Games to Improve Spelling

The classic spelling bee is one game teachers can use to improve students' spelling skills.

According to LD Online, many people have difficulty with spelling. These difficulties stem from weaknesses in language learning. Active learning through games is one of the most effective methods for teaching children. Whether they are played as a whole class, small groups, or individually, games help by engaging students in the learning process.

Sparkle

Sparkle is a popular classroom spelling game. Have students sit in a circle. Call out a spelling word. The first student says the first letter in the word, the second student tells the second letter, and so on. If a student misses a letter, he is out. When the last letter is given, the next student restates the word. The next student says "Sparkle" and is "out." She moves away from the circle. The last student left wins the game.

Battleship Spelling

This game is similar to the board game Battleship. Make a game board in Excel: build two 12 by 12 grids, one on the top half of the paper and one on the bottom. You may need legal-sized paper to print it. Each box should have a letter and number coordinate. On the top half, students write six of their spelling words vertically or horizontally, writing one letter in each box. The bottom part is used to "track" another student's words. Have students set up a barrier to hide their paper from their opponent. Players take turns calling out coordinates. The opponent calls out "hit" or "miss." When all the coordinates of a word have been "hit," the word is "sunk." The first person to sink all his opponent's words wins.

Scavenger Hunt Spelling

Write words from the spelling list on index cards and put them throughout the room: on the walls, bookshelves, trashcan, white board, windows. Have students choose a partner and give each pair a list of spelling words. Tell students to find the words in the room. When a word is found, one partner turns away from the word and spells it to his partner. If he spells it correctly, his partner checks the word off the list, and she spells the word without looking. If they both spell it correctly, they can cross the word off their lists. Offer a reward to all groups that complete the entire list.

Spelling "I Spy!"

This game can be played as an entire class or in smaller groups. The first student calls out a characteristic of one of the spelling words, such as: "I spy a word with two vowels and three consonants" or "I spy a word that rhymes with 'lock.'" Other ideas for word clues: meanings of words, sentences the word fits, or initial letter. The student can give up to four clues. The student who guesses the word correctly gets to "spy" the next word.

References

• LD Online: Spelling
• Illinois State University : Active Learning by Kathleen McKinney, Cross Chair in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and Professor of Sociology
• Super Teacher Ideas: Sparkle
• Super Teacher Ideas: Battleship Spelling
• Super Teacher Ideas: Scavenger Hunt Spelling
• Super Teacher Ideas: Spelling "I Spy!"