Method for improving spelling and sensitivity to letter-sound correspondences using spelling patterns and word families on a computing device

A computer accessible memory medium that stores program instructions for improving spelling and sensitivity to letter-sound correspondences in a person, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to perform:

• providing a stimulus word set comprising a plurality of legitimate English stimulus words;
• presenting a first stimulus word from the stimulus word set to the person via a computing device, comprising:
• audibly presenting the first stimulus word;
• and
• textually presenting the first stimulus word;
• removing a spelling pattern from the textually presented first stimulus word, wherein the spelling pattern comprises one or more contiguous letters in the first stimulus word, thereby leaving a stimulus stem;
• simultaneously presenting a multi-dimensional grid of selectable onsets or rimes to pair with the stimulus stem in order to produce new valid English or nonsense words, wherein at least two of the plurality of selectable onsets or rimes produce valid English words, and wherein at least two of the selectable onsets or rimes produce nonsense words that are not valid English words;
• challenging the person to make as many valid English words as possible by selecting onsets or rimes from the presented multi-dimensional grid of selectable onsets or rimes to pair with the stimulus stem that make valid English words;
• determining if the person selected a valid onset or rime to pair with the stimulus stem that makes a valid English word;
• and
• if the person selected a valid onset or rime, continuing to challenge the person to make as many valid English words as possible until all valid combinations have been selected, or until an incorrect selection is made;
• repeating said presenting the first stimulus word, said removing, said simultaneously presenting a multi-dimensional grid of selectable onsets or rimes to pair with the stimulus stem, said challenging, determining, and continuing to challenge for each stimulus word in at least a first subset of the stimulus word set;
• wherein said repeating improves spelling and sensitivity to letter-sound correspondences in the person.