary, nurturing a child’s writing, even with misspelled words, is a powerful way to enhance their reading skills. Encouraging creativity in spelling fosters their ability to decode and understand language, leading to better reading outcomes.