Dysorthographia exercise: invariable words

Invariable words, such as « toujours », « beaucoup », « pendant » or « parce que », appear in almost every sentence. They never change their spelling, which makes them words to learn once and for all. For a child with dysorthographia, however, memorising them calls for suitable methods. Here is a simple step-by-step approach.

Words to learn once and for all

Invariable words do not agree and do not conjugate. Once learnt, they are always spelt the same way. It is a very worthwhile investment for spelling. Each word learnt is useful in hundreds of sentences.

Many of them contain difficulties, such as the silent letters in « toujours » or « temps », or the complex sounds of « beaucoup ». A child with dysorthographia needs more repetition to memorise them. It is therefore helpful to have a clear method. It avoids endlessly repeating copies that do not work. The page mémoriser les mots invariables presents several approaches.

Choosing the right words

There are long lists of invariable words, but there is no need to learn them all at once. Start with the most frequent ones, often suggested by the teacher for the child’s level. Four or five words a week are enough.

They can be grouped by shared difficulty, such as words ending in « -ment » or words with a silent final « s ». This grouping helps the child spot patterns. They remember words that look alike more easily. For example, « longtemps » and « temps » share the same trap. Learnt words join a review box. A few are picked at random each week to check that they are still secure.

The observe, spell, write method

For each word, the child looks at it carefully, identifying the tricky part, which they colour in. They say it letter by letter, then picture it in their mind with their eyes closed. They cover it, write it from memory and check.

If they make a mistake, they look at the tricky part again and start over. The word is reviewed the next day, then a few days later. These spaced reviews firmly embed the spelling. They take less than two minutes per word. The page on mots irréguliers uses the same method.

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A picture for each word

Linking an invariable word to a picture or a short story helps a great deal in remembering it. For « toujours », you can draw a sun that shines every day, with the final « s » shaped like a ray. The child often invents their own images, which are very effective. They do not need to be logical to work; they just need to make the child smile.

You can make a small illustrated notebook of invariable words, which the child adds to over the weeks. They open it as soon as a doubt arises during homework. This notebook becomes a personal tool, which they take with them to secondary school. We describe possible drawings in more detail on the page orthographe illustrée.

Playing with invariable words

A memory game with invariable words, using pairs of identical cards, trains visual memory. Hangman, adapted with the week’s words, makes the child think about each letter. These games make revision enjoyable. They can be played as a family, after a meal or at the weekend.

You can also organise a hunt for invariable words in a book or magazine. The child spots them and highlights them. They are often surprised to find so many on a single page. The jeux d’orthographe page offers other ideas.

Using words in sentences

Knowing a word in isolation is not enough; the child also needs to be able to use it in writing. You can ask the child to make up a sentence with each word learnt. They write the sentence, then check the spelling of the invariable word.

Funny or personal sentences are easier to remember. The child can also write a short story containing several of the week’s words. This transfer into writing is essential. It checks that the word is truly secure. A word got right in dictation but missed in a composition is not yet secure.

The role of the speech and language therapist

If memorising invariable words remains very difficult, the speech and language therapist can assess the child’s spelling memory and suggest suitable strategies. They can also identify priority words. These exercises support remediation without replacing it.

Speech and language therapists in your area are listed in the directory ProfessionnelsDys, with a search by town and by disorder. Show them your child’s word notebook. The page mon enfant n’arrive pas à retenir les mots offers further guidance.