What support is there for the use of reverse spelling activities to promote spelling ability?
Asking a student to spell a word backwards is supported theoretically because this activity creates the need for the student to hold orthographic information as an image in order to perform the task, and requires the student to consider every orthographic element of the word. The reverse spelling activity works against the use of a partial-cues reading strategy; the detrimental effects of such a strategy on reading and spelling are well documented in the literature.
