The worst part of going back to school is the thought of having to help the kids with spelling words every week. You would think that I was giving my kid a root canal every week when I would tell her it was time to work on the dreaded spelling words. She would have a melt down. She would cry the whole time she had to write her spelling words out. She would fuss and fidget the whole time we studied them. I decided that I had to get creative to get her to want to learn her spelling words or at the very least not melt down every week when we had to study new words. So I came up with a number of ideas that might help other parents battle through the torturous task of helping your child learn new words each week.
Flashcards are a great way to practice reading and spelling words. I always make a set of flash cards each week using index cards or small piece of paper from small notebooks. Practicing flashcards in different places can make it more fun too. Like when you are grocery shopping or studying them in the car. I will give my daughter the flashcard that she says and spells correctly. When she has all the cards then we know we are done. Sometimes when she gets a word right I will give her a little treat like a skittle or when she gets them all right for the week I would reward her with a favorite treat like a bowl of rainbow sherbet.
Texting is a fun way for your child to learn their words as well as where letters are on a keyboard. If your child has a cell phone or if you have more than one cell phone in the family then you can tell your child a spelling word and have them text it to you.
Using a computer word program would also be a great way for your child to learn their words as well as where letters are on a keyboard. Do a practice test by saying each word to your child and have them type the words into a word program.
Spellingcity.com is a new discovery for us this year thanks to my daughters' second grade teacher. Each week the spelling words are loaded into the online program and my child can take practice tests and play word games that will help her learn her words in a fun way. I really like this program!
If you have a chalkboard then this is a great tool for your child to work on spelling words. Writing spelling words on plain paper can get really boring so if you do something as simple as change how they write out their words then it makes learning more interesting and fun. I had turned my daughters bedroom door into a chalkboard simply by painting it with chalkboard paint.
Sidewalk chalk is another way to get them into learning their words. Let your child write their words on the driveway, patio or porch. When they are done working, let them have some free time to draw whatever they want as a reward.
Whiteboards are also fun. I don't care how old you are, playing with dry erase markers is fun!
I always felt that sign language should be taught to everyone. It's a skill I wish I had learned growing up. Some schools are teaching the basics of American Sign Language by teaching the children to sign the letters of the alphabet. Have your child sign the letters to spell out their spelling words. Not only will they learn their words but also it helps them learn a life skill that may help them communicate with someone someday.
Watercolor paints are super cheap and super fun. Having your grade schooler use watercolors to write spelling words is another creative way to keep them interested. When they do a good job allow them to have free time to paint a picture.
Stencils can be a fun way to spell out words. After they spell their words correctly with the stencils they can spend time coloring in their work.
Practice tests are a necessary evil to insure that your child is ready for the real deal. Small rewards for getting their practice tests right will go a long way. Try giving an extra half hour of television or no chores that night.
Aqua Doodle Mat is not just for toddlers anymore. I have whipped out the Aqua Doodle Mat for practice tests to make them a little more fun. There are other Aqua Doodle products out there that would work as well.
Spelling Balloons are the most recent craze at our house right now. Blow up a balloon or two depending on the amount of words you have and the size of your balloons. The bigger the balloon the easier it is for the child to write on it. And give your child a marker and have them write their spelling words on the balloon. It is super fun and they can also enjoy drawing on the balloon as well as a reward.
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