Let's face it. Spelling practice can be BORING. You give students a spelling list, have them write the words 3x each, use them in a sentence, and then ask them to write the memorized words down on Friday for a test. Here are 3 fun and engaging ways to practice spelling.
Interactive Anchor Charts
Anchor charts can be a very powerful tool used to support instruction and to help move students toward achieving success. I make an anchor chart for almost every big skill/topic that I teach. Making anchor charts with your students is great but involving them in the process is even better! All you need is a topic/skill and some post-it notes! This is one way to get your students engaged with word work.
Interactive Spelling Practice
Step up your spelling game by using Boom Cards to practice targeted skills. This is a spelling practice activity that your students will LOVE.
Not sure what Boom Cards are? Boom Cards are self-checking, digital task cards that can be played on almost any device with an internet connection. Click here to read all about Boom Cards and how to use them.
In my first grade classroom, we teach a new word work skill almost every week. I spent an entire year creating a deck of Boom Cards (some skills have 2-3 decks) to address each of the spelling skills I taught in my classroom.
In the Ultimate First Grade Spelling Boom Card Bundle, you will find 36 decks of Boom Cards that ready to use in your classroom tomorrow. These require no prep! All you need is a FREE account on Boom Learning. Click here to check out the Ultimate First Grade Spelling Bundle!
Here are some of the skills included in the Ultimate Spelling Bundle
- CVC Words
- Digraphs
- Beginning Blends
- Ending Blends
- CVCe Words
- Double Consonants (FSZL)
- Vowel Teams
- Diphthongs
- R Controlled Vowels
- Y as a Vowel
- Suffixes
- 3 Letter Blends
- Contractions
You can try a deck of Spelling Boom Cards for free!
Play Spelling Sparkle
I love anything that gets my students up and moving! Sparkle is the game that does just that! With a current socially distant classroom we can only play this outside on a nice day so we have enough space to spread out but I have also seen this played on Zoom/Google Meet!
How To Play:
Students stand in a circle. The teacher (or student caller) will say a spelling word. Students will go around the circle and spell the word, one letter at a time. For example, if the word was “GATE” the first person would say “G”, the second person would say “A” and so on. After the word has been spelled, the next person must say “sparkle”. The player next to the person who said Sparkle must sit down. If at any point someone says the wrong letter, they will sit down as well. We keep this going until there are only 2 students left and then they battle in the middle of the circle! My students beg to play this game!
I hope you try one or more of these fun and engaging ways to practice spelling in your classroom! As always, you can reply below or find me on Instagram @kraftyinkinder if you have any questions!
