How to Teach Spelling: Part 2

(Note: This is Part 2 in a 3-part series. In our previous blog post (Part 1), we discuss the first part step of the encoding process, “What Says?”. If you missed "How to Teach Spelling: Part 1" click HERE to get caught up!)

Some students need more than a pencil and a piece of paper when practicing spelling. They need movement, repetition, and letter-sound integration. That’s where the second step of the encoding (spelling) procedure comes in: Simultaneous Oral Spelling (S.O.S.)

WHAT Is S.O.S.?

Simultaneous Oral Spelling is a multisensory encoding routine. Students:

1. Say the word
2. Tap the sounds on their fingers
3. Spell the word on their fingers
4. Write the word while saying the letters aloud
5. Read it back

It’s a core practice in many structured literacy programs because it connects speech, sound, and motor memory - making it multisensory.

HOW It Works

Choose words with spelling patterns that you've already explicitly and systematically taught, and others your students need to review. Your routine might sound something like this...

1. Teacher says:
   “Say <pot>. Like in the sentence, I will boil water in a pot.”
   ➡️ Students: "pot"
2. Teacher says:
   “Tap the sounds.”
   ➡️ Students: tap each sound on their fingers, starting with thumb and pointer, thumb and middle, thumb and ring finger.
3. Teacher says:
   “Name the letters.”
   ➡️ Student: tap each letter name on their fingers, starting with thumb and pointer, thumb and middle, thumb and ring finger.
4. Teacher says:
   “Write and name.”
   ➡️ Student: write and name each letter of the word
5. Teacher says:
   “Read what you wrote.”
   ➡️ Student: "pot"

This might seem like a laborious process, but each step is important, and once you're students understand the procedure it goes quickly. 

WHY It Works

SOS taps into:

• Auditory pathways (saying sounds aloud)
• Visual pathways (seeing letters as they write)
• Kinesthetic pathways (movement/motor memory)

This helps build automaticity and spelling confidence, especially for:

• Dyslexic learners
• Students with working memory challenges
• Anyone who benefits from explicit practice

More Ways to Make It Multisensory

Multisensory learning involves the combination of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic-tactile pathways to improve memory and learning. Multisensory learning is good for all students, and absolutely necessary for some.

Here are few ways to make your "S.O.S." routine even more multisensory and engaging:

• Use spelling mats and chips (see ready to go resources below)
• Use sand trays, gel bags or shaving cream
• Get out the fun scented markers, sparkle pens, or other fun writing utensils
• Skywriting (to make this strategy even more effective - have your students cross the mid-line with their opposite hand placed on the shoulder of the arm doing the skywriting)
• Write the word in the palm of their hand with their finger

Time for a Freebie!

Help your students through the encoding process with the same resource that we use! Click HERE, or on the image below to download your free copy!

Ready-To-Go Resources

If you're looking to make your reading instruction less stressful and more effective, we have two ready-to-go resources that will make your teacher life SO.MUCH.EASIER! ⬇️

Launching Literacy Membership

The Launching Literacy membership for teachers is a one-stop-shop for all your literacy needs! For every concept in our scope & sequence, we've included a lesson plan, decodable word list, encoding page for students, decodable reader, and MUCH more. Just click, print, and teach!

Small Group Literacy Toolkits

These toolkits contain all of the multisensory tools you need to teach foundational reading and spelling skills in your small groups!

• Includes 5 student toolkits
• Comes with a ring of Routine Cards for Teachers
• Features systematic, multisensory instruction for reading and spelling
• What's Included: (5) Student Toolkits, each including: Durable Zipper Pouch, Write-On/Wipe-Off Spelling Mat, Write-On/Wipe-Off Multisyllabic Spelling Mat, Write-On/Wipe-Off Heart Words Mat, Write-On/Wipe-Off C.O.P.S. Editing Checklist, Dry Erase Marker with Eraser, Highlighter, Mini Pointer Stick, Googly-Eyed Reading Buddy, Plastic Container with 10 Double-Sided Sound Chips 

Coming Up Next:

Now that your students are spelling words accurately—let’s take it up a level. In Part 3, we’ll use sentence dictation to apply spelling, grammar, and meaning all at once.