Are you looking for a homeschool spelling curriculum?
In this article, we’re sharing some general information about spelling and spelling curriculum. You’ll also learn about some fun ways to help your kids with spelling. Also, you’ll discover word games that give your children the opportunity to practice their spelling skills.
Continue checking in because we’ll be adding additional information and resources over time. Hopefully, you don’t find any spelling errors!
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Definition of Spelling: Defined by Merriam-Webster
What is the definition of spelling?
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.
Mr. Pudewa’s video about spelling and the brain is a little over an hour long, but it is worth watching. Even if you don’t watch all of the video, we would like to encourage you to watch what you can or come back and watch it later. What you learn in this video will be very helpful as you teach your children how to spell.
How to Teach Your Kids to Spell
We strongly encourage you to watch the video below.
The information in the video below can make a significant difference in how you approach helping your children learn to spell.
If you don’t have time to watch it, consider popping in your earbuds and listening to it while you drive or do household chores.
Video: Spelling and the Brain with Andrew Pudewa from the Institute for Excellence in Writing.
If you apply the information you learn in this video, it can save you and your children years of frustration and increase their ability to spell well. This information is presented by Andrew Pudewa from the Institute for Excellence in Writing
While this video is not produced by HomeSchool ThinkTank, we do have a YouTube channel and would love to have you subscribe.
Spelling Rules
We all remember the rule “I before E except after C.”
Did you know there are more spelling rules?
The video below will help you understand the spelling rules so that you can better help your children.
Video: Learn English – Basic Rules to Improve Your Spelling
You can buy this poster with spelling rules here. Teens and adults might like this Spelling Rules Workbook.
What is a CVC Word?
The video below mentions CVC words. Here’s a quick review of what a CVC word is.
CVC stands for Consonant – Vowel -Consonant.
Which Letters are the Vowels?
Vowels are the letters A, E, I, O, & U.
Y is sometimes considered a vowel because it can sound like the other vowels.
The rest of the letters are consonants.
Video: How to Teach Spelling. 10 Creative and Fun Ways to Teach Spelling in Our Homeschool
This excellent video shares 10 ways that you can help your kids with spelling.
Regardless of the curriculum or method, you use to help your children learn how to spell, you can integrate these ideas into your lessons.
- Rainbow Writing: Use colorful pens, pencils, and markers. Write each letter in a different color. Your child can also write each spelling word in a different color.
- Cursive & Print: Alternate between printing the spelling word and writing it in cursive.
- Sentences: Write at least one spelling word in a sentence.
- Paragraphs: Write three to five spelling words in a paragraph.
- Sand Writing: Pour fine sand or moon sand into a tray. Write spelling words in the sand.
- Say-Spell-Say: Say the spelling word, then spell it, then say it again.
- Five-Four-Three-Pre-test, Test: Practice time to test time is five days. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Pre-Test, & a test on Friday if any spelling words were missed. If your child gets all the spelling words right on Thursday, the pre-test day, then there’s no test on Friday. Hint: in the video from Andrew Pudewa at the top of 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.
- Index Cards and Drawing: On the side of the index card with lines, write the spelling word and definition. On the blank side of the index card, have your child do a drawing of the spelling word in action.
- Gross Motor Skills: Bounce a ball back and forth with a partner and spell the spelling word. An individual child could do this while bouncing a basketball.
- Type the Spelling Word: Type the spelling words into a document.
Ways to Practice Spelling Words: Speaking, Printing, Handwriting, & Typing Spelling Words
The best way for most children to learn spelling words is 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 to practice with another person because the student will have instant feedback as to whether a word has been spelled correctly. If a child misses a word, it can be very helpful to explain why it’s spelled differently.
As we shared in an article about handwriting, people recall information better when they write in cursive as opposed to printing. However, a person will remember more information when they write in cursive or print as opposed to when they type something.
When considering this information, you’ll definitely want to help your child practice their spelling words verbally. When they write their spelling words, recognize that this can also help with memorizing spelling words. However, consider writing spelling words to be more of an exercise in handwriting skills than spelling practice.
More Fun Spelling Activities
- Spelling Tree: Draw a tree on a large sheet of paper and tape it to the wall. Write spelling words on leaves and tape them to the tree.
- Sidewalk Chalk: Write spelling words on the sidewalk and erase them with a wet sponge.
- Refrigerator Magnets: Arrange magnet letters into spelling words. We think these magnets are great because it’s a large package that has enough letters actually to spell words.
- Spelling Bee On The Stairs: Your child takes a step up the stairs each time they spell a word correctly. Step forward to a destination if you don’t have stairs.
- Stamp Letters: Use stamp letters to create spelling word art.
- Jump Rope: Jump rope to the spelling words.
Homeschool Spelling Curriculum Programs & Options
The homeschool spelling curriculum options presented below are all well-regarded options.
These videos about spelling might be helpful as you explore homeschool spelling curriculum. There are plenty of other options available, but we’ve hand-curated these videos for your convenience.
We’ll be adding more information and spelling reviews about curriculum options in the future.
Institute for Excellence in Writing: Phonetic Zoo Spelling Curriculum Reviews
Purchase IEW products on Amazon.
IEW Spelling Curriculum
Find more IEW products on Amazon.
IEW Phonetic Zoo Spelling Curriculum Review
Discover more IEW products on Amazon.
Spelling You See Curriculum Review
The important part of this video begins at 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Learn more about Spelling You See here.
Purchase Spelling You See products on Amazon
Spelling Power Curriculum Review
Spelling Power does not have a direct to customer website.
Purchase Spelling Power products on Amazon.
All About Spelling Lesson and Curriculum Review
Purchase All About Spelling products on Amazon.
Homeschool Spelling Games
At HomeSchool ThinkTank, we love games because they are a great way to connect with your kids while making learning fun.
Here are a few spelling games that are great for homeschool families.
Bananagrams
Razzle
This is a vintage game that is no longer being produced. However, you can sometimes still find the game used on Amazon and other places. If it’s available on Amazon, we suggest getting it right away.
Razzle is an excellent game for beginning spellers. You can level the playing field or make it more difficult to play by requiring more letters to be used during word competitions.
Buy the game Razzle on Amazon. Remember to get it if they have it in stock, this game is no longer being manufactured.
Campbells Alphabet Dice Game
Try this family friendly crossword game.
Get Campbells Alphabet Dice Game on Amazon.
Scrabble
Scrabble is a classic family game that’s perfect for homeschoolers.
Video: How to Play Scrabble
More Fun Ideas & Spelling Activities Forthcoming
More Spelling Games, Fun Ideas, Online Resources, & Homeschool Curriculum are On Their Way…
We’ll be adding more information to this article.
Be sure to check back for updates!
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