Teaching spelling got you down? Well you have come to the right place! Today we have some super easy, and fun ways to practice those spelling words without much hassle at all! Spelling is closely related to reading and obviously a huge part of writing and communication, so making sure spelling is taught and practiced is of utmost importance in our classrooms. Read on for fun ways to learn spelling words!
15 Fun Ways to Learn Spelling Words
Spelling words are often challenging for students because they always say there are no “fun ways to learn spelling words!” But, they just haven’t read this list yet!
1. Dice Game
You definitely have a dice or two lying around from math activities or even board games, but now it is time to use them for learning spelling words too! Just assign a number from the dice to each spelling word and when the students roll that number, they have to spell the word! You can have them pick from six different piles of index cards, or just copy the spelling word from the sheet if they are still fairly new words. Lots of variations to using a dice to spell! Have students record on a worksheet or in a notebook! This would be great for stations too.
2. Origami Fortune Teller
Remember playing with those fortune tellers when you were young? Well take advantage of those adorable fortune tellers and make them a fun spelling game! For this add your spelling words to the different flaps and have partners play together. Add some cute, positive affirmations to the inside for after they spell the words, and kids will love playing this game together. There are also lots of YouTube videos on how to make the fortune tellers, if you don’t remember!
3. Magnetic Letters
You definitely have a dice or two lying around from math activities or even board games, but now it is time to use them for learning spelling words too! Just assign a number from the dice to each spelling word and when the students roll that number, they have to spell the word! You can have them pick from six different piles of index cards, or just copy the spelling word from the sheet if they are still fairly new words. Lots of variations to using a dice to spell! Have students record on a worksheet or in a notebook! This would be great for stations too.
4. Crossword Puzzles
Create crossword puzzles or word finds with the spelling words. Fitting the correct spelling or finding the correct spelling ensures knowledge of the word and the different spellings. This is a great way to have students practice in a different way, and is perfect for morning work too! You can even find a free puzzle maker like the one on Discovery Education!
5. Sensory Boxes
Using sensory boxes are so critical for those kinesthetic and even visual learners. When working with a sensory box, you can add kinetic sand, salt, or even use some playdough to give the students the opportunity to write or trace the spelling words, and then start again! This is so fun for the kids and really engages them too!
6. Play Hangman
Who doesn’t love a good game of hangman? This would be a perfect whole class game. Just make sure the students know that you are only going to choose words that are spelling words so to focus on spelling those words!
7. Use Art
Give students the opportunity to color the spelling words, write them with fancy pens or markers, or even draw them in bubble letters! Rainbow colors could be fun too. Give students the opportunity to get a little creative with their spelling words and the learning will be tremendous!
8. Play Bingo
Looking for a fun Friday game that also reviews the week’s spelling words? Here we go! Have students fill out their sheet by spelling the words and play a little bingo! Shake it up by having the students call the words by spelling them aloud!
9. Use Candy
If you are looking for something extra special and fun, grab some Skittles or M&Ms and have students write out the words in candy! Of course, they can then have a special treat after too. Uncooked pasta would also work!
10. Paper Chain Spelling
Another fun one is making paper chains. Have students add letters to paper chain strips and then have them connect the letters together in a paper chain to spell each of the spelling words! This one is quick and easy to set up and complete and the students will have fun and learn their spelling words in a fun way!
11. Chalk
Go outside and grab some chalk. Students can write their spelling words outside. Make it a little more challenging by having students try to make a crossword of their spelling words! Make it a game or a race by writing the words and having the students run and stand on the word that is called! So many options outside with chalk to learn spelling words!
12. Jumping Jacks
Back to those kinesthetic learners with jumping jacks. Students can do a jumping jack as they spell a word aloud! Burn some of that extra energy and put it to good use while students learn their spelling words!
13. Dot Markers
Dot markers are such a classic, fun tool. Have students dot each spelling word to learn the spelling and have a little fun being creative! Kids just love working with dot markers!
14. Letter Stomp
Set up the letters that are included in your spelling words. This especially works if you are doing a word study of a word family, like “ain” for example. It streamlines how many letters you will need to add to the ground. Have students stomp on the letter as they spell the word aloud. This would probably work best in partners in a station, otherwise you might have a classroom that sounds like an elephant stampede!
15. Hot Potato
The classic game of Hot Potato (you really can just use a ball) is perfect to learn spelling words. Before passing the “potato,” students will have to add the next letter of the spelling word. The rest is just playing Hot Potato! This will be tons of fun for everyone!
Making spelling fun definitely makes a difference in scholars learning spelling words, word families, or spelling principles. Spelling and sight words go hand in hand too, so check out this other blog for some really fun, hands-on ideas for teaching sight words right here! Try one or try all 15 of these fun ways to learn spelling words today!