Introduction to Spellings for Me – Overview and Fundamentals

Spellings for Me is an individualised spelling programme developed specifically for primary schools, initially launched in 2019 and significantly updated with Version 2 in January 2025. This article offers a concise overview of the programme’s purpose, structure, and key features.

The Problem with Traditional Spelling Methods

Traditionally, students across all ability levels have been given generic lists of spelling words. This results in capable spellers revising words they already know, while struggling spellers are overwhelmed by content far beyond their current ability. This leads to ineffective learning and decreased motivation.

Set spelling lists also often result in unfair comparisons between peers, particularly when lower-level books or altered lists are visibly assigned. The traditional model focuses heavily on testing rather than teaching spelling strategies.

What Makes Spellings for Me Different?

Spellings for Me creates individualised spelling lists tailored to each student’s ability—not their age, class level, or standardised test scores. The platform supports:

Struggling spellers, including those with dyslexia

Gifted spellers with advanced vocabulary lists

Students learning English as an additional language (EAL)

Structure of the Programme

The programme includes both online and offline components:

Online (Assessment and Differentiation):

Placement test to determine starting point

200 progressive levels (Levels 1–77 based on phonics/rules, Levels 78–200 based on key vocabulary)

Yellow spelling tests to determine known/unknown words

Orange Learning Words grid populated with errors for focused revision

Practice mode and performance tracking

Dictation sentence-based tests for contextual learning

Offline (Teaching and Learning):

Word study takes place offline

Printable or physical workbooks available

Recommended 12 words over 4 weeks (adjustable based on individual needs)

Strategy instruction (phonics, rules, visual strategies, etc.)

Weekly learning grids for structured revision

Learning Words Cycle

Student completes yellow spelling tests until 48 errors are recorded

The student studies these “learning words” over 4 weeks

The teacher unlocks an assessment test on these words

Words spelled correctly move to the Mastered section; incorrect ones are recycled

The yellow test reopens and the cycle continues

Additional Features

Skipping Logic: If a student scores 100% on a level, the system skips 5 levels; 95%+ results in a 3-level skip

Built-in Lists: Dolch, Fry, SNIP, and more

Etymology & Morphology: Tools to support deeper understanding of word structure

Gifted Section: Including difficult vocabulary and U.S. Spelling Bee content

Progress Reports: Available to teachers at all stages

Self-correction Mode: Enables students to reflect on errors and learn visually

Teacher Dashboard

From the dashboard, teachers can:

Monitor student progress in real time

Access error analysis and learning targets

Print learning grids and worksheets

Adjust learning expectations per student

Getting Started

Print login cards from the teacher profile

Students complete the placement and initial test

Begin the cycle of testing, learning, and mastery

The platform is fully differentiated and takes the admin burden off teachers, letting them focus on teaching strategies and supporting learning where it matters most.

Video Library & Support

A full range of follow-up videos is available on:

Using the platform efficiently

Offline workbook use

Teaching strategies

Data & progress tracking

For further guidance, visit the Knowledge Base or email us at info@spellingsforme.com.

Teacher Dashboard Overview – Spellings for Me

The Teacher Dashboard is the control centre for managing, monitoring, and maximising your class’s progress with Spellings for Me. It provides quick insights into student performance, administrative tools, and access to reports and resources.

🔍 Understanding the Dashboard Interface

When you log into your teacher account, you’ll see a table displaying all students in your class with the following key columns:

Status Icons:

🔒 Red Lock: Student has reached 48 errors and must now study their learning words. No further tests available.

🟠 Partially Filled: Student is nearing the 48-word limit (e.g., 45/48).

⚪ Blank: Student is in an active cycle and must complete their orange test.

Level: Indicates the student’s current level of spelling proficiency. Click to sort students by ability. Levels go from 1–200; level 201 refers to the Gifted/Genius Section.

Words Correct / Incorrect: Tracks student inputs in all tests (Yellow, Orange, Practice, etc.).

Mastered Words: This is your key metric. It reflects the total number of words a student has successfully learned. Aim for steady growth over the academic year.

Last Completed Test: Shows when the student last took a test—helpful for monitoring engagement.

Last Learning Words Score:

✅ Green: 70%+

⚠️ Orange: 40–70%

❌ Red: Below 40%

📋 Student Reports & Data

Click the Actions button beside each student to access detailed reporting:

Current Learning Words: Their current bank of learning words.

Learning Words with Attempts: Includes original attempts for error analysis.

All Incorrect Spellings: Useful for SEN reviews and educational assessments.

Learning Words Results: Performance on orange tests.

Morphology Results: Tracks progress through morphology word matrix work.

Export Student Data: Excel file with all actions, tests, and timestamps.

🛠️ Administration Tools

Log in as Student: Useful for live demonstrations.

Edit Student Level: Manually skip students forward if needed (placement test is generally accurate).

Adjust Error Ceiling: Customise the weekly word count (e.g., 48 → 36, 24, 12) to support learners who need fewer words.

Edit Student Details: Names, passwords, and even voice accents can be updated.

Change Class or Delete/Reset Profile: Keep your data clean by removing departed students.

Clear Learning Words: Use this if moving students to a different test type (e.g., EAL, SNIP, Dolch). Their Yellow test data will be wiped.

➕ Adding Students & Classes

Add Student: Just input the first name, surname, and assign to a class.

Create Class: Done via the administration panel. Once created, assign yourself as the teacher and add your students.

You can also download login cards in bulk or individually for student access (QR, username, password).

🔓 Unlocking Orange Tests

After a 4-week study period, teachers must manually unlock the orange test (Learning Words Test). Simply:

Select students via checkboxes

Click "Unlock Learning Words Test for Selected Users"

Takes 30 seconds!

📈 Performance Insights – The Chat Section

This view gives a snapshot of class performance, showing:

Total words mastered per student

Levels achieved

Differentiation range within your class

Great for parent meetings and progress reports

🧾 Bulk Reports

No need to click into individual student profiles.

View and download reports on:

Learning Words scores

Morphology progress

Mastered Words

General spelling ability

🧠 Morphology & Etymology Tools

Access full video lessons and games for your class

Play games like Word Connections and Guess the Word using teacher tools

Lessons are printable and aligned to curriculum spelling patterns

🖨️ Printable Resources

Find all resources in the Printable Section, including:

Teacher manual

Scripted lessons by level (phonics & rules)

Worksheets by theme (EAL, games, vocabulary)

Tests you’ve built using the Test Builder Tool

✉️ Using Notifications

Send messages or homework reminders through the platform:

Choose a class or student

Type your message

Select General Update or Homework

Send instantly

Great for communicating spelling tasks to be completed at home.

✅ Recommended First Steps

Access the Getting Started Checklist (link in your dashboard)

Register for a training webinar

Browse video guides by topic

Explore our AI-powered Knowledge Base—ask a question any time!

📩 Need Support?

For any additional questions, please reach out to us at
📧 info@spellingsforme.com

Student Profile Overview – Spellings for Me

Each student using Spellings for Me is provided with a personalised profile designed to support their learning journey, from initial assessment to continuous progress tracking. Here's what you need to know about how the student profile works.

🚀 Initial Setup: Placement Tests

When a student logs in for the first time:

Placement Test: Determines their spelling ability level. It adapts in real time—once enough errors are made, the test stops to prevent frustration.

Follow-Up Test: Confirms the level to begin at. The result places the student on an appropriate level (e.g. Level 1–200). A blue-green circle indicates their starting point.

🧠 Yellow & Orange Tests: Core of the Program

Yellow Spelling Tests: Students complete spelling tests; correct words are discarded, incorrect ones are stored.

Orange Learning Words: Up to 48 misspelled words are stored for a 4-week study cycle.

Practice Mode: Students can now practice these words online—a major feature in Version 2.

✍️ Additional Test Types

In addition to the core Yellow and Orange tests, students can access:

Dictation Tests: Practice spelling within sentences.

Mastered Words: Words learned previously are retained and can be revised. This is vital for long-term retention—especially for students who struggle with spelling.

Alternative Word Lists:

SNIP

Dolch

Fry

Key Vocabulary

Custom/School Tests: Created by teachers for specific needs (e.g. genre-based, curriculum-aligned).

Statutory Spelling Tests: Built-in tests for England, New Zealand, and other national curricula.

Phonics and Rules Section: Includes assessments and printable phonics lessons.

EAL Section: Designed for English language learners.

If students complete the full Yellow Test suite, they automatically unlock Gifted & Genius spelling challenges.

📊 Tracking Progress

My Progress Dashboard

Provides a complete view of:

Results from all tests (Learning Words, Morphology, etc.)

Certificates earned

Trends in performance over time

This section is designed to be parent-friendly, giving guardians a snapshot of their child’s development.

🎓 Morphology & Etymology

Students have access to the Morphology and Etymology section:

Icons and progress bars show completed sections

Encourages word analysis and vocabulary growth

Games and structured word matrix exercises included

📚 Student Tools & Resources

Students also have access to:

Video Lessons

Spelling Games (e.g., Wordle-style games, Connections)

Parent Webinar (found in the Knowledge Base)

Worksheets and Printables for at-home reinforcement

Notifications: Homework or messages sent by the teacher appear here

🧑‍🏫 Teacher Tip: Use a Fake Student

We recommend teachers create a fake student profile to:

Demonstrate how to log in

Walk students through the test structure

Highlight how to navigate their dashboard

✅ Main Takeaways

Most students will spend the majority of time using the Yellow Spelling Test

All other tests, games, and learning tools are built to support, reinforce, and extend learning

Parent visibility and student self-reflection are embedded features

Everything is designed for differentiated, ability-based learning

📩 Need Support?
Email us any time at info@spellingsforme.com or visit our in-app Knowledge Base to explore more help articles and videos.
 

🏫 Efficient Implementation of Spellings for Me in Schools

Option 1: 4-Week Cycle (Ideal for Regular Device Access)

Weekly Structure:

Weeks 1–4: Students study their personalised spelling grids, which are printed and pasted into their workbooks.

Week 4 (Thursday/Friday): Students take the Learning Words test (orange test) using available devices.

Teacher Responsibilities:

Thursday Morning: Log into the teacher profile and bulk unlock the Learning Words test for all students.

Friday Afternoon: After testing, bulk print the next set of personalised spelling grids for each student to begin the new cycle.

Key Considerations:

Maintain a consistent 4-week cycle for all students, regardless of absences. Missed words will automatically carry over to the next cycle, ensuring no learning gaps.

Option 2: 5-Week Cycle (For Limited Device Access)

Weekly Structure:

Weeks 1–4: Similar to Option 1, students study their personalised spelling grids.

Week 5: Testing is scheduled based on device availability (e.g., Monday and Wednesday).

Enrichment Opportunities:

Utilize the fifth week for activities such as:

Morphology and etymology studies.

Themed spelling grids (e.g., local place names, curriculum-specific vocabulary).

Custom tests created using the Test Builder feature.

Teacher Responsibilities:

Ensure that testing occurs during the fifth week, aligning with device availability.

Continue the cycle consistently to maintain regular assessment intervals.

📌 Best Practices for Teachers

Consistency: Adhere to the chosen cycle (4-week or 5-week) to establish a predictable routine.

Inclusivity: Unlock tests for all students simultaneously, regardless of individual study completion, to maintain uniformity.

Customisation: Incorporate locally relevant words and curriculum-specific vocabulary to enhance student engagement.

Monitoring: Regularly review student progress through the reporting features to inform instruction and provide targeted support.

By implementing these structured approaches, teachers can effectively manage the Spellings for Me programme, ensuring personalised learning and consistent progress for all students.

If you need further assistance with setting up these cycles or have questions about specific features within the Spellings for Me programme, feel free to ask!

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