Guide · the classic method
Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check (and Why It Works)
Look at the word and spot the tricky part. Say it aloud. Cover it. Write it from memory. Check it letter by letter. The cover step is what makes it work, because writing from memory is what builds spelling.
The step people skip
Lots of kids peek. If the word is visible while they write, it becomes copying, which does very little. Fold the paper, use a card, or play a game that hides the word for them.
Spot the tricky part first
Before covering, ask: which bit is the hard part? In friend it's ie, in because it's au. Naming it focuses attention exactly where mistakes happen.
Do two rounds, not five
Two careful rounds per word are better than five rushed ones. Come back tomorrow for the ones that slipped.
How to do it with Spellcove
- Print the look-say-cover-write-check sheet for your list.
- Do two rounds per word, folding the paper to cover.
- Play Lighthouse Flash in the game: the word flashes once, then disappears.
- Test on Thursday with the spelling test template.
Questions people ask
Is look-say-cover-write-check still recommended?
Yes. It's one of the simplest ways to practice spelling from memory, as long as the cover step is real.
What age is it for?
Any age from about 6. Younger children can build the word with letter tiles instead of writing.
Take the cove with you
The Spellcove app has everything you can play here, plus the parts that need a real app: every word read aloud so kids can practice alone, offline play for car rides, a parent view of which words have stuck, and the full treasure collection.
Coming soon on theApp Store