Revolutionising Spelling Through Gamification
Spelling Beats is an innovative online learning platform that transforms spelling practice into an engaging and interactive experience for primary and secondary school students. Designed to move beyond traditional worksheet-based learning, the platform allows students to step into the role of a DJ, using music and gamification to improve their spelling.
Featuring high-end graphics and original music tracks spanning genres like grime, dance, reggae, hip hop, RnB, and rock, Spelling Beats provides a fresh, modern approach to literacy education.
Sheffield-based former teacher Michelle Lockwood founded Spelling Beats after recognising key issues in traditional spelling instruction. Many Year 7 students found existing spelling resources babyish and disengaging.
Additionally, most programs lacked the ability to pinpoint individual spelling gaps, meaning students wasted time practicing rules they had already mastered. To address these challenges, Michelle spent two years conducting teacher-led investigations to design a solution tailored to the real needs of students and educators.
Michelle approached The Curve in late 2019 to bring Spelling Beats to life. While the concept was in place, it lacked a comprehensive curriculum-wide database of words and learning materials. The Curve worked closely with Spelling Beats to develop, enhance, and scale the program, ensuring it could support students across different age groups and learning levels.
To achieve this, the team leveraged artificial intelligence to build an extensive database covering the entire primary national curriculum as well as subject-specific vocabulary for secondary education. The AI-powered system ensures that students are presented with personalised spelling challenges, allowing them to focus on areas where they need the most improvement.
Project Results
Dynamic and enjoyable way for students to improve their spelling skills
Scalable and adaptive platform allowing tailored challenges
AI-driven word database covering the full primary national curriculum
Their Thoughts
Michelle Lockwood – Founder, Spelling Beats
“The team at The Curve were friendly and approachable, and they explained the potential options we had in clear understandable ways.
They have taken an initial project and helped develop it into something which will be relevant and useful to children of all ages from primary right through to secondary.
I hope through the use of this technology students across the UK will become more engaged with spelling.”
