Games for Common Spelling Mistakes
Spelling can be the most arduous and intimidating subject in school for many students. English is a tricky language, and with letters that make similar noises and words that aren't spelled how they sound, students can get easily frustrated. It is important that you pay attention to your students and their spelling mistakes; often, if one student is having a problem with a particular word, many of them are. By playing games with your students, you can help them memorize the spelling rules, while keeping them engaged and making spelling much less intimidating.
Quick Spell
Create sets of flash cards that contain all of the letters of the alphabet. Each set should have at least two of each consonant and three of each vowel, so that students can spell any word you give them. Split the students into groups. Group number and size will vary depending on the number of students in the classroom. Each group of students will get a set of flash cards.
Call out a word to the whole class, so that everyone can hear it clearly. Choose words that students have been having trouble spelling. When you are sure each student knows the word she needs to spell, say, "Go!" The students will work together in their groups to spell the word. The first group done will raise their hands, and you will say, "Stop!" Award the team a point if the word is spelled correctly. If it is not, you can let the teams try again to spell the word.
Crossword Puzzles
Puzzling games can be some of the most fun and challenging for students. Choose words that your students have been having trouble spelling. You can also choose words with a common spelling theme that the students have been having trouble with; for instance, you can make a crossword puzzle featuring plural words or contractions.
The clues for the crossword puzzle will be definitions or other hints. For example, if you are constructing a puzzle of contractions, your hints might be "I am" or "do not." Definitions to vocabulary words will lead students in the right direction.
The best part of crossword puzzles is that the student must spell the word right in order to complete the puzzle. Whether they work alone or in small groups, the students will enjoy these puzzling games.
Tasty Words
This game can be especially fun for younger students and is usually done in small groups to keep students from wandering off topic. Simply writing words on a piece of paper over again may eventually help a student retain spelling facts, but if the student enjoys the work, he will remember much easier.
Allow students to use a variety of food products to write the words on surfaces that are easily cleaned. For instance, students can form letters out of dried macaroni elbows and paste them onto paper. You can also use foods like whipped cream or canned cheese that can be sprayed to form words. Or you can have the students spray whipped cream over their desks and use their fingers to spell the words in the whipped cream. Students will literally see their spelling words in a whole new light, which encourages learning and retention.
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