Games to Help with Studying Spelling Words
Spelling is a difficult subject for some children, whether they confuse letter sounds, mix letters up or have other reasons for having difficulty. These children, as well as the rest of the class, can benefit from fun ideas to help overcome spelling problems. Spelling bees or having the children in the class each spell a word is good, but the children that need additional assistance may catch on if you bring something new to the class.
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Cooperative Spelling
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In this activity students work together to help each other understand how words are spelled. Break the class up into equal groups of four students. Give each student in each group a number, 1 to 4. Then give each group a spelling word and a minute to write down or talk about how the word is spelled. After a minute, call out number 1, 2, 3 or 4. Each group's representative with that number will go up to the board and spell out the word without assistance. If correct, that group gets a point.
I Spy
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This is an activity which tests the kids' memory skills as well as spelling ability. Write the spelling words on the board. Allow the children a few minutes to look over the words. When time is up, have the students cover their eyes as you erase one of the words. The students are to raise their hands when they have determined which word is missing and how to spell it. Choose one with his hand up to come to the board and write the spelling word. If incorrect, allow another to come up and give the first student hints as to how to correct the word. This can continue as long as you wish.
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Hot Seat
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For this game, three students sit in the front of the room, facing away from the board. Write a spelling word on the board, and have the other students give hints to the three sitting in front, who cannot see the word. When one of the three knows the word, that student will ring a bell and spell the word. If correct, the other two students will pick replacements for themselves; if incorrect, all three will pick replacements and the game starts over with a new word.
Spelling Race
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Divide the class into two or three teams. Have one person from each team come to the board to spell a word, so there will be two to three students at the board at a time. These two to three students are to write a word that the teacher gives them, at the same time, and then kneel at the board. The first one to spell the word correctly and kneel wins a point for the team. It is possible for all three students to be at the board kneeling when they have all misspelled the word. When this happens, see how soon the students realize this before they stand up to correct their spelling. (For further ideas on this game, see Reference 1, Game #19.)
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References
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