Practicing Spelling: Yes, It Really Can Be Fun

I know there are some homeschoolers who don't bother with weekly spelling lists. They feel that kids will learn to spell just by being immersed in language and reading. They suspect that practicing to spell a word just for a test will simply result in the word being forgotten after the test, and that it's a throw back to public schooling.

I suspect that my kids wish that their Mom was one of those homeschoolers. I suspect that sometimes, I wish I was one of those homeschoolers. Darn it -- practicing spelling just isn't fun. At least in my house it isn't. Practicing
spelling can be extremely tedious, especially with a child with attention problems (due to Autism) who is about to be tested for a reading disability.

All that being said, having two degrees in education, having taught in the public schools for two years, and with my kids having attended public school each for a few years, I can't help it. For me, I think I would feel like I was missing something if we didn't do spelling lists.

Ironically, I have absolutely no opinion about anyone else studying spelling. But, in case weekly spelling lists are a reality of your homeschool as well, why not try a new activity next week with your kids while they study their words?

I'm sure many of the ideas on the list will be things you've tried before (or at least read about), but hopefully you'll finish reading by saying, "Hey -- I think we'll try something new next week!" Because I only recently learned some of these ideas from other Moms I know, I've definitely been inspired to try some new things for upcoming lists!

Ideas for Studying Spelling:

- Have children type all of their spelling words into a Word document (This is great typing practice as well!)

- Painting Words (Instead of writing out the words, they actually paint them out to write them)

- Write words with fingers in things like sand, shaving cream, rice, corn meal, finger paint, etc. (For a special needs child that may be more tactile defensive, this is great practice at learning to tolerate tactile stimulation. But, if it's just too much for them, fill up a Ziploc bag with some finger paint and seal it up. Lay the bag flat and smooth out the paint throughout the bag. Then, your child can trace words in the paint without directly putting their fingers into the paint.)

- Workbook Pages (especially if these are provided by the curriculum that you may be using)

- Write or type words in a pyramid or stair step shape. For example, pretty might be written as stairs like this:

p

pr

pre

pret

prett

pretty

or like this...

p

pr

pre

pret

prett

pretty

(and then they can draw a triangle shape around that)

- Make flash cards that they can look at and study. (Maybe even stick them around the house where they can see them often!)

- Write each word 3 times, 4 times, 5 times...whatever your choice is. But, each time the word is written, have them write it in a different color. In the end, they will have a rainbow of spelling words.

- If possible, have siblings work on quizzing each other. My kids LOVE doing that, and give each other awards for each word spelled correctly. "Wow -- great job, Jack! That's two thumbs up, a crown, and 22 points!" (It's actually pretty funny to listen to their progression as prizes get more and more complicated. This, of course, adds a lot of time to their practice, but they actually ask if they can quiz each other because they have so much fun.)

- Help your child find if there is a pattern to the words, and if there is, help them to recognize it and discuss how it might help them, if they are unsure while trying to spell a word. For example, if they know that all of the words this week have an "ou" in them, they know they are going be watching for that in each word.

- Make "snakes" out of Playdoh and then use the snakes to form letters -- spell out all words (one at a time) in the dough.

- Write the words in sentences. But, to jazz this up, maybe make up another rule with that. You know, maybe they need to write silly sentences. Or, perhaps tell them that they can write as few sentences as possible, if they can write good sentences with as many of the words in them as possible. (I know when I was in fifth grade, this was a highlight of our week. Why write ten sentences when you can get all ten words into just three rich, detail-laden sentences?)

- If you have letter cookie cutters, grab out that Playdoh again, and cut out all of the letters in a word.

- Allow the kids to spell words to you aloud while doing some physical activity. Perhaps they can skip rope or bounce a ball to give themselves a rhythm for spelling. Plus, it's great for those wiggly kids!

- If your kids still enjoy a bath from time to time, pick up some tub crayons and let them write out their spelling words on the shower wall.

- Try recording either yourself or your child spelling the words aloud. Then, have them listen to it later, maybe while doing an activity they think is really fun, like painting or playing ball.

- Sidewalk chalk!

- Check out SpellingCity.com -- this was one of my new finds, and I think my kids are going to absolutely adore this site!

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When Angie isn't giving her kids a thumbs up, two crowns, a billion points, and a rare gem, she is probably hanging around at Many Little Blessings.

photo by msabcmom