Download Ways to support your child with spelling at home.

Ways to support your child with spelling at home.
1. Create a set of flashcards. Ask your child to write spelling
words in pencil on one side of an index card.
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Trace the word in pen or marker to reinforce knowing
the letters and the shape the word makes when it’s spelled correctly.
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Hold cards up to be read or spelled aloud.
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Read the word, turn the card over, write it again and then check accuracy.
2. Create a second set of flashcards with the definition of the word on it.
Read or show your child the definition and get them to tell you the word that goes with it.
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Turn the card over and write the correct spelling of the word on the back.
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Children test themselves by writing the words on a separate piece of paper as they
look at the card.
3. Use both sets of flashcards to play ‘Spelling Memory’.
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Arrange the flashcards in rows, face down on the table.
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Each player takes a turn to pick up a two cards, one of each colour. If the word and
definition match, the player keeps the cards. If not, she puts them back in the same
place and it’s the next player’s turn.
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The players will have to remember the position of the cards in order to match them up.
When all the cards are gone, the player with the most matches wins.
4. Use alphabet magnets or Scrabble tiles to spell out each word.
5. Sort out the spelling list. Write the words onto a piece of paper. Cut each word out.
Then, cut those words into letters and have your child reconstruct them.
6. Write sentences for each word. Make sure your child is using it in context to show that
they understand the definition.
7. Type the spelling words on the computer or tablet. This will help to reinforce how to
spell each word and as well as recognising what the words will look like in a book or other
reading material.
8. Write or type a short story or poem using some of the spelling words. This doesn’t
have to be a masterpiece, but it should show that they know how to spell and use each word
properly.
9. Pictures. Ask your child to draw pictures for each of the spelling words and then write it
below.
10. Reference Book. Take all the pictures in activity 9 and create a spelling reference book
over the course of the term.
11. Discovery Education’s puzzlemaker tool (http://www.discoveryeducation.com/freepuzzlemaker/). Here you can create word searches using your child’s spelling words.
12. Mnemonics. Together, think of ways to remember the words. For example, You HEAR
with your EAR; He will be a FRIEND until the END; The ELEPHANT ate an ANT, that is why
he has an ANT in him.
13. Dictate the words and their spellings onto a tablet/voice recorder. Find moments for
your children to listen to the recording - such as in the car or for a few minutes before
bedtime.
14. Spelling City website (http://www.spellingcity.com/). Parents can register for the free
version of this and input their child’s spelling words. Your child can then play games and
activities or take practice tests on the site.
15. Putting spelling words into alphabetical order. This can be done either by writing
them in alphabetical order or by using flashcards.
16. Shared spelling. You’ll need two pencils and a piece of paper. Tell your child the
spelling word you’ll be practising and write the first letter of the word. Pass the paper to your
child so they can add the next letter. You add the letter after that, repeating until the word is
spelled. You can add to the challenge by having them write the next two or three letters
before passing the paper back to you.
17. Use old magazines or newspapers to find
spelling words and cut them out. It can be an
interesting demonstration of how many times words are
used in everyday writing.