Progress Over Perfection: When Spelling Errors Are a Good Sign
Thu Feb 05 2026
Episode 84: A parent of a second grader recently asked a question I hear all the time:
“Do I need to care that much about spelling if my child is improving—even if there are still lots of errors?”
Her child recently started spelling MY correctly (it used to be MI), which is real progress—but the writing sample still includes plenty of misspellings. The child wrote it independently, without adult prompting, and that raised an honest question:
Should we correct spelling every time? Or is there a moment where confidence matters more than accuracy?
In this episode, I break down:
• What gradual improvement in spelling actually looks like in second grade• Why MY instead of MI is a meaningful developmental leap• The difference between practice writing and performance writing• When spelling accuracy does matter—and when it really doesn’t• Why over-correcting can shut kids down as writers• How to “hold kids accountable for what they’ve learned” without nitpicking• What spelling errors can tell us about phonics, orthography, and growth• Whether it’s controversial to care less about spelling sometimes
We’ll talk about how spelling develops over time, how it connects to reading, and how parents can support progress without turning every writing moment into a correction session.
If you’ve ever wondered:
• “Am I being too chill about spelling?”• “Should I fix this… or let it go?”• “Is my child behind—or just learning?”
This episode will give you clarity—and permission to focus on what actually matters.Links Mentioned:Episode 54 "When do I start correcting my child's spelling?"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-on-words/id1689430556?i=1000674429262Episode 77 "How to correct your child's spelling without crushing their confidence"https://open.spotify.com/episode/2kOasZMODEnnv68TNsj0kL?si=XtyxlUSCSHmzONrdynaxpQAbout the HostMiss Beth is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and the founder of Big City Readers. She supports parents in raising confident, capable kids through research-backed literacy and development strategies.
Follow Miss Beth: • Instagram: @bigcityreaders • Website: bigcityreaders.com • Podcast: Play on Words from Big City Readers
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Episode 84: A parent of a second grader recently asked a question I hear all the time: “Do I need to care that much about spelling if my child is improving—even if there are still lots of errors?” Her child recently started spelling MY correctly (it used to be MI), which is real progress—but the writing sample still includes plenty of misspellings. The child wrote it independently, without adult prompting, and that raised an honest question: Should we correct spelling every time? Or is there a moment where confidence matters more than accuracy? In this episode, I break down: • What gradual improvement in spelling actually looks like in second grade• Why MY instead of MI is a meaningful developmental leap• The difference between practice writing and performance writing• When spelling accuracy does matter—and when it really doesn’t• Why over-correcting can shut kids down as writers• How to “hold kids accountable for what they’ve learned” without nitpicking• What spelling errors can tell us about phonics, orthography, and growth• Whether it’s controversial to care less about spelling sometimes We’ll talk about how spelling develops over time, how it connects to reading, and how parents can support progress without turning every writing moment into a correction session. If you’ve ever wondered: • “Am I being too chill about spelling?”• “Should I fix this… or let it go?”• “Is my child behind—or just learning?” This episode will give you clarity—and permission to focus on what actually matters.Links Mentioned:Episode 54 "When do I start correcting my child's spelling?"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-on-words/id1689430556?i=1000674429262Episode 77 "How to correct your child's spelling without crushing their confidence"https://open.spotify.com/episode/2kOasZMODEnnv68TNsj0kL?si=XtyxlUSCSHmzONrdynaxpQAbout the HostMiss Beth is a reading specialist, early childhood educator, and the founder of Big City Readers. She supports parents in raising confident, capable kids through research-backed literacy and development strategies. Follow Miss Beth: • Instagram: @bigcityreaders • Website: bigcityreaders.com • Podcast: Play on Words from Big City Readers