The Magical Spelling strategy
Have a go at teaching yourself, or someone else, to spell this way. The words in italics should be said out loud. Try it on a few people to start. You can teach it to a whole class at once when you have practised.
Preparation
Have the correct spelling of the word, using lower case lettering, on a piece of card or paper in front of you. Know what the word means, and a sentence it fits in.
The Good Feeling !
Think of something that makes you feel successful, safe, comfortable, warm inside, something that makes you go 'Yes!', or all of these, and more, making sure you have a really good feeling.
You can adjust this feeling to make it even stronger. Make your picture of it even nicer. Make the sounds of it even better, in whatever way works for you. When the feeling is very strong, look up at the correct spelling and say the word to yourself.
Storing the Correct Spelling
Move the correct spelling up and to your left, so that your eyes also move up and to the left, continuing to be aware of your good feeling.
As you remove the card from your line of sight, notice that you are continuing to see the word still, somehow in your mind's eye, knowing that the word is there, up and to the left.
Now, looking at the card again in that upper left position and noticing that it is the same as the word you are 'seeing', noticing also the good feeling as you see the correct spelling of the word; as you remove the card from your line of sight again, continue to 'see' that the word is still there, up and to the left, and keeping your good feeling ...
Trying It Out
...write down the letters you are 'seeing' in your mind's eye, checking up and to the left any time it¹s useful. Now, decide for yourself if the word you have written is correct. Notice the feeling that tells you whether it is right or wrong.
Look at what you have written, and check it against the card, letter by letter. Mark each correct letter with a tick, as you check it against the correct spelling. Say 'Yes!' for every letter that is right, and in the right order. Notice the good feeling that having written the correct spelling gives you. If any letters are not right yet, correct them, or cross out the whole word and write it again correctly.
Getting It Right
If your word isn't the same as the correct version yet, go through the process a second time.
Just Playing!
When it is correct, go on to the last step for an extra special game. Looking up again at the word in your mind's eye, start at the end of the word and say the letters out loud, quickly. When you're doing this, you're doing 'Magical Spelling'!
Booklets and Training available
