Have you noticed that dictation seems to come back around every few decades? Well, it is currently back in classrooms again and for a good reason! Dictation is a fantastic way for students to apply their spelling knowledge (and punctuation) to their writing without the cognitive load of also trying to think of what to write.
However, it’s important to make sure it doesn’t become something students dread. Trust me, I remember the days when dictation felt like a test—especially when it came to having to call my score out in front of the class (😖). That experience is definitely one we want to avoid!
Instead, I aim to create a positive, confidence-building atmosphere around dictation in my classroom. Here’s how I do it:
Two Types of Dictation in My Classroom
I do two different dictations each week to keep learning targeted;
- Daily Dictation: This is a quick part of our daily review and is based on the sound we’re focusing on that week. For my Year 1s, we do one sentence a day so it’s nice and quick, and it’s taken from our whole class reading passage.
- Spelling Dictation: During our PLD spelling lessons, I have three separate groups on different levels. I take one group on a Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, while the others are doing Look, Cover, Write, Check and an activity. For each group, we do dictation at their level and try to get through a whole passage (~5 sentences for year 1).
Top Tips for Confidence-Building Dictation
To help students build confidence with dictation, here are a few strategies I use in my classroom:
- Show the Passage First: In the first term, I always show students the passage before we do dictation. We go through each word, sound it out, and talk about any tricky parts. By Term 2, I still show them the passage, but we only dig into it together during the marking phase.
- Use Whiteboards: For daily review and in the first term during our PLD dictation, I have students write on whiteboards. This way, students feel less worried about making mistakes as they can easily correct them.
- Praise and Prompt: While students are writing I scan their work, offering praise for the words or punctuation they get right. If I spot mistakes, I give them prompts to try and correct it themselves. This encourages problem-solving and builds confidence.
- Repeat, Repeat, Repeat: Gone are the days of dictation being said only twice and expecting students to remember it all. I now repeat sentences, phrases, or words as many times as needed —this helps avoid cognitive overload and allows students to focus on writing correctly.
- Don’t Let Dictation Run Too Long: Not every student needs to complete the whole passage. As soon as half the class finishes their dictation, I stop the group and we go over it together.
Make Dictation a Positive Experience!
The key takeaway here is that dictation can be a positive, confidence-building activity when approached thoughtfully. By building confidence, offering support, and using strategic practices, dictation can become a tool that students actually enjoy.
Do you have any tips or strategies you’ve found helpful for dictation? I’d love to hear them!