While there’s plenty of research around the benefits of crossword puzzles in the classroom, little research has been done on the potential benefits of word searches. They have a bad reputation amongst some teachers as “busy work” with no viable research to refute it. Still, many teachers have created educational word searches on My Word Search, suggesting at least some benefit. Spelling word searches in particular are popular with over 1,000 on My Word Search alone. But do spelling word searches help kids learn to spell?
There’s not a clear “yes” or “no” answer to this question. Based on the puzzles and commentary from teachers and researchers, the benefits of spelling word searches depend on how they are used. These four concepts cover the primary ways to use a spelling word search in the classroom.
1. There needs to be logical thought around the word search
First and foremost, a spelling word search should have logical parameters to help students reinforce concepts. Clark Aldrich works as a designer for educational simulations and serious games; he shared with the Chicago Tribune that any game “that gets you thinking about structure and what letters come before other letters” can help students. This, for him, includes word searches.
And that makes sense. Word searches reinforce patterns of words by requiring students to find double letters, common vowel pairings, and other such trends in English, or any language.
2. Spelling word searches should not be used as an assessment
This may be obvious to most teachers, but spelling word searches should not be used as an assessment. And the teachers who use My Word Search seem to agree. Many of the spelling word searches are listed as “review”. A long list of words in a large puzzle may require students to focus more, such as with the review word search below.
More importantly, spelling word searches should only be used as one component of a larger lesson. It sounds equally obvious, but this is also backed by research. Multiple studies have found that any learning tool works best when used in conjunction with other tools; spelling word searches are no different.
3. Having one cohesive thread in a word list may help
Teachers must always follow the lesson plan first. However, if a spelling word search can have a word list with common elements, it may help students. A number of the spelling word searches on My Word Search focus on words with one vowel sound, or similar vowel sounds like “short vowels”.
This teacher, for example, made a word search that focuses on an “aw” sound or [ɔ], such as in the word “author” or “awful.” Students will build their understanding of how to sound out letters in pairs rather than individually. They will also develop connections between similar sounding words.
4. Age may be a factor in the benefits of spelling word searches
While spelling exercises are already more common for younger students, some age groups may benefit more from a spelling word search than others. Very young students might not yet differentiate letters enough, or may not understand the concept of letter pairings. Older students, on the other hand, may find the exercise too trivial to be engaging. Only you will know if your class is the right age for a spelling word search.
The best way to know if spelling word searches will help your students is to try them out. If you have already added a spelling word search to your lesson plan, share what worked for your class to help inspire other teachers.
Kristen Seikaly used her artistic background, research skills, and love for the internet to launch her first blog, Operaversity. Now she uses the skills to connect teachers, parents, and game enthusiasts with Crossword Hobbyist and My Word Search. She studied music at the University of Michigan, and now lives in Philadelphia.
Spelling is the proper way to write a word, using the correct order of letters. Quite often this aspect of language learning and teaching is a little neglected. Kids are supposed to ‘develop it with time’, adults nowadays can rely on spelling checkers of various kinds. However, at certain moments proper spelling is crucial. When, why, and how to help your students with it – today’s article will answer these questions.
Why care about spelling?
Generally, spelling is an essential literacy skill. It is required not just for dictations in school English lessons, but for any kind of writing outside the classroom, for exams, and even for developing your listening skills.
- Correct spelling, alongside with other factors, demonstrates the level of English. Even the most perfect email with brilliant grammar structures and sophisticated collocations can ruin everything if it’s full of typos and misspelled words.
- Spelling is crucial for exams. Both school exams and international ones require students to be able to write correctly. Cambridge exams, IELTS and TOEFL, Russian State Exam – you can be marked down for a spelling mistake in nearly all of them.
- English spelling is tricky and not always an accurate guide to how a word is pronounced. Sometimes our students do not recognize a word because they don’t know either how it is spelled, or how it sounds. It leads to certain misunderstanding not only in writing, but in speaking. Learning spelling strategies and paying attention to regularities might help to spell unfamiliar or unseen words and understand the words while listening as well.
How to help students with spelling?
To a certain extent, spelling skills do improve with time. The more exposed to the language your students get, the more automaticity they develop. They spot repeated words and patterns in reading texts, work out some tricky consonant and vowel clusters, get their writings checked by teachers, after all. However, there are some spelling-focused activities which can be incorporated into your lessons on their own. Some of them can be used for drilling pronunciation, others for revising and checking.
Good old dictations
A little dictation never killed anyone. They are still considered to be one of the best tools for spelling practice. You can just dictate the words in Russian to your students; show them pictures and ask to write the words down or label the objects in the picture; do a running dictation – the choice is all yours. There are many types of dictations and each of them can contribute to spelling improvement. Coming soon is our next article about all those types and their use.
Unscrambling the words
Unscrambling works well with younger learners but can help teens and adults to remember tricky letter order too. Give students a list of word with all letters mixed and ask them to unscramble them within a time limit. The words can be taken from a certain topic or chosen by difficulty for the learners. This serves as an intermediate stage between copying the word and writing it down from scratch.
As a funny option, you can provide students with a lengthy word like ‘accommodation’ or ‘psychotherapist’, divide them into teams and invite to make as many words from the letters of the original word as they can.
Word search
The word search is a low-key activity to practice spelling. It is best used with kids and lower-level students, but once in a while can bring a change even to an adult class. There are tons of downloadable wordsearch worksheets on the internet. I personally prefer self-made once as they include only the target language we need to practise more. Try this website to create just the word search you need.
Cluster race
Sometimes students have to deal with difficult combinations of letters whose pronunciation and spelling are not connected at all. To help them memorize better, run a cluster race. Write a troublesome combination of letters on the board and ask students to write as many words with it as they remember. The clusters would be ‘ght’, ‘eam’, ‘spr’, ‘ck’, ‘kn’ and what not. It can be done in pairs or teams.You can spend 3-5 minutes on that every lesson – this habit will definitely improve your students’ spelling skills. It actually works like a drill, but a less boring one. The simple repetition should eventually bring about an improvement.
Self-correction
Do you correct spelling mistakes while checking your students’ writings? Don’t! Leave it to them as an opportunity to improve their spelling. Highlight the misspelt words with some colour and ask students to check up with the dictionary and write down the proper words on a post-it note. Collect the notes from each student, choose the most common mistakes and practise later in a dictation or a quizz form. Alternatively, you can tell learners to correct the mistakes and write a sentence with each word as part of their homework.
Proofreading
The point of this activity is quite the same as of the previous one. However, here you create a text with a number of proofreading mistakes yourself and give it to your students. Tell them they have five minutes to read through the text and correct as many spelling mistakes as they can. This activity improves ‘noticing’ skills and activates visual memory.
Visuals and mnemonics
If some mistake keeps repeating, brainstorm the ways to remember the proper spelling. Break the word into meaningful parts, draw a poster, create a funny story with it. It cannot be done with each and every spelling mistake, for sure, but some nasty words like ‘conscious’, ‘necessary’, ‘restaurant’ and ‘accommodation’ can be overcome and remembered for long.
All in all, there are tons of engaging tasks and activities that might help students practise and improve their spelling without getting bored of the same drills or writing lines. All the activities mentioned can be adapted to the age and level of your students, as well as the vocabulary which requires practise.
Happy spelling!
Word Search puzzles have always been something to look forward to in my life. As a kid, my grandmother introduced me to the world of word puzzles, and as I grew older, my interest in and enjoyment of these puzzles only grew.
Over the years, I have come to know just how beneficial Word Search puzzles can be, and I truly believe that I have enjoyed many advantages that come with getting good at Word Search. It is not just kids that benefit from doing Word Search puzzles, adults and seniors can benefit from it too.
It is undeniable that Word Search puzzles are fun, educational, and a great way to pass the time. Like me, many people have enjoyed the advantages of solving Word Search their entire lives. Others have not been quite so lucky. If you are investigating the possible positive benefits of Word Search, you have come to the right place. Let us explore 17 of these benefits together.
Solving Word Search puzzles:
1. Improve vocabulary.
Of course, vocabulary is important. Not just so that you can use a wide range of words, but also so that you understand what other people are saying at all times. Nothing improves a vocabulary more than being exposed to new words on a regular basis.
If you set aside just 30 minutes per week to solve a Word Search puzzle, you will undoubtedly come across a few new words along the way. If you want to pick up on new words or want your kids exposed to new words, doing Word Search puzzles at least once a week (or a few times a week) can really help.
2. Spruces up spelling.
When doing a Word Search, you have to read the word from the list, remember how it is spelled, and then look for the word on the grid. You will need to keep referencing back and forth. You might not realize it at the time, but while you are doing this, you are learning how to spell new words and remembering the new words’ spelling too. This is a great way for kids to learn how to spell and also a good way for seniors to maintain their spelling abilities.
3. Satisfy enquiring minds.
Word Search puzzles are themed and the words are all related to the actual theme. If someone does not know what a listed word means, they can look it up and learn something new. For an active mind that wants to learn new things, this is ideal. If you have the type of mind that likes to learn new things and wonders about things, solving Word Search puzzles is a good way to satisfy this desire.
4. Give one something to look forward to.
Having something to do or look forward to doing is actually more important than one might think. In the life of a senior, having a daily or weekly Word Search to look forward to can provide a sense of purpose and give someone the drive each day that is required to feel happy and content. For kids and adults, it is much the same. Have a rainy day to deal with? Both you and the kids should enjoy a few hours doing a fun-themed Word Search together.
5. Reduce screen time.
Want to ensure that you get at least a few minutes or hours away from your mobile phone? Set a dedicated Word Search puzzle time to get you away from your mobile phone and thinking about other things. Too much screen time can lead to anxiety, stress, and depression, and so on.
6. Enables a “disconnect” from daily stresses.
It is vitally important to disconnect from the regular daily chores and responsibilities that you have to deal with. If you are constantly in “work” mode, you will become stressed, worn out, and even reach burn out. By taking the time to disconnect from the regular worries and stresses of life and do something fun like a Word Search, you will find yourself enjoying a healthier, more relaxed mindset.
7. Develop the ability to notice patterns.
Recognizing patterns is essential in everyday life. Patterns are actually an important part of a child’s development. In relationships, seeing patterns allows people to develop generalizations and make important decisions based on that. In mathematics, patterns are used to predict outcomes based on observations.
8. Improve problem-solving skills.
Solving a Word Search puzzle requires good problem-solving skills. The problem to be solved is finding the word that is in the list, on the grid. The more the brain is taught to think in this manner, the more attuned it will be to solving problems.
9. Can be used to learn a new language.
Word Search puzzles have been used in schools for educational purposes ever since 1968, but that’s not all they are used for. Some language schools use Word Search puzzles to help students recognize certain foreign words.
10. Provide an opportunity to socialize with peers.
When you are a kid or a senior, finding suitable activities that everyone can get involved in can be tough. Having a group of peers keen to do Word Search each week provides people with an event or a social activity to look forward to.
11. Provide a sense of accomplishment.
When you manage to solve a Word Search puzzle in good time, it provides a great feeling of accomplishing something good. This “feel good” sense is essential to happiness and contentedness.
12. Spur on investigative thinking.
The more you do Word Searches, the more investigative your thinking patterns will become. You will need to investigate the grid and the letters on it to find the world you are thinking for. This really gets the brain “thinking out of the box”.
13. Nurture a persistent attitude.
Some Word Searches can be challenging. When they are, it is important not to give up. People who do Word Search puzzles regularly tend to adopt a persistent attitude, which can prove quite beneficial in other areas of life.
14. Keep the brain healthy and fit.
It is said that keeping the mind fit and healthy is just like keeping the rest of the body fit and healthy. You need to work it out. If you want your brain to stay witty, sharp, and “quick”, then you need to keep exercising it. Obviously, Word Search puzzles are a great way to do that.
15. Boost context fluency.
Context fluency is quite important for people to be able to communicate and liaise effectively. Doing Word Search puzzles helps people better understand context clues, particularly because Word Searches are themed and the words to be found are all relevant to the theme.
16. Are heaps of fun.
One of the greatest benefits of all (in my personal opinion) is that a Word Search puzzle is fun. Why wouldn’t you want to do something that provides good, clean fun?
17. Can be done on the move (take Word Search puzzles anywhere).
Another of one of my favorite things about Word Search puzzles is that they are so easily taken anywhere. Nowadays, you can buy a Word Search puzzle book, print some puzzles off the internet, or download a Word Search app with you, wherever you go. Avoid scrolling for hours on social media, or standing aimlessly in queues waiting – now you can pass the time doing a Word Search while also expanding your mind.
All in all
Are Word Search puzzles beneficial or advantageous to your life and the lives of those around you? The above 17 pointers prove that they are indeed.
Who would have thought that simply having fun and completing a Word Search could be so beneficial to your life? Want to add value to your life and get involved in a wholesome pastime? Word Search could just be for you.
Are you unsure if your students are learning spelling properly? Are you looking for some effective spelling homework ideas that will boost your kid’s spelling skill in no time? Then this article is just for you.
In the past, teachers gave a list of words to write at home and bring them back to class the next day. No wonder students got bored after a few classes. But nowadays, keeping students hooked to learning spelling is one of the top priorities which is why teachers (and parents) need interactive spelling activities instead of the traditional ones. And to help them, we have gathered a number of spelling homework ideas that will successfully do their job to grow your kid’s interest to learn spelling.
Spelling Homework Ideas for 1st Grade
Let’s start with the beginners. Students in this level are naturally interested to learn new words as they are discovering a whole new world. That’s why choosing a spelling activity for them should be done carefully.
For beginners, most of spelling practice should be done at class. You can give a few words to practice at home to improve their skill further but make sure:
- Not to give too many words for homework
- Not to give a word that wasn’t practiced in the class
For 1st graders, homework should consist of words that were already learned in class and given only to practice further so that students can understand and memorize the words properly.
Check out the spelling homework ideas for 1st graders:
- Write a word 5 times. Use a different color each time.
- Write the words in alphabetical order, then write them again in reverse order.
- Make word chain. Write a word, then write another word whose first letter is the last letter of the previous one.
- Ask the students to find out the number of syllables in each spelling word. They need to write the word using different color for each syllable.
Sight words
It is a clever strategy to start teaching sight words. These words are frequently used so students would see them everywhere and would learn then faster. You can print them out from SpellQuiz Printable Sight Words List. The words here are divided in grades so that you won’t have to worry about using words that are harder for students in a certain level.
Hands on Spelling Activities to improve the skill of beginner level students
Not just homework, you should give some spelling activities also to make the learning process enjoyable. Here are some hands-on spelling activities for your little learner:
Create the words
These activities don’t involve writing the spelling words. We will use different types of letter shapes to build or assemble the given words. Check the activities below:
- Build the words with letter stickers.
- Make words with letter blocks.
- Create words with magnetic letter shapes.
- Use scrabble letter tiles to build the given words.
- Make words with alphabet stones.
- Create words with alphabet pasta.
- Use letter stamps to stamp your words into papers.
- Use Lego bricks to create the words.
- Make letters from play dough and build words with them
- Write letters on papers or cards and place them on the floor. Ask your kid to spell a word aloud while jumping from one letter to another.
- Use letter beads and thread them together to build the words.
Write the words
In these activities, the child needs to write the words, but not in the conventional way:
- Paint the words with brush and colors. You can use watercolor or acrylic paints.
- Write the words with crayon.
- Write each word with a certain colored pencil. Cut each letter apart and mix them. Ask your child to assemble the similar colored letters to build the words.
- Use chalk and board to write the words.
- Use markers and write the words on a whiteboard or on your window. Make sure to use washable markers.
- Ask your child to make letters with their body to spell a word.
- Use cotton buds and dot-paint each letter to build a word.
- Ask your child to type a word. You can use computer or a typewriter if you have one.
- Type each word 10 times. Use a different font each time.
- Use your finger and write each word on sand. You can also use salt. Just spread them on a tray and ask your child to write on them.
- Ask your child to write letters with whipped cream on cookies and build words with them. If spelled correctly, they can eat all the cookies used to spell the word.
- Write the words on the wall using a laser pointer.
Check out our guide on spelling schemes for primary schools, which will help you in determining the perfect spelling homework for your students.
Other activities
- Play Hangman game with your child.
- Assign a number to each word of the list. Make a spinner with the numbers. The student needs to spin to get a number and spell the assigned word.
- Ask your child to spell a word. Then ask them to spell another word that rhymes with it. You can use it when you are teaching them spelling patterns. Ask them to spell as many words as they can with similar pattern.
- Make spelling rhymes or spelling songs with your child. You must remember the spelling song for Difficulty’ from movie Matilda’. Try to make one for other words too. Here is one for the word Mississippi’:
M Mrs. I
Mrs. S-S-I
Mrs. S and S-I
Mrs. P-P-I
But make sure you’re not creating a rhyme for every word. It will be confusing. - Make acrostic poem with each word. You can ask your child to make one too.
- Tell the students to draw a picture to describe the word they learned.
- Write the listed words on one side of the paper and write its definition on the other side. Play a game where you ask the definition in one round and the word in the next one.
Spelling Bingo
Play spelling bingo with your students. Give the students an empty chart and draw one on the board. Point to an empty block and say a word from your list. The students need to spell the word correctly to be able to write it in the box. This game can also be played at home.
Learn spelling in a fun way with spelling jokes for adults now!
Spelling Homework Ideas for older students
Not just kids, even adults feel bored after a while with spelling lessons. That’s why we need to add some interesting spelling activities with traditional homework to keep the students engrossed.
Check out the spelling homework ideas given below. They are suitable for students of all levels and not just for students only. If you are an ESL student or just an individual willing to improve your spelling skill, these activities will help you learn and understand words faster.
1. Write a sentence with each word you learned. Try to use multiple words of the list in one sentence.
2. Write a story with the words you learned. If you are not sure what to write about, try some common themes such as:
Holidays, Travel, Movie, Fantasy, City/Town, Seasons etc.
3. Divide the listed words in two sets and play memory game’ with a friend or family member.
4. Find definitions of each word from the dictionary. Sort them out for similar meaning or origin.
5. Write a word, now try to make a new word by adding a letter. For example,
To-> Toe-> Towel->Towels
Go-> God-> Good-> Goods-> Goodness
6. Make a greeting card and try to add as many spelling words you learned as possible.
7. Write a paragraph that contains the word you learned, its synonyms and antonyms. Bonus points if you can do it for multiple words in one paragraph.
Word Search
Word Search’ is a great spelling activity for all level of students. Just be careful that the words you are using are appropriate for their level. There are many ways this game can be played:
- Give them a time limit. The one who found the highest number of words wins.
- Tell them how many words they need to find. The one that completes the fastest wins.
- For younger students, give a list of words along with the grid.
You can use play this game outside of the class too. Find a word grid on the internet and try to solve it on your own. Track how much time you need to solve each set and try to break your own record.
Spelling homework ideas can help you accomplish a lot. Check out these spelling practice hacks that you can use as a homework for your students now!
Now that you learned about spelling homework ideas to improve the spelling skill of your child, you need to monitor if these methods are actually working by evaluating your child’s skill. And in this case, SpellQuiz is your best friend! You can easily assess your kid’s progress with SpellQuiz Spelling Test where tests are divided by grades. You can find vocabulary tests suitable from grade-1 to grade-12 and older. Also don’t forget to check SpellQuiz Spelling Bee Online competition for more fun spelling activities, tips and tricks for improving spelling skills and much more.
Happy Spelling!
Image: Shutterstock
When you form a word with letters, it’s called spelling. Learning to spell words is an essential academic milestone that lets a child comprehend and convey their thoughts properly. Perhaps it is why several parents enquire how to teach kids to spell. Knowing the right time to introduce a child to the concept of spelling is vital to prevent overwhelming their brains with too much information.
Forming a word in English can be particularly challenging as the child has to understand several spelling rules to form a grammatically correct word. Similarly, opting for age-appropriate ways to teach spelling is necessary to ensure the child learns spelling words with ease. This post brings you some fun and creative ways to teach spelling to your child in a step-by-step method.
Benefits Of Learning Spelling For Children
Here are some benefits of learning spelling for children (1).
1. Improves reading and writing skills
Image: IStock
Learning to spell is directly related to reading and writing well. The more words a child knows to spell, the better they can read and write.
2. Improves vocabulary
As your child learns to read and write better, they can improve their vocabulary by reading new words or even trying to spell the words you use in your daily conversations.
3. Helps diagnose learning difficulties
Making your child learn spelling can help you diagnose if your child has a learning difficulty, such as dyslexia. Early intervention can help them overcome the problem.
Things to know
Children with learning disabilities need help remembering the alphabet, numbers, and logical sequences. They also have issues with math-word problems and word or sentence completion (7).
Make learning spelling fun for your children by employing any of the methods mentioned below based on your child’s mood and preference.
1. Highlight the difficult words
Children often have difficulties with specific words. If your child stumbles over a word each time, you can highlight the letters in it that confuse them and let them try again. Some of the most difficult words for them are those where “e,” “i,” and “a” occur one after the other.
For example, they might find it challenging to spell words such as receive, separate, desperate, thief, weird, and achieve. They might also trip over words with double letters, such as accommodate, address, necessary, and occasion. You can highlight these words in their notebooks and encourage them to pay close attention to them when reading.
2. Break it down into parts
The easiest way to teach spellings to children is to break up a complex word into simpler, more manageable parts they can spell easily. You can separate the words by syllables so that they can work out how to spell the letters of each syllable and then bring them together.
For instance, you can break up the word anger into an/ger, television into te/le/vi/sion, and cycle into cy/cle.
3. Copy, copy, recall
This is a simple yet effective technique for teaching kids to spell. In this method, you have to write down a word and draw three sections beside it. In the first two sections, the children have to write the word. Next, they have to cover the two sections and write the word in the third section by recalling.
Once they have written the word unaided, they can open the covered sections and check. If it is correct, they can proceed to the next word.
4. Associate words with images
Image: IStock
Most children remember images more than they remember texts. You can use images while teaching spelling. Children get confused while using letters that generally have the same pronunciation and often interchange them. They often write things like “kat” or “krispy” for “cat” and “crispy” respectively.
In such cases, you can use pictures to help them with their spellings. For example, you can say, “The cat curls its tail in a C shape” and show them relevant images. Also, explain to them the rules – choose k when the vowel is e or i, and choose c for o, u, or a. C is also much more common when followed by another consonant.
Games For Kids To Make Reading Easy”]
5. Emphasize on pronunciation
If there are double letters in a word, emphasize them when reading, so your children also make it a habit. For example, say occasion by stressing on the “c” and going easy on the “s.” Similarly, for necessary, stress on the “s” and go easy on the “c.”
Research finds
A study on phonetic instruction carried out on 65 kindergarteners in 2021 indicated that the group provided with systematic phonic instruction along with integrated spelling conditions showed significantly improved phoneme awarenessiXA child’s ability to hear, recognize, and manipulate sounds in spoken words. , spelling, and reading (8).
6. Make acronyms
Learning acronyms forms an essential part of education, even in colleges. Medical students remember the names of diseases or medicines using relevant acronyms. Acronyms make it easy and fun for children to remember spellings. The best part of this exercise is that you or your children can come up with anything and have fun.
For example, cat can be the acronym for come again tomorrow.
Some other examples are:
Owl: Oh, why late?
Friend: Five rats in England need donuts.
7. Write on the palm
Image: IStock
Instead of writing the words on paper, ask them to trace the words on their palms (or any other part of their body). When they feel their fingers on their palm, they are creating muscle memory. With repeated “writing,” your child can memorize how a word is written.
8. Sing
Creating a melody out of a word is one of the sure-fire ways of making your child learn the spelling of the word. In fact, children participating in spelling competitions use this technique with great success. You can use a preset tune or create one.
The song should contain the letters of the word, and you should sing it repeatedly until it gets imprinted on your child’s mind. Once this is done, even if your child forgets the spelling, they will remember the rhythm of the word and recall the letters according to the rhythm.
9. Spell and eat
Making your child sit down to learn their spellings might seem boring to them. They would want to do something more entertaining, and learning spellings would not be on that list. However, you can teach them spellings during day-to-day activities, such as when having meals, so that they have fun learning.
For instance, you could ask them to spell a word and then have a bite of food. This will keep them distracted enough to learn spellings and finish what’s on the plate as well. You could also offer their favorite food sometimes as an incentive for learning their spelling.
10. Make connected words
Learning spellings will be more fun when your children play this little game with you. Tell them a word and ask them to make a new word from the last letter of your word. You can make them write the words or say them aloud.
This simple game can also teach your children the pronunciation of words, particularly those with a silent letter at the beginning or end, and will make them enjoy playing with words.
Quick tip
An alternative way of playing connected words is by giving a word and asking children to list all the words related to it. For example, if you say milk, your child will follow it with cow, which can be connected to the word grass, further with farms.
11. Make videos
If you do not have the time to be with your child while they are learning their spelling, you can record a video on your phone. Record videos of you spelling out the letters first, followed by your child repeating them.
When your child watches it enough times, they will be able to write the word effortlessly.
12. Create flip cards
You can also indulge your child in creating flip cards. You can print the image of the word behind the letters that make the word. For example, print the image of cats behind the letters C, A, and T. Let the child find the different letters with cat images and assemble them to form the word.
13. Search for words
Word searches are perfect for teaching kids to spell. They teach your children different ways to look at letters and form words out of them. Give them a grid with an assorted set of words. Use a timer to make it more fun and watch them as they race against time to find new words.
You can also use books, magazines, or newspapers for a word search. Give your child a particular word and ask them to mark the occurrences of the word on a page or a paragraph. This game will sharpen their brains and improve their comprehension skills as well.
14. Pass the ball
Image: IStock
When you have a group of children with you, you can play this game to teach them spelling. Say a word, and the children have to stand in a circle and pass a ball to each other while saying a letter each.
If a child says a wrong letter, the next player throws back the ball to them and waits until they say the correct letter. The game guarantees a lot of laughter while also making them learn effortlessly.
15. Play scrabble
You need not necessarily play Scrabble with your children, but you can use the alphabet tiles in Scrabble to let your children make words. They can even calculate the points on the tiles as their score. This is also an excellent way to teach them words and numbers.
Scrabble is fun as it teaches children to make new words using the same letters. For example, C-A-T can also be written as A-C-T. If they add a K, they can form the word T-A-C-K.
16. Use mobile phones
Studying might be boring for children, but give them a phone, and they will be happy for hours on end. You can use this to your advantage. Try different spelling games that are suitable for children. Install a couple of these games, and let them navigate through different levels by spelling new words.
These games and puzzles help children learn and memorize new words, and they will be spelling complex words in no time.
17. Make flashcards
Image: IStock
Use age-appropriate flashcards to teach spellings to children. Teachers at preschools often use flashcards to teach children new concepts. You can use flashcards to teach spelling, reading, and writing skills to children.
Write words on the cards and read each word aloud. Let the child write the word on the back of the card and then check it together. For reading, lay out some flashcards with letters to form a word and ask your child to pick the image that matches the word. For writing, let the child trace the word over the card using tracing paper and then write it on another card without any assistance.
Trivia
Parents can use Pictionary to teach children words and spellings associated with pictures.
18. Color the words
Children love playing with colors. So, why not introduce some colors in the world of words? Write some words in a big cartoonish font so that they can be colored, and let your children go wild coloring them.
If you are good at drawing, you can draw objects and ask your children to color them and then spell them. This way, they will have a magical, colorful time with words and also learn their spellings.
19. Play word bingo
Bingo can help your children master basic spelling skills. Don’t believe it? Trust us. All you have to do is create a grid and write different letters in different boxes. Read out words and tell your children to circle the letters that occur in each word. The first one that gets a full house wins.
You can also use bingo to teach reading to your children. Swap the letters with words and ask your children to circle those words you read out.
20. Spell with stairs
Make climbing up and down the stairs a learning activity. You might have already made them count the steps each time they ascend and descend. Now, you can ask them to spell out words on the steps.
Make them say a letter of a word as they climb each step. For younger children, you can even spell out three to four words. Step on the stair, say out a letter, then proceed to the next.
21. Group similar words
Instead of teaching children seemingly different words and spellings, group similar-sounding words or those that have similar spellings and make a list. This way, your child will be able to visualize one word and automatically associate it with other words.
For example, words such as high, sigh, nigh, light, and sight have “igh” in common. Write them down, and ask your child to spell each word aloud. They will be able to remember their spellings better.
22. Cut out words
If you don’t have a Scrabble set at home and do not want to buy one either, make some word tiles yourself. Take a magazine or newspaper and cut out letters in bigger fonts for easier handling. Paste them on construction paper or an empty cereal box and cut them out.
Give these letters to your children and let them experiment with them to form new words. You can also teach them to pronounce the words while they are creating them.
23. Use computer applications
Applications such as Microsoft Word and Grammarly are pretty helpful for quick spellchecks. While they are intensively used by adults, they can also be used by children to learn spellings. Ask your child to type a word and check whether it is spelled correctly.
You can also use an online dictionary or other applications for puzzles and word games to improve your child’s spelling, reading, and comprehension skills.
24. Use creativity
Writing on a sheet of paper using a pencil is standard for children. As they have notoriously small attention spans, it won’t be long before they find something more interesting to do.
You can let them explore the world of letters by letting them be as creative as they want. Give them colors and encourage them to draw and paint words. They can also create a word collage using cuttings from magazines or try their hand at calligraphy.
25. Read more
Last but not least, read more to your children. The more you read to your children or the more they read, the richer their vocabulary. They learn words and their pronunciations by sight and sound.
You can select stories that contain words that you want them to learn. By repeating stories, you help improve their spelling skills while also firing their imagination.
1. What age should a child be able to spell?
Children may start to spell their names and simple words by five to six years of age (2). Some children may learn sooner than others.
2. What part of the brain is responsible for spelling?
The left hemisphere of the brain is considered responsible for spelling (3).
3. Why is it easier to read words than to spell them?
Spelling words may seem more complicated than reading, as sounds can be spelled in many ways. It needs more practice to spell than to recognize or read the words (4).
4. Why is my child struggling with spelling?
A child may find it difficult to spell if they are not practicing enough. However, if the difficulty persists despite all efforts, it may indicate certain disorders such as dyslexiaiXA learning disorder in children associated with reading and writing difficulty. , dysgraphiaiXA writing disability in children that causes the letters to be wrongly formed. , and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)iXA neurodevelopmental disorder affecting a child’s ability to concentrate and manage energy levels. . Consult a doctor to identify the cause (5) (6).
How to teach your kid to spell is a common concern of many parents and caregivers when their children are ready to learn languages. Learning spelling can improve the child’s vocabulary, reading, writing, and communication skills. This may also help diagnose certain learning disorders at a young age and helps modify the learning process to tackle the disability. You may highlight the difficult words, break them down, and teach the spelling. Good knowledge of phonetics, associating words with images, copying, and recall can help children learn to spell.
Infographic: Spelling Games For Children
Children often find it interesting when learning is combined with entertainment. So, if teaching spellings seem monotonous, try incorporating unique games into it and watch how easy and fun the learning becomes. This infographic is specially designed to give you some ideas on introducing spelling games for children.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- When children learn to spell, they can significantly improve their reading and writing skills.
- Learning spellings help identify learning disabilities such as dyslexia from an early age.
- If your child has difficulty spelling certain words, highlighting and explaining may help them learn them better.
References:
MomJunction’s articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
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Whether you are teaching a single student or are managing an entire class, teaching to spell is a big task. Fortunately, there are many different ways you can instruct students on how to spell. The most common way to teach beginners is to show them how to spell a word based on its sounds (known as phonics). You can also teach them how to recognize patterns in a word. This is known as word study. Games and tests can reinforce their lessons. Of course, some words will just need to be memorized, and you may need to adjust your lesson to the individual needs of each student.
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1
State how each letter of the alphabet sounds. Write out the entire alphabet. Go through each letter, and state how it is pronounced. Ask the student to repeat after you. As you pronounce each letter, ask the student if they think it is a vowel or a consonant.[1]
- A consonant is a letter formed by moving your lips, tongue, or teeth. All letters except a, e, i, o, and u are consonants. When sounding out consonants, ask the child to tell you what part of their mouth is moving.
- Vowels are letters that can be pronounced without moving your lips, tongue, and teeth. The vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y.
- For very young students, you may want to break up the alphabet into smaller sections, so that they can learn these concepts one at a time.
- Practice letter sounds regularly and quiz your child so they can master each sound.
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Create a list of simple words to work with. Choose words that are spelled exactly as they are pronounced. These are called decodable words. When you begin, use words that only have one syllable. Good words to start out with are words that end in “-at” (cat, hat, mat, sat) or “-an” words (can, tan, man, fan).
- You can find entire lists of decodable words online. These will help teach phonics without confusing the student with any complex spelling rules.
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Say the word while emphasizing its sounds. First, you should say the word normally. For example, you might say the word, “cup.” Then you should stretch out the word to emphasize each sound (or phoneme) in the word. So you might say, “cuuuup. Cuh-uh-puh.”[2]
- Ask the student to repeat the word after you. Have them say it the same way that you did.
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Choose which letter creates the first sound. Have the student try to tell you before you help them out. If they’re uncertain, walk them through the alphabet again. Point to each letter, and ask them if that makes the right sound. Write down each letter as they spell it.[3]
- If you are doing “cup,” start with the first sound. Say, “Cuh, cuh. What makes the cuh sound?” If they guess “K,” which makes a similar sound, gently correct them.
- Then move on to the next sounds. You might say, “Uh. What makes the uh sound?” or “Puh. What makes the puh sound?”
- When you are done, show the learner the word, and ask them to put all of the letters together again.
- Celebrate any success with your student. Tell them “Good job” or cheer for them when they’re correct. Once they’ve mastered a difficult word, provide a small reward to keep them motivated.
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Break up longer words into segments. Once the learner can form basic, one syllable words, you might move onto longer words. Break up the word by syllable and have the student spell out each syllable. Then put all of them together, and spell the word together.[4]
- For example, you might sound out “spider.” Start by breaking it up into two syllables “Spi” and “Der.” Have the child sound out each syllable before putting them back together.
- Other good decodable words include “candy,” “volcano,” “unicorn,” and “pencil.”
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Demonstrate words with double vowels one at a time. Two vowels put together often create a different sound. Once the student has mastered basic phonemes, you can teach them how to spell with double vowels, but only focus on one at a time.[5]
- To teach “ai,” work through the words, “paint,” “mail,” and “rain.”
- To teach “ou,” you can use “house,” “mouse,” and “about.”
- A double “e” or “o” makes the vowel long. For example, you pronounce a long “e” in “peek” and a long “o” in “door.”
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Show them the rules with a silent “e”. There are a few different rules for using a silent “e” at the end of words. Teach these to a learner once they have mastered the other concepts of spelling. Some rules you may want to include are:
- An “e” at the end of a one syllable word makes the last vowel long. For example, if you add an “e” to “sat,” it becomes “sate.” Create a list of these words, and ask your student to sound out the difference between words with the “e” and words without the “e.”
- “E” is also added to the end of words that end in “v” or “u.” For example, there is an “e” at the end of “blue” and “sleeve.” It is also used at the end of non-plural words that end in «s,» such as «house.»[6]
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Create a list of words that all contain the same pattern. Choose one pattern for each study session. The idea is that you will teach the student how to identify different patterns of spelling, and they will learn to spell based on these patterns.[7]
- You might base this pattern on the endings of words. For example, create a list of words that ends only in “-ate” or “-ing.”
- You can base this pattern on the first letter of the words. This is good for consonants that might change sound based on their spelling, such as “c” or “g.”
- You can also use the vowels in the word. This is a good way to teach double vowels, such as “ai” or “oi.”
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Get the student to identify patterns in the way that the words are spelled. Do not tell the student what the pattern is. Ask them to find the similarities between all of the words on the list. Help them pronounce each word out loud so that they can hear how it sounds.[8]
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Point out the differences in the way that the words are spelled. Having each student say the words out loud can help. For example, they may notice that the c in “cat” is pronounced differently than the c in “chat.” Ask them why that might be and then explain why to them.[9]
- See if the student can identify the rules of spelling on their own. For example, they may notice that when “c” is followed by an “a,” it is pronounced with a hard sound while a “c” followed by an “e” is always soft.
- If they don’t get it on their own, it is OK to explain it to them.
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Ask the student if they can spell out a different word. Choose a word that fits the pattern but wasn’t on the original list. See if they can spell it now that they have learned the pattern. You may want to go through a few different words to test their skills.[10]
- For example, if you taught “igh” as your pattern, you might ask them to spell “night,” “eight,” or “right.”
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Host an informal spelling bee. If you have multiple students, have them take turns spelling different words. If they spell one wrong, they are out of the game. Choose words and spelling patterns that you have been working on in class. Whoever spells the most words correctly wins.[11]
- These competitions are fun for older learners, including English language learners.
- If you are working one-on-one with a student, see how many words they can spell before they get one wrong. Next time you play the game, challenge them to beat their record.
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Make a word scramble. Take words that the student has been working on, and mix up the letters so that they are out of order. Ask the student to put the letters back into the right order. You can do several words at once.
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Do a word search. Hide words that you have been teaching within a random assortment of letters. Make a list of all of the hidden words, and ask the student to find and circle the words. This will require them to find patterns within random letters.
- There are many online websites where you can instantly generate word searches. Simply type in what words you want to use, and it will create a word search for you.
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Give the student a spelling inventory test. An inventory test will determine how well they can already spell. You might show them pictures and ask them to spell the word. You can also do a multiple choice test, in which they must select the correctly spelled word from a list of misspellings.[12]
- Do not grade this test for points. This test is simply to see where the student is currently.
- You should make sure to test the learner every week or two to see how much they have learned and which concepts they are still struggling with.
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Make a unique spelling list based on the student’s need. If the student is struggling with a particular concept, make sure to focus on those areas. Create new lists of words that tackle this unique problem. Continue to work on these concepts until the student has mastered what they were struggling with.
- Include words that you know your student can achieve so the list is achievable.
- For example, if your student can’t figure out when to use “gh,” make a list of words that includes “through,” “night, “borough,” and “brought.” Have them memorize these words if they don’t understand the rules.
- If you have multiple students, try to create a unique list for each of them.
- For large classes, break the students up into groups based on their level of spelling. Make a list for each group.
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Demonstrate how to study spelling. There are many irregular rules of spelling in the English language. While word study and phonics can help, students may need to memorize trickier words. Show the student multiple ways of studying these strange words.[13]
- Flashcards are a great tool. On one side, put a picture of the word, and on the other, spell it out. Show the student the picture, and ask them to spell the word.
- Review words you’ve already learned for a few minutes everyday.
- Reading simple picture books can help students recognize words and letters.
- Ask students to match the words with the picture. This will help them associate the letters of the word with the meaning.
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Provide extra assistance for students with learning difficulties. Some students may require more assistance than others. In addition, some people may have disadvantages when it comes to learning spelling. Be patient and sensitive with their situation.[14]
- If the student is diagnosed with dyslexia, you may need to spend more time on each word or pattern. If possible, see if you can get them extra attention from the school, either through a special education program or an after-school program.
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English language learners may use spelling habits from their native language. You may need to work with them one-on-one or in small groups to help them identify English spelling patterns.[15]
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Article SummaryX
To teach spelling, write out the entire alphabet and go through the letters with the students, stating how each one is pronounced. Next, sound out specific vocabulary words and ask your students to repeat them after you. Then, demonstrate special cases, like the silent «e» and double vowels, and give the students a list of other pronunciation patterns they may run into. Finally, try teaching tools like word searches, online spelling games, and spelling bees. For tips on addressing students’ individual learning needs, read on!
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