Same Reading › Advanced phonics and spelling › Dictation
What is dictation in phonics?
In dictation, a teacher or parent says a word or sentence and the child writes it, using only patterns they've been taught. It's spelling practice that mirrors reading: instead of turning letters into sounds, kids turn sounds into letters.
- You say it clearly, once or twice.
- Your child repeats, taps and writes each sound.
- Then they read it back to check.
Why schools teach it
Spelling and reading feed each other
Spelling a word means knowing every sound and its spelling, so dictation makes kids attend to the same patterns they're learning to read (RF.1.3, L.1.2d). Research suggests practicing both directions strengthens each.
Dictation isn't a weekly spelling test: the words aren't memorized ahead of time. They're new words built from patterns your child already knows.
At the kitchen table
What to say, and what to skip
Say this
Say the word back to me first.
Tap the sounds before you write.
Which spelling do we use for that sound?
For example, ck after a short vowel.Read it back. Does it say what I said?
Skip this
- Spelling it out loud for them.Let them work it out from the sounds.
- Using patterns that haven't been taught.Stick to sounds your child knows.
- Marking every mistake in red.Point to the sound that's off and let them fix it.
See it in action
Dictating “The dog can dig.”
Say the sentence; your child repeats it
“The dog can dig.”Your child writes one word at a time, tapping sounds
/d/ /o/ /g/ → dogRead it back together and fix one thing
Capital T, period at the end
Heart words like the can go in sentences once they've been taught.
Free practice sheet
Make a dictation sheet
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Fridge cheat sheets
Reading Fridge Cheat Sheets
Every reading method in one printable book (107 pages): a cheat sheet page like this guide, plus a practice sheet and its answer key for each, in Classic and handwritten Notebook styles. $9 one time, or all 7 subjects for $29.99. See all prices.
Teacher? This method has a classroom pack on TeachersPayTeachers: an anchor chart, a parent letter and practice sheets with answer keys, $4. See the pack
Parents: tell your child's teacher about this guide
Parents also ask
How is this different from a spelling test?
The words aren't practiced in advance. They use patterns your child knows, so they're spelled by sound, not memory.
How many words?
Five to eight words and a sentence or two is plenty.
Should I say the word slowly?
Say it naturally. Your child does the stretching and tapping.
What if my child gets stuck?
Ask for the sounds one at a time, then which spelling fits each.