Use muscle memory to help a dyslexic child remember new spellings.
Joined-up writing is a form of muscle memory:
- The muscles remember the movements the arm makes when writing a word.
- This makes it easier for a dyslexic child to remember new spellings.
This activity is based on research from “Dyslexia in the classroom”, R. Jordan Dale.
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Help a dyslexic child learn new spellings
Read, write and remember new words, in 3 short activities. 10 minutes a day, with free printable worksheets.
Try it today: trace a tricky word
Pick one word your child finds hard to spell, for example friends. Then:
- Write it – write the word clearly in joined-up writing.
- Trace it – let your child trace over it with their finger or a pencil. They might need to trace it up to ten times.
- Try it alone – when they feel ready, ask them to write the word on their own.
Want the full Muscle Memory activity, ready to go?
The Muscle Memory card has everything in one place: ready-made steps for you on the front and a picture activity for your child on the back. It’s one of 56 ten-minute activities in the Mooki Cards deck.
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Remember word spellings: tips from the Dyslexic Mum
Get advice from the Dyslexic Mum on how she used joined-up writing to help her child with new spellings.
“Have you ever rehearsed for a performance or practised a dance? When you need to remember how to spell a word, do you write it down first? This happens because we need to repeat things to remember them.
I was surprised to learn that teaching my child joined-up writing could help her spell. How could she spell using joined-up writing if she could barely write? The answer is that joined-up writing is like practising a dance. The arm remembers the move.”
Follow these top tips when using muscle memory:
- Focus on words that are hard for the child to spell – start with hard words for dyslexic children to spell, like “children”, “friends” and “school”.
- Be patient – tracing a word many times is normal. Repeating it is what helps it stick.
- Mix in other dyslexia-friendly methods – try the Rule of 10 and multi-sensory learning.
Watch: learn joined-up writing
In this video, “Learn joined-up writing”, the Dyslexic Mum shares tips on helping dyslexic kids use joined-up writing to practise spelling.
