The big ideaListen to the whole word first. Then type it, a chunk at a time.
How it works
When someone says a word for you to type, listen to the whole word first. Wait until the voice stops, then type.
Cut a long word into small chunks, like but, ter, fly. Stretch a short word, like lamp, to hear every sound: l, a, m, p.
Some words are not spelled the way they sound, like said. Picture the word in your head.
Read it back before you say you are done: does it look right and sound right? If you miss a word, ask to hear it again.
Four rules for a secret word.
Example 1: A short word: lamp
Listen to the whole word, lamp.
Stretch it slowly, like a rubber band, to hear l, a, m, p.
Type one key for each sound.
Lamp uses L, A, M and P.
Example 2: A long word: butterfly
Listen to the whole word, butterfly.
Cut it into chunks: but, ter, fly.
Type one chunk at a time, like three little bites.
Read it back.
Example 3: Two words: red hat
Listen to both words, red hat.
Say them over in your head, red hat, red hat, so they stay safe.
Type red, tap the space bar once, then type hat.
Example 4: A tricky word: said
Said sounds like sed, but it is spelled s, a, i, d.
Picture the word in your head, and type it the way it looks.
Read it back and check that the letters look right.
Words to know
chunk
A small piece of a long word, like but, ter or fly.
stretch
Say a short word slowly so you can hear every sound.
tricky word
A word that is not spelled the way it sounds, like said or was.
Watch out
Typing at the first sound means you miss the end of the word. Wait for the whole word.
Never guess. If you missed a word, ask to hear it again.
Some words are tricky and not spelled as they sound, such as said and was.
With two words, keep both in your head until both are typed.
Try it
When do you start typing a word you hear?
How can you type a long word like butterfly?
Is said spelled as it sounds?
You missed a word. What do you do?
Answers: 1. After the whole word is said · 2. Cut it into chunks · 3. No · 4. Ask to hear it again
Try at homeOpen a blank page with a grown-up beside you, and they read one word at a time while you type it without seeing it. Ask to hear a word again if you need to, then read your words back and check them together.
For grown-upsRead your child one word at a time while they type it without seeing it, saying a long word in chunks if they ask; let them ask for it again, and read each word back together.
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