Does spelling ever get pushed to the side in your room? There are so many standards we’re responsible for each year, and spelling just doesn’t always make it to the top of my list, as important as I think it is! It gets even harder when students haven’t mastered spelling patterns they should have learned last year, because they didn’t get to practice them then either!
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to work spelling practice in without having to stretch yourself too thin! Spelling work for students is really all about having plenty of exposure to and practice with the patterns…and you can do that in your center time without a problem!
Strategy #1: Repeated Writing
This may sound a little boring, but it doesn’t have to be! You can give your students multiple opportunities to write their words in different ways without it feeling dry. Rainbow writing, fancy writing, writing in shapes, etc. are all examples of ways that students can build that hand-to-mind connection, and stay engaged in the process.
Strategy #2: Use Words in Context
Getting your students to write stories or sentences with word lists is a great way to practice spelling, but also build the vocabulary that is often lost when practicing spelling in isolation. Having to actually use the words can help students make connections to other words in their writing, and can improve their spelling!
Strategy #3: Play Hands-On Games
Hands-on games are always the most fun for students, and the more fun they have, the more they will want to play…therefore practicing their spelling words a ton! Have your students race each other building words with letter tiles, or build the words with play-dough or wiki sticks.
Dice games are also great for spelling practice. A menu that gives students a different way to spell or build their words depending on which number they rolled is easy and super effective!
Strategy #4: Implement Critical Thinking Skills
Crack the code games are great to get students thinking a little harder about what order letters go in when they are working with word lists. Assign each letter in the alphabet a symbol, number, amount of money, etc. Have students build words using their “codes”. They could create word lists out of code, switch with a partner, and have their partners try to decode what words they spelled!
As you can see, building spelling skills this year doesn’t take tons of prep or materials! It also doesn’t require an entire block of time. Keep these activities available at all times, so whenever you find yourself with a few extra minutes, you can get your kiddos mastering their spelling lists!
Do you do any activities like this already? Would you add anything to this list? Let me know in the comments below!
PS: If you like these ideas, I have spelling practice activity packs for the entire year in my TPT store! You can buy them seasonally, or purchase the bundle! Click the thumbnails below to preview this product line. 🙂
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