Finding the correct spelling of a word can be difficult if you do not have at least a few of the first letters right. Learning how to spell is considered a fundamental skill, and it takes time to memorize spelling rules and exceptions.
Most adults find going to the dictionary or using spell check the easiest solution. However, for lower elementary students or ESL students, using those resources might prove to be even more difficult. Although many people may say "go to the dictionary," it can be impossible to look up the word if the students are spelling "phantom" as "fantom." They might never find the correct spelling. In that same instance, relying on spell checking from a word processing program may not work, either.
Checking Spelling in School
One of the best ways to check spelling of unfamiliar or difficult words in school is to use the resources the teacher has made available. Word walls are often large charts which have vocabulary words listed that are pertinent to students