Invented Spelling Explained

In kindergarten, my granddaughter has been encouraged to write even though she rarely spells a word correctly. The teacher says she is using what is known as "invented spelling." When will she learn to spell words correctly? - Worried Granny
Answer: When children begin writing in kindergarten, there is not much resemblance to spelling as we know it. They are just starting to understand that sounds are assigned to letters. At first, children will use single letters to stand for words, sounds and syllables. For example, they'll use "U" for "you."
As kindergartners learn more about the relationship between letters and sounds, they will use a letter or a group of letters to represent every sound they hear in a word. While they won't spell words conventionally, it's easy to recognize words such as "KOM" for "come." With the help of wall charts, kindergartners will actually learn to correctly spell a few very frequently used words.
In first grade, children really start learning how to read. Through their reading, they will learn how to spell some words. The children will still be relying considerably on invented spelling. It is not usually until the second half of the school year that first-graders begin to have some spelling instruction.
By second grade, the reading habit has been established, and formal spelling instruction is started. When this happens, the need for children to use invented spelling should diminish. To some degree, people use invented spelling throughout their lives to handle words that they have never seen in print.