Spelling is something many children find difficult. For some it can be barrier to progress. 

Whether you’re a Parent, Home educator, Home schooler, Teacher or Teaching assistant, you’ve probably worked with children who know what they want to write but get stuck when it comes to actually spelling the words.

In this post, I want to take a look at the app Word Wizard - designed to support spelling development in a practical, accessible way - and think about why it works for a wide range of learners.

This post also supports my YouTube video, where I demonstrate the app and talk through how it can be used in real learning situations.

Spelling is not a single skill. It relies on:

• Hearing and identifying sounds

• Linking sounds to letters

• Remembering patterns

• Visual discrimination

• Concentration and confidence

For children with additional needs like dyslexia, speech and language, ADHD, autism, or others, sometimes traditional spelling approaches don't always work. This is where the use of technology can sometimes make a huge difference.

What is Word Wizard?

Word Wizard is an app that supports spelling through a phonics‑based, multisensory approach. Instead of asking children to simply memorise spellings, it allows them to:

• Hear individual sounds and whole words

• Build words by dragging letters into place

• Experiment with spelling without pressure

• Learn through sound, movement and repetition

• Work on pre-existing or customised word lists

• Use simple images to support key words

On my YouTube channel, I show how this works in practice and how intuitive it is for children to pick up.

Why does Word Wizard work?

1. It links sounds and letters clearly: Word Wizard reinforces the connection between phonemes and graphemes, which is essential for spelling development. Children can hear sounds as they build words rather than guessing or relying on visual memory alone.

2. It’s low‑pressure and confidence‑building: There’s no sense of failure built into the app. Children can try things out, make mistakes and self‑correct. This is particularly important for learners who may already feel anxious or discouraged about spelling. 

3. It supports independence: Once introduced, many children can use Word Wizard independently. This makes it useful in the classroom, for interventions or at home. It lends itself to short, regular practise sessions. It also means adults can support without having to correct or prompt.

4. It’s suitable for mainstream and SEND learners: Word Wizard is flexible. It works well in the classroom, at SEND provisions and for interventions, in home education settings and with learners working at different levels or speeds

There isn’t a correct way to use it - it is very flexible.

Who benefit the most from Word Wizard?

From my experience, Word Wizard is particularly helpful for:

• Children who struggle with traditional spellings and spelling tests

• Learners with dyslexia or difficulties with their phonics

• SEND pupils needing structured but supportive spelling work

• Home‑educated or home-schooled children working at an individual pace

• Teaching assistants supporting 1:1, small‑group work or running interventions.

Watch the video

If you’d like to see Word Wizard in action, including how it works and ideas for using it with children, watch my video:

youtu.be/YdqF9CZT9t4 

Final thoughts

Technology won’t solve every learning difficulty — but when it’s chosen carefully, it can remove barriers.

Word Wizard is a strong example of an app that focuses on:

• Sounds rather than memorisation

• Confidence rather than correction

• Learning rather than testing

If spelling is tricky for your child, it’s well worth trying! Let me know your thoughts in the comments.