Here's a way to help them learn their spelling words which developed by Dr. Linda Silverman.  For spelling words,  put the word in very large bold print on a piece of colored paper, having the student hold it where they feel appropriate to view it (usually just above eye level is what will be chosen) and then ask them to take "a picture" of it in their mind - as visual spatial learners think in pictures.  If your child is a visual-spatial learner, then immediately after using this method, he/she should be able to spell the word, not only frontwards but, BACKWARDS!  This is because he/she is working from a "snapshot".  I have seen this this method demonstrated many times - always successfully.  While this method will not teach phonics, phonetic awareness may develop long term from sight recognition.   It also enhances self-esteem. The words need to be printed BIG! This technique can also be employed with an entire classroom using colored transparencies on an overhead projector.