How to Prepare a Child for a Spelling Test

Magnets are fun!

There are children who ace the spelling tests all through elementary school, and then there are those who struggle. There are ways to help the elementary students to study for tests and quite possibly have some fun while they're doing so.

Things You'll Need

• Spelling words
• Your child's favorite board games, computer games, puzzles
• Pen and paper

Instructions

Being able to spell is important in itself, but constructing the proper framework for this educational process is helped when firmly grasped through elementary school.

1. 

   The first step in helping a student to study for a spelling test is trying to understand just what it is that may be distracting them and keeping them from achieving to their best ability. *Are they constantly distracted by surroundings? *Might there be a problem with his/her eyesight? (One of my own children had this problem at a young age) *What about the child's hearing? If they're not able to hear properly, this will draw attention elsewhere. *Do they have self esteem problems that simply keeping them from wanting to move "forward"? There are a number of issues that may qualify as learning disabilities, and those will move beyond the above mentioned. We'll look at that in another article perhaps.

2. 

   The next step is to work with exciting forms of study for students who are distracted by the environment. Perhaps they do have some attention deficits, but this doesn't mean that they officially have the AD/HD. There are several things that may cause that, but when a person is simply distracted by the surroundings or suffering from some common emotional issues, such as the lack of self esteem, it may result from their parents' divorce, a new sibling; perhaps they've lost a loved one recently. *These students need fun! Sometimes it can simply be a puzzle with you holding that spelling word list. Look through the old puzzles in the house and ahead of time, link the spelling words to a puzzle; ask the student to spell the word as you come to a portion of the puzzle that indicates that word. *Make the study session a game that allows them to win a prize! Don't forget, there must be cheering and a sporting event that allows this win. Use a game board that you don't need anymore, and create a field. It may be a baseball field or a basketball court. Paint it one color, and make it to look as though This "team" must spell those words that you have successfully related to the sport. Perhaps you prefer to create a beach for a cool water sport. Below is a list of some great sites that help to suggest ways of creating a simple game board.http://www.discovergames.com/home.htmhttp://www.thegamesjournal.com/http://boardgames.about.com/Game prizes may be very simple, such as the sibling in the house who will be able to choose pizza toppings if that is the dinner choice. Another prize may be the ability to choose cookie flavors at the grocery store while on tomorrow's shopping trip with Mom. Perhaps the student simply wishes to help Dad with some yard work; that may be the prize as well. These do help to lift that self esteem and keep the spelling test grades moving upward.

3. Step three, go ahead and use the game techniques we discussed in Step 2 after finding that there would be an eyesight or hearing difference/disturbance that causes spelling test difficulties. As a parent, you'll feel in some ways that you've taken some steps backward. There may need to be some re-administering of spelling tests along with some tutoring to get your child back on track. Usually this doesn't take much time once it has been established that there is the hearing or sight difference. It may work well to exercise those most basics of practice/study efforts. *Flashcards- with pizzaz! Depending on the spelling words, practice with food items, toys, books, or you could study outside in order to call on nature's assistance. -An example would be to have fruit slices with you at the table as you look at the flashcards; as each word is spelled correctly, offer your child some fruit. -If you've got spelling words that deal with nature, sit outside under a tree, or go to the park if at all possible, and point to the object that describes the spelling word as you call upon its spelling.The Step 2 suggestions will be great things to work with as well!

4. The next step will be to support your child affectionately- be it a "high five" or a big hug, it helps more than anything. Tell your daughter or son just how much you love them. Work with them on a regular basis in order to practice as much as possible. After all, practice does make perfect- or close to it.

Tips & Warnings

• Medical testing should be done in the event that everything you've tried in order to help the elementary student to succeed academically has simply not worked.

• Keep record of each studying session; what did you prepare, and how did your child respond?

• Use the blocks, and do use the magnets! They are awesome help in encouraging spelling practice. Keep them as close to your child as possible to encourage identification with the alphabet.

• Again, many distractions that students show are a direct result of some type of illness other than minor attention deficits that are very common. If this is something that you suspect, call your pediatrician to discuss symptoms.

Resources

• AN INTERACTIVE ONLINE SPELLING PROGRAM