Are you looking for the best homeschool spelling curriculum, engaging word games, and creative spelling activities for your children?
This comprehensive article explores ways for your child to learn how to spell. Learn about…
Not only will you gain insight into enhancing your child’s spelling abilities, but you’ll also explore a variety of enjoyable methods and wonderful resources to make spelling fun and engaging. Keep returning to this resource, as we continuously update it with additional information and valuable resources to support your homeschooling journey.
p.s. Check out the video and podcast episode further down this page!
55 Fun Spelling Activities for Homeschoolers
A great way to teach spelling is to integrate a multisensory approach to accommodate children with different learning styles.
The list below includes dictation exercises for auditory learners, activities for visual learners, and spelling practice that includes tactile stimuli and movement for kinesthetic learners. With guided instruction, your children can become natural spellers.
- Say-Spell-Say: Say the spelling word, then spell it, then repeat the word aloud.
- Sign Language: Sign each letter of the spelling word.
- Record Yourself: Say the spelling word, leave silence so you can later spell the word aloud, then record yourself spelling the word so that you can check yourself. The student will listen to this recording over the week.
- Car Practice: Keep spelling lists in the car and practice while running errands.
- Add a Letter: If the spelling word were “Cat,” the student would say, “Cat, C, C-A, C-A-T, Cat.”
- Syllable Spelling: Say each syllable of the word, then spell that syllable before moving to the following syllable. For example, if the spelling word were, “Hungry,” you would say, “Hungry; Hun: H-U-N; Gry, G-R-Y; Hungry.”
- Write Each Word Multiple Times: Write each spelling word a designated number of times.
- Sentences: Write at least one spelling word in a sentence.
- Paragraphs: Assign a writing assignment where the student strives to use three to five spelling words per paragraph. This will also help the child develop their vocabulary skills.
- Cursive & Print: Alternate between printing and writing the spelling word in cursive.
- Simple Shapes: Have the student write their spelling words to make the perimeter of simple shapes like circles, diamonds, or squares.
- Rainbow Writing: Use colorful pens, pencils, and markers. Write each letter or spelling word in a different color.
- Board Writing: Children love to see their own writing on a chalkboard or on a magnetic whiteboard.
- Magnetic Drawing Boards: Magnetic drawing boards are fun, clean, and portable options for your younger children to practice new words.
- Electronic Writing Tablets: Older students will prefer electronic writing tablets to practice spelling on the go.
- Window & Mirror Markers: Your kids will have a blast writing their spelling words on windows and mirrors with window & mirror markers.
- Water Doodle Mat: Kids love writing and drawing with water pens on a mess-free water doodle mat.
- Type the Spelling Word: Your kids can practice keyboarding while typing their spelling words.
- Spelling Blind: Write the spelling word while blindfolded.
- Refrigerator Magnets: Arrange magnet letters into spelling words. Get a large package of magnets so you always have enough letters of the alphabet to practice spelling words.
- Alphabet Tiles: Make spelling words from alphabet tiles.
- Sand Writing: Pour fine sand or moon sand into a tray. Write spelling words in the sand.
- Play-Doh Spelling: Roll Play-Doh and shape the letters of spelling words, or buy “cookie cutter” letters for your kids to cut out.
- Dough Stamps: Stamp spelling words into Play-Doh with dough stamps.
- Sidewalk Chalk: Take spelling outdoors and write spelling words with sidewalk chalk.
Video: Fun Spelling Activities & Ideas for Kids
More Fun Spelling Ideas for Kids
Help your children become better spellers with these fun spelling ideas.
- Clap Spelling: Clap and say each letter of the spelling word.
- Write in the Sky: While spelling the word aloud, write the word with your finger in the sky, carpet, or sand.
- Spelling Bee On The Stairs: Quiz your child on their spelling words. Each time your child spells the word correctly, they take a step up.
- Ball Bounce: Bounce a ball back and forth with a partner and spell the word aloud.
- Dribble a Basketball: Practice spelling words while bouncing a basketball.
- Play Horse: Practice spelling words while playing a game of “Horse” with a basketball.
- Jumping Jacks: Practice spelling words with each movement while doing jumping jacks.
- Jump Rope: Jump rope to the spelling words. Get an individual kids jump rope or a long jump rope to play with others. Pro tip: purchase beaded jump ropes for beginners.
- Body Letters: Spell each letter of the spelling word with your body. You can also do this with a partner.
- Movement Spelling: Combine any movement with spelling words.
- Lego Dots: Use Lego Dots Message Boards to make spelling words.
- Yarn Letters: Cut yarn into pieces to make spelling words.
- Pipe Cleaners: Shape pipe cleaners into spelling words.
- Popsicle Sticks: Create spelling words from differently-sized popsicle sticks.
- Stamp Letters: Use stamp letters to create spelling word art.
- Beading with Alphabet Letters: Work on fine motor skills while stringing together alphabet letter beads.
- Holiday Spelling Puzzle: Print out a shape like a pumpkin, Christmas tree, Easter egg, or flag. Draw as many blocks as you have spelling words within the shape. Write a spelling word in each shape, then cut the puzzle apart before putting it together again.
- Letter Scramble: Scramble letter tiles of individual spelling words, then have the child unscramble the tiles until the create a spelling word.
- Crossword Puzzles: Use graph paper to create your own crossword puzzles from spelling and vocabulary words.
- Wordfinds: Create your own wordfind with spelling words using graph paper.
- Fingerpaints: Use washable fingerpaints to write spelling words.
- Painting: Pull out the washable paints and paintbrushes and create spelling word art.
- Stencils: Get your kids reusable alphabet stencils.
- Arts and Crafts: Open up your arts and crafts supplies and let your child use their imagination to create spelling words.
- Spelling Tree: Draw a tree on a large sheet of paper and tape it to the wall. Write spelling words on cut-out leaves and tape them to the tree.
- Memory Game: Write each spelling word on two index cards. Mix them up and put them face down on the table to play a game of Memory.
- Scrabble Board Spelling: Arrange the tiles of words from spelling lessons onto a Scrabble board.
- Board Game Spelling: While using any game board, quiz your child with a spelling word. When the child spells a word correctly, they get to move their piece forward.
- Etch-a-Sketch: Use a classic Etch-a-Sketch to write spelling words.
- Practice-Pre-test, Test: Practice time to test time is five days. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, students practice their grade-level spelling words. On Thursday, give your kids a pre-test. On Friday, it’s time for the spelling test. Hint: In the video from Andrew Pudewa that’s on this page, it is suggested that a student get each word on a test correct twice to ensure that it wasn’t just luck that they spelled the word correctly.
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Best Homeschool Spelling Curriculum & Vocabulary Programs
The homeschool spelling programs outlined below are well-regarded. While numerous alternatives exist, we’ve thoughtfully curated the best spelling curriculum for your convenience and benefit. Some language arts programs, spelling, and vocabulary programs offer a placement test to determine your child’s spelling level.
- All About Spelling: Buy used on Amazon or from the publisher, All About Learning. All About Spelling uses the Orton-Gillingham approach, which is excellent for dyslexic kids and students with learning disabilities.
- Institute for Excellence in Writing – The Phonetic Zoo: Buy on Amazon or from the Institute for Excellence in Writing.
- Logic of English: Buy on Amazon or from Logic of English.
- Night Zookeper: Visit Night Zookeeper’s online language arts and spelling program with online games and activities.
- Spectrum Spelling: Buy on Amazon or from the Publisher of Spectrum Spelling.
- Spelling You See: Buy on Amazon or from Spelling You See.
- Spellwell: Buy on Amazon.
- Vocab Class: Visit Vocab Class to see this online spelling and vocabulary program.
Definition of Spelling: Defined by Merriam-Webster
What is the definition of spelling? This is a question that most people don’t ask themselves, but as you consider teaching your kids how to spell, it’s important to understand the answer.
Following is how the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines spelling.
- The forming of words from letters according to accepted usage.
- a) Sequence of letters composing a word, b) The way in which a word is spelled.
Andrew Pudewa from the Institute for Excellence in Writing defines spelling as follows:
“Spelling is the correct retrieval of sequentially stored, virtually random bits of information.”
Andrew Pudewa. Institute for Excellence in Writing.
How to Teach Spelling
The information in the video below can significantly impact how you teach spelling. If you don’t have time to watch it, consider popping in your earbuds and listening to the video while you drive or do household chores.
Applying the information you learn in this video can save you and your children years of frustration and increase their ability to spell well. This video is presented by the founder of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, Andrew Pudewa.
Video: Spelling and the Brain
Andrew Pudewa: Institute for Excellence in Writing
Note: While this is an old video, it will help you understand how to teach your child to spell.
Ways to Practice Spelling Words
There are four primary ways for children to practice spelling words.
- Speaking
- Handwriting in Cursive
- Writing in Print
- Typing
Practice Spelling Words Aloud
Most children learn spelling words best through speaking. As Andrew Pudewa from the Institute for Excellence in Writing shares in the video above, when a child sounds out a word verbally, they must think through each sound to spell the word correctly.
It’s best for the student to practice with another person because the student will receive instant feedback on whether a word has been spelled correctly. If a child misses a word, explaining why it’s spelled differently can be beneficial.
Podcast Episode: Teach Your Child To Spell
Writing & Typing Spelling Words
As we shared in this article about handwriting, people recall information better when writing in cursive instead of manuscript printing. However, a person will remember more information by printing or writing in cursive rather than typing.
The most effective way to commit the written or printed word to memory is listed first.
- Handwrite in cursive.
- Print with a pen or pencil.
- Type on a keyboard.
As you ponder this information, it’s clear that encouraging your child to verbalize their spelling words is essential for effective practice. Writing the words is another valuable method that aids in memorization, but it primarily serves as a handwriting exercise rather than a spelling practice.
Family-Friendly Spelling Games for Kids
At HomeSchool ThinkTank, we’re passionate about games because they provide a wonderful opportunity to create a fun learning experience while bonding with your kids.
Here are some fantastic spelling games that are perfect for homeschooling families. These games will help your children develop their vocabulary and spelling skills.
- Campbell’s Alphabet Dice Game: Roll the dice to see how many words you can make with Campbell’s Alphabet Dice Game.
- Bananagrams: Create crossword grids with the Bananagrams tiles.
- Boggle: Find the most words to win with the traditional Boggle game. We suggest Boggle Junior for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners who are in their early years of learning how to spell.
- Scrabble: Scrabble is a classic word game that will engage your child’s mind as they create words from the letters they’ve drawn
- Upwords: Stack the tiles higher to create more words and gain more points with the Upwords Board Game.
Spelling Workbooks, Activities, and Games on Amazon
Your kids might enjoy some of these spelling workbooks. activity books, and games that are available on Amazon.
Helpful Articles & Podcast Episodes for You
- Teaching Kids to Write.
- Teach Your Child to Read.
- Math Games Your Kids Will Love.
- Discover Homeschool Curriculum.
- Great Ways for Homeschoolers to Make Friends.
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