How to Learn to Spell a Word.—A great many men have spent much time and money in finding out for you the best way to learn to spell. The directions which follow are based on what these men have discovered.
1. The first thing to do in learning to spell a word is to pronounce it correctly. Pronounce the word, saying each syllable very distinctly, and looking closely at each syllable as you say it.
2. With closed eyes try to see the word in your book, syllable by syllable, as you pronounce it in a whisper. In pronouncing the words, be sure to say each syllable distinctly. After saying the word, keep trying to recall how the word looked in your book, and at the same time say the letters. Spell by syllables.
3. Open your eyes, and look at the word to see whether or not you had it right.
4. Look at the word again, saying the syllables very distinctly. If you did not have the word right on your first trial, say the letters this time as you look sharply at the syllables.
5. Try again with closed eyes to see the word as you spell the syllables in a whisper.
6. Look again at your book to see if you had the word right. Keep trying until you can spell each syllable correctly with closed eyes.
7. When you feel sure that you have learned the word, write it without looking at your book, and then compare your attempt with the book to see whether or not you wrote it correctly.
8. Now write the word three times, covering each trial with your hand before you write the word the next time, so that you cannot copy. If all of these trials are right, you may say that you have learned the word for the present. If you make a single mistake, begin with the first direction and go through each step again.
9. Study each word by this method. Take special pains to attend closely to each step in the method. Hard and careful work is what counts.