Spelling Words:

These words usually have a similar spelling pattern. This should help your child as he/she studies the words. For example, if all of the words are "long o words" with the "vowel-consonant-e" pattern (V-C-E) then they all will be spelled that way.

Check the newsletter each week to find the spelling pattern. Your child should be able to spell as well as identify each word correctly on the Spelling Test.

Here are some exciting and fun ways to learn SPELLING WORDS!

• Make a set of flash cards for studying your words.
• Write the words 5 times each.
• Write a sentence with each word.
• Take a practice Spelling Test on Thursday.
• Type the words five times each on the computer

~OR~

For the brave and fearless, if you dare,

try some of these….

      Level 1 Activities:

1.       ABC order- Write your words in alphabetical order.

2.       Reversed words - Write your words in ABC order -backwards!

3.       Rainbow Words - Write each of your words in three colors.

4.       Cheer your words - Pretend you are a cheerleader and call out your words!

5.       Backwards Words- Write your words forwards, then backwards.

6.       Picture words - Draw a picture and write your words in the picture.

Level 2 Activities:

7.       Silly sentences- Use all of your words in ten sentences.

8.       Pyramid Words - Write your words adding or subtracting one letter at a time. The result will be a pyramid shape of words.

9.       Ransom words - Write your words by cutting out letters in a newspaper or magazine and gluing them into your spelling journal.

10.   Words-in-words - Write your words and then write at least 2 words made from each.

11.   Magazine words - Use an old magazine or newspaper, and find your word. Cut it out, and glue it into your spelling journal.

Level 3 Activities:

12.   Story words - Write a short story using all of your words.

13.   30 Second Words - Write a TV commercial using all of the words from your list. 14.   Popsicles - Make your words using popsicle sticks.

15.   Secret Agent Words - Number the alphabet from 1 to 26, then convert your words to a number code.

16.   Etch-A-Word - Use an Etch-A-Sketch to write your words.

17.   Telephone Words - Translate your words into numbers from a telephone keypad.

18.   Sound Words - Use a tape recorder and record your words and their spelling. Then listen to your tape, checking to see that you spelled all the words correctly.

19.   Pasta Words - Write your words by arranging alphabet pasta or Alphabits.

20.   3D words - Use modeling clay rolled thinly to make your words.

And here are some ways that are just plain FUN!

10 FUN Ways to Practice Your Words!

1. Eating Your Words- Buy a box of alphabet shaped cereal at the store. Pour a cup of the dry cereal onto a table or plastic place mat. Pick out the five most difficult spelling words from your child’s weekly list and have him spell those words from the letters in the cereal. After you check his work, he is free to eat his words!
2. Bathtub Spelling Practice- Get a package of foam letters for the tub. During bath time, call out a word and have your child spell the word by sticking the appropriate foam letters to the side of the tub.
3. Sidewalk Spelling- On a nice day, take your child outside with a bucket of sidewalk chalk and call out her spelling words. She can write the words on the sidewalk and later go back and draw a picture to illustrate each word. The chalk washes off with water.
4. Back Rub Spelling- this may grow to be one of your favorites! Both you and your child need to sit on the floor. She should be facing your back. As you call out spelling words, she will draw the letters on your back. This will not only give her the experience of remembering the spelling of the words but also give her practice forming the letters.
5. Poker Chip Mix-up- Purchase inexpensive poker chips and write the letters of the alphabet on them with a marker. You will need to make several of the commonly used consonants and vowels. Choose the poker chips that contain the letters of one of your child’s spelling words. Give them to him without telling him which word and ask him to spell the word.
6. Scrabble Spelling- Play a game of Scrabble, using your child’s spelling words.
7. Go Fish- Grab a package of goldfish crackers and your child’s spelling list. Call a word out for your child to spell and each time she spells one correctly, she can take one gold fish cracker for each letter in the word. If she makes a mistake, she cannot take any until she is able to spell it without help.
8. Word Processing Practice- Have your child use the computer to type his spelling words. Encourage him to use a different color, font, size or style for each word.
9. Spelling Word Finds- Create a word find for your child using Puzzlemaker at http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/index.html. Click on Puzzlemaker and choose Word Find. Type in your child’s spelling words, print it and let her solve it!
10. Spelling Puzzles- Write each spelling word on a 4x6" index card with marker. Cut each card in half, creating a jagged edge on both sides. Mix up the cards and have your child sort them and find the match to complete the puzzle.