The Importance of Motor Learning in Spelling
A common question I hear is, “My child types on the keyboard all the time. Why do we have to start at the beginning?” The answer lies in motor learning.
Spellers Method follows a structured protocol for progressing to the keyboard, based on the understanding that nonspeaking, nonverbal, or unreliably speaking individuals have a neuromotor disability called whole body apraxia. This condition makes it difficult for them to get their body to do what they want to do.
Just like we develop motor skills in a specific order—rolling, crawling, walking, then running—our fine motor skills, like writing and typing, build upon well-developed gross motor movements. Many individuals with whole body apraxia struggle with sensory regulation and reflex integration, causing developmental delays and splinter skills—areas where they excel due to repeated practice but struggle with learning new tasks.
Motor Progression in Spellers Method
The journey from letter boards to the keyboard follows this natural motor development process:
- Start with larger movements using three boards during the acquisition phase. The letters on the three stencil boards are larger targets making it easier to hit with less demand on the motor system.
- Refine motor skills through repetition and practice to move to the 26 board. The 26 board has smaller letters with less space in between so it requires a higher motor demand. The laminate board is an even higher motor demand because the speller uses the finger to touch the laminate board rather than a pencil to slide through the letter. There is less sensory feedback when using the laminate board because the spellers isn’t holding a pencil and/or they are not putting the pencil through the letters. When the speller pokes through the stencil with the pencil, there is sensory feedback through the arm to provide body awareness. When the progress to the laminate board, they require a much better sense of body awareness for the higher motor demand.
- Transition to finer movements, like keyboard typing, once accuracy improves. The keyboard is a very fine motor task for BOTH the finger movements but also the eyes. The eye movements cannot be underestimated in this process! Each progression also supports the ocular motor ability of the speller’s eyes.
Skipping steps often leads to frustration and possibly influencing. Think of learning spelling like mastering knitting, golf, or using a new tool. You wouldn’t expect to knit a hat perfectly the first time—you need practice! Similarly, spellers need guided motor learning, to build their motor skills first.
Debunking the Myth: Is Prompting Bad?
Many families come from therapy backgrounds where they’ve been told, “Your child is prompt-dependent.” This creates a negative view of prompting, when in reality, prompting is essential for learning new skills—just like hiring a coach, watching a YouTube tutorial, or using training wheels.
Since spelling is a motor skill, not just a cognitive one, prompting helps build accuracy and coordination. In my experience, spellers aren’t “prompt-dependent”—rather, they struggle with initiating and inhibiting movements due to whole body apraxia. Prompting when learning a new motor task reduces frustration, supports regulation, and builds the motor skills. Early in the process it’s beneficial to work with a Spellers Method provider to help find the right balance of prompting.
Balancing Motor and Cognitive Demands
Think about learning to drive: at first, focusing on the road takes all your attention. Over time, you can drive while talking, listening to music, or podcast. But in a blizzard in an unfamiliar city, you’d turn off cognitive distractions and put your energy into safely driving to your destination.
Spellers experience a similar challenge—balancing the motor demand of pointing at letters and the cognitive demand of forming responses. Starting with larger motor movements on the three boards reduces cognitive overload, making it easier to learn the motor plan required for spelling.
Executive Attention: The Key to Success
Executive attention allows us to hold thoughts in our mind while performing a motor skill—whether it’s speaking, spelling, or driving. Ever walked into a room and forgotten why? That’s a lapse in executive attention!
For spellers, building motor skills first ensures they can maintain executive attention without becoming dysregulated. This is why we don’t start on the keyboard—we strengthen motor skills alongside cognitive skills to ensure long-term success in communication. These are skills that are taught and practiced at Spellers Center Tampa located in Trinity, FL.
The Role of Sensory Regulation in Motor Learning
Another important factor in spelling success is sensory regulation. Many individuals with apraxia struggle with sensory processing, which can affect their ability to initiate movements. When the nervous system is dysregulated, motor skills become even harder to execute. This is why a well-regulated body is crucial for learning new motor skills like spelling. Movement, sensory activities, and proper motor planning all contribute to a speller’s ability to progress through the boards.
How Spellers Develop Confidence Through Motor Mastery
One of the biggest benefits of following a structured motor progression is confidence building. When a speller masters the three boards, then the 26 board, and finally the laminate board before transitioning to the keyboard, they develop the motor skills and accuracy needed to spell their robust thoughts while maintaining regulation.
Just as a child learning to walk experiences falls and stumbles before running effortlessly, a speller needs to practice, refine, and build trust in their body’s abilities before taking on the challenge of finer motor movements like the keyboard. Rushing the process can lead to frustration, but trusting the method ensures long-term success.
Final Thoughts
Spellers Method isn’t about testing intelligence—it’s about building and mastering motor skills for reliable communication. By following a structured progression, embracing prompting as a tool, and balancing motor and cognitive demands, we set spellers up for success.
Start at the beginning, trust the process, and watch your child’s communication thrive!
