A new twist for learning weekly spelling words. Strategies for students to learn how to spell their new vocabulary.
Monday morning, students write the weekly spelling lists in their language notebook. For the rest of the week, students will do a variety of spelling activities related to the spelling words and conclude with a weekly spelling test on Friday.
Some schools advocate spelling while others have retired spelling to participate in the whole language program. No matter, the system the teacher or school board supports, it is important for students to learn new words and that includes spelling the word correctly.
Instead of the Traditional Spelling Lists
Teacher places definitions of the spelling words on paper, with only one word per piece of paper. Teacher tapes the definitions to the blackboard in no particular order, but all words must be numbered. Students work in groups, pairs, or individually to decide which word and definition pair up. This is a good task as it makes the student think of the word; they must try and decipher the word before they join a word with a definition. As well, it allows them to use their prior knowledge to try and interpret the meaning of the spelling list words.
Another option to the task is to write a sentence with each word and highlight the spelling word. Students are to find the correct definition but the sentence will be able to aid them in trying to figure out the definition of the word.
Spelling Bee Contest
Students of all ages love to compete with their fellow classmates. For a few minutes while waiting in line or waiting for the class to settle down, have a continuous spelling bee for the week. Divide the class into two groups - each week you can change the groups randomly or based on specific characteristics such as siblings, gender, birthdays, and much more. Each student from the group comes to the board and writes out the word on the blackboard. The student who writes the word correct in the fastest time gains a point for the group.
At the end of the weekly spelling bee contest you may give each student in the winning group points or place their name in a weekly or monthly draw. Assortments of options are available for the winning team.
Paragraph Writing
Students are to create a story based on the weekly words. They must write a descriptive paragraph that explains some of the spelling words. As well, the paragraph must make sense; it can however be silly and funny. Often students learn new words but are unsure of how to bring the new words into their writing and oral vocabulary. It is important for students to practice with the new words after the spelling test is to complete.
Also, it would be interesting for students to create a mini sketch that uses all or most of the spelling words and to perform their skit for the class. Students will enjoy the creativity and will learn the meaning of the words.
The above ideas for making spelling a little more interesting should be rotated on a regular basis. If students do a spelling bee contest each week, soon they will bore of the strategy. Students like variety and new things. Just think back about the interest a child has in a new toy, within a few weeks they are not so interested, however, several weeks later the child’s interest in the toy spikes again.
