A great way to integrate confidence building into play, and to integrate spelling and sight words into play
Learning how to spell words is one of the most useful and important lifelong skills that our learners can acquire. Even though we are living in a technological age with spell checks and the like, knowing how to spell plays an important role in reading and writing. Readers need to understand phonics as well as knowledge of sight words. You’ll find that in our e-classroom language units, spelling practice is a weekly task. Our problem as teachers lies in how to get spelling rules to stay in our learners’ memories. Here are fifteen great ideas for you to practice using in class to make spelling a fun and enjoyable experience. You can adapt these ideas and add your own accordingly!
ACTIVITIES THAT INVOLVE WRITING
- Look-Cover-Say-Write-Check
Let’s start with the most basic method that we all probably use regularly: Look-Cover-Say-Write-Check. In this method of learning to spell the learners look at a word and cover it with their hand. They then say the word before writing it. After writing it they check. If the word is incorrect, they start the process again.
- Flashcard spelling
In this activity, you would have the spelling words written out on flashcards. The learners write in their books. You show the learners a word and then hide it. The learner writes it down. At the end, you can show them the words and they either tick their correct words or correct their incorrect words. - Spelling scramble
In this activity, the learners fold a page into three columns. In the first column, they write their words as you call them out. In the second column, they jumble up the letters in the words. They use scissors and cut off the first column. Later in the day or the next day, they try to unscramble the words they wrote.
ACTIVITIES THAT INVOLVE DRAWING
- Spiral spelling
In this activity, the learners draw a spiral on a piece of paper. Start in the middle and then draw about three rows of a spiral. The learners then write out their words five times each around the spiral. They start on the outside of the spiral. The repeated action of writing out the word helps it to stick. - Spelling scribble
The learners draw one of those attractive scribble designs that have enough place for them to write in their spelling words. They do these five times using different colours each time. This results in an attractive, colourful scribble picture. - Graffiti Wall spelling
The learners draw a wall with four rows with three bricks in each. As you call out the spelling words, the learners write them graffiti style using colour and different fonts in the brick tiles of the wall. - Spiders web spelling
The learners draw a spider’s web. They then write their words in the spaces in the web five times each. They can use colour if desired – a different colour for each group of words.
- Colourful spelling
The first time the learners write the word they write it in pencil. The second time they write it in crayon. The third time they write it with a coloured pen or a marker.
SPELLING GAME THAT INVOLVES MOVEMENT
- Spelling hopscotch
Draw the hopscotch pattern outside using chalk. Number the squares from 1 – 8. numbering the squares from 1 to 8. As you call a word, the learners jump the hopscotch pattern. When they get to the top they turn around and spell the word. You can say ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. They jump back to the beginning and spell the word again. If they get it right they gain a point. The player with the most points wins. - Air writing
As you call out a spelling the learners write it in the air with their pointy finger, and they whisper the letters as they write. This can also be done in the form of back writing. Place the learners in pairs. They take turns writing on each other’s backs as you call out the words. - Bounce a ball spelling
Give each pair of learners a ball. They take it in turns to bounce the ball and spell the words as you call them out. They use one bounce per letter. - Catch the ball spelling
Place the learners in pairs and give each pair a ball. They could roll the ball to one another or throw the ball to each other after they have spelt a word that you call out. A variation of this would be for the learners to just say the 1st letter and throw the ball. `the partner says the 2nd letter and throws back the ball etc.
13.Spelling Word Race
For this activity, you divide the class into two teams and you use the white or green board. One player from each term takes part at a time. That player takes the pen or the chalk, depending on the board. When a word is called out, they race to the board to see who can write it first. `the winning team gains a point.
- The Invisible Man spelling game
This is a team spelling game. Divide the class into two teams. Each team draws a stick figure on the board with the same number of parts. Give each team a word to spell in turn. In this game, the team tries to make their team ‘‘invisible’ before the other team does by erasing a part of the body when they spell a word correctly. The stick figure remains unchanged if the word is spelt incorrectly. The first team to make his man invisible wins! - Sitting in a circle spelling
The class sits in a big circle or smaller circles. As you call out a word, each person spells one letter of the word. Then the next word is called out, and the next few learners spell the word one letter at a time.
Your learners should have a lot of fun with these spelling activities. Why not try one activity each week and see how it affects our learners’ spelling?
As if LEGOs weren’t enough of an awesome childhood toy, one teacher has found another awesome educational/developmental use for this super-toy – as a math education aid! Alycia Zimmerman, a 3rd-grade teacher in New York, uses them to explain fractions, squares and other mathematical concepts.
“In the classroom, the tiny bricks are now my favorite possibility-packed math manipulative,” she writes in an article for Scholastic that goes more into depth about these bricks’ potential uses.
Students at Roland School can also squat, do pushups or crawl down the main corridor to stay active
In many Canadian schools, recess and phys-ed class may be the only activity students get in their day, but a school in rural Manitoba is trying to change that.
“This is our Sensory Path,” says Roland School principal Brandy Chevalier, as she points to a colourful activity map on the floor of the school’s main corridor.
“We are very focused on making sure our kids are learning both numeracy and literacy but also being mindful of their whole bodies and wellness, and wellness as a whole being.”
The path instructs them to hop, squat, do pushups and crawl.
They follow the path every morning and after lunch, on their way to class in this community about 100 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.
Kindergarten student Elizah Wall likes stomping on the bugs. Classmate Everly Semograd likes crawling on the flowers.
“Some parts are challenging, some parts are easy,” says 11-year-old Addison Elias.
If teachers notice students fidgeting, they will send them to the path for a couple of rounds.
Students Ethan Dyck and Caleb Mitchell say it’s making a difference.
“Really helps me calm down when I’m in a very active position … It’s just helps me burn some energy,” Caleb says, adding his favourite activity is the frog jump.
“Helps me focus,” Ethan adds.
- Rainmaker
Materials needed:
- Long pringles can
- Multi-coloured rubber bands
- Rice
Instructions:
Have your child put the rubber bands around the Pringles can, one at a time, until the can is covered from top to bottom in rubber bands. Putting the rubber bands around their fingers and then opening their fingers to fit the top of the can allows the resistance of the rubber bands to exercise their hand strength. Pulling the bands down helps with finger isolation and strength. The fact that you have to use two hands to do this works on bilateral integration (getting the two sides of the body to work together).
Have your child take the lid off, pour the rice in, and close the lid again. Opening and closing the lid is good fine motor practice, too!
Let your child play with the rainmaker, seeing that the slower they tilt it, the longer it makes a sound.
- Snowflakes
Materials needed:
- Hole punch
- White paper
- Scissors
- Pen
Instructions:
Have your child fold the paper in half and in half again (folding paper and pressing it down is great fine motor practice), resulting in a rectangle a quarter of the size of the original paper
Have your child hold the folded corner down, facing the bottom left of the page, and draw a zig zag from the top left to the bottom right of the rectangle
Have your child cut along the zig zag line, making sure that they cut slowly, stay on the lines, maintain a good grip on the scissors, use their nondominant hand to turn the paper to help them stay on the line, and keep their dominant elbow tucked close to the side of their body
Have your child punch holes all over the paper (lots of bilateral integration in this activity!)
Let your child open the paper up and see the beautiful snowflake they have created!
- Tricky Treats
Materials needed:
- Toothpicks
- Grapes
Instructions:
Show your child how to insert the toothpicks into the grapes to make shapes or letters, show them a few examples of cool shapes they can make, and let their imagination run wild creating their own tricky treats!
A child spends most of their time learning at school, but it is also important to create fun learning opportunities in their home environment. Here are some easy math activities that you can put together using the material you have at home.
Numbers and Counting
This is a fun matching game you can make for your child. You will need a pack of playing cards, paper cups, a marker and a sheet of paper. This game teaches children simple math concepts such as counting, matching quantities and identifying numbers. The aim of the game is to match the number symbol on the cup to the number of dots in the circle or the playing card to the number in the circle.
Addition and Subtraction
This is a great, practical way to introduce your child to addition and subtraction sums. You will need counters (buttons, pebbles, smarties), a pack of cards (I used Uno cards because the size of the number is larger) and a plate. The child needs to pick two cards then use the counters to add or subtract.
Writing Numbers or Sums
A fun way to get your child to practice the formation of numbers as well as completing sums is by using different textures such as shaving foam, sand, paints, using chalk on the side walk or stencils. This not only helps with the formation and identification of letters but also exposes them to different textures.
Measurement and Ordering
Grab a few random objects in your home that are off different sizes and lengths. Have the child sort these objects from longest to shortest or biggest to smallest. You could use different sized balls, cut out strips of paper or even different length straws. Another fun way to expose your child to measurement would be to get wool or string, lie down on the floor and get your child to place the string from your head to your toes then cut it. You can do the same for your child and you can then compare the two pieces of wool.
Data Handling and Graphing
For this activity, the child would need a graph (you can draw one on paper or print out a template), a marker and objects to count. Give your child a container filled with 5 or 6 different coloured objects that he/she will able to group together. The child will count each object and then indicate on the graph how many of each coloured objects there are. This activity exposes the child to sorting, counting, identification of numbers and Data Handling. After the child is done drawing the graph you can discuss the data with them by asking questions like “which colour has the most objects?” or “which has the least objects?
There are so many fun games you can play with your child to improve his or her memory! Here are a few:
- Put five objects on a try, such as a pencil, pen, small toy, shell or ornament. Ask your child to study them for a couple of minutes. Put a cover over the tray. How many objects can your child remember? A variation of this game is to remove one of the objects while the tray is covered and ask your child to spot which one is missing.
- Take a standard pack of playing cards and remove the numbers 6-10 from the pack. Place the remaining cards face down on the table in eight rows of four. Each player tries to find a matching pair by turning up two cards. If it is not a matching pair, the cards are placed fade down again in the same position. If they do match, the player keeps this pair of cards and has another turn. When all the pairs have been found, the player with the most pairs wins.
- Tell your child to imagine going on a holiday. Start off by saying, “I packed my suitcase an put in my… hairbrush”. The next person repeats the phrase but adds on an extra item, e.g. “I packed my suitcase and put in my hairbrush and t-shirt.” And so on.
- Get three plastic cups and a small item such as a coin. Place the item under a cup, making sure your child knows which one it’s under. Move the cups around and ask your child which cup the item is under.
- Ask your child to study you, paying attention to what you are wearing. Leave the room and change one thing. For example, you could take of an earring, tie your hair back or change your shirt. Come back in and ask your child to spot what you have changed. You can also play this game on a white board. Draw a person or scene and rub one thing out when your child is not looking.
Have you ever been told your child presses too hard or too softly when writing? Let your child practice shading these bunnies in with a pencil. Show him/her by shading one bunny dark, one bunny medium, one bunny light and then repeat the pattern before giving him/her a turn. This lets your child feel how hard he/she has to press in order to get the shade strength he/she is looking for and it lets your child play around with different pressure levels on the pencil.
WhatsApp