Why spelling still matters (even with spellcheck) Parents often ask me, “Do kids even need to know how to spell anymore?” It is a fair question. With autocorrect and predictive text everywhere, spelling can seem old-fashioned or unnecessary. But research continues to show that spelling and reading are deeply connected. Kids who understand how words are built, and how sounds map to letters and patterns, read more fluently, comprehend better, and write with more confidence. Spe