Ten Fun Spelling Activities!
In my last post in this series, I shared how sentence dictation is a powerful tool for mastery of spelling skills for learners of all ages, especially for struggling students. It’s such a powerful tool for learning that I made sure I included it as an integral part of Phonetic Reading with Silent Elephant “e”.
I also shared some important “how to’s” when you use sentence dictation in the teaching of spelling.
Of course, children also need to practice their spelling words outside of sentence dictation, but only after they are familiar with the words they are being asked to spell and can read and comprehend them. I cannot emphasize this enough! They must be totally familiar with the words they are learning to spell or they will become more confused and frustrated.
Below are some FUN multi-sensory techniques for children to use when they practice their spelling words:
When children are writing spelling words with a regular pencil, have them write the letter(s) that are tricking them or challenging them in a bright red color. This analysis of what is tricking them takes the word and its meaning into another part of their brain enhancing their retention of the word. The red color helps stimulate visual memory.
Write spelling words with two fingers (pointer and middle) in pudding. Spread the pudding out on a cookie sheet that has an edge around it. As you can imagine, this is a very popular way to practice spelling words. The tactile sensations of the coldness and smoothness of the pudding plus the sweet smell activates multiple parts of the brain. (Have them wash their hands first, because chances are, they will lick their fingers. Yum!)
Write spelling words with two fingers in red aquarium sand that has been spread out in cold water on a cookie sheet that has an edge around it. The tactile sensations of both the sand and the cold water plus the red color of the sand activates multiple parts of the brain.
Write spelling words with two fingers in shaving cream that is spread out on a smooth surface, such as their desk or a cookie sheet. Again, the tactile sensations of the shaving cream along with the smell activates multiple parts of the brain at the same time. (I buy shaving cream for this purpose at a dollar store.)
At home, children will enjoy writing their spelling words in the bathtub using bathtub crayons. This stimulates many parts of the brain and is, of course, just fun and oh, so pretty.
Write spelling words with two fingers or using a stick in sand, in mud and/or in snow. When students move outside the “normal” school setting to “work” on spelling, their brain connects their learning with all environments. Spelling is not just a school related skill.
Write spelling words with two fingers on coarse sandpaper. This tactile stimulus helps them feel the writing of their words through their fingertips.
Write spelling words using multiple colored crayons, colored pencils or colored markers at the same time. This is sometimes called “Rainbow Writing”. Children love this activity and the colors activate the visual part of the brain as they form the letters of their words.
Get a strong, sturdy large rectangular cardboard box about 12” x 10” x 1.5” with a lid. Line it with red duct tape. Pour two to three boxes of table salt into the box. Write spelling words with two fingers in the salt. This stimulates both tactile and visual memory.
Pretend that your child’s back is a writing board. Write their spelling words with two fingers on his/her back. It’s important to “erase” (by gently rubbing their back) after each word, especially for a dyslexic or struggling student. This helps their brain “let go” of what they were intensely focused on and be ready for the next word.
When you are writing on their back, they must activate multiple parts of their brain that help them identify the letters in a completely different way. Their brain then must connect the letters they have identified through the touch on their back into a word that has meaning to them.
Switch places—let your child write on your back.
Do this activity after they have written the word in other tactile activities and have both a solid knowledge of the word’s meaning and visual memory of the word.
Have fun taking turns spelling your children’s words as you explore spelling with these multi-sensory activities.
Enjoy their smiles and feelings of success!
Enjoy YOUR feeling of success!
If you have used a multi-sensory activity that you would like to share with all of us, please send it to me by email.
Happy spelling to you!
If you have further questions about spelling the Silent Elephant “e” way, feel free to contact us.