Teachers and parents know that students hate to study spelling words. Memorization can be boring, and once the test is over, they tend to forget the words. Using educational word games in the classroom and at home can increase enthusiasm, develop longer recall of learned words, and give an understanding of how words are formed.
These games are free and simple to set up to play. They only take a few minutes, so they can be played while time is short. These spelling games can be played without an adult, so they are perfect as a partner or small group activity when other work is done.
When a spelling list is introduced, students should copy each word onto a small index card or piece of paper. Alternatively, they can cut each word out of a spelling list. These will become game pieces during the week. Students can keep these game pieces in their organized homework folders.
Spelling Sparkle
The object of this game is to be the last person standing, without being sparkled. It depends on good spelling and luck, so the best spellers aren’t always the winners. This game is played in groups of four to six students. Even as many as 20 students can play, standing in a circle.
Place the spelling cards in the center of the desk face down. Have the student with the most missing teeth go first. The student picks up a card, reads the spelling word, and spells the first letter of the word. Play moves to the right. The second student spells the second letter, the third student spells the third letter, and so on, until the word is spelled. The next student must say, “Sparkle,” and sit down.
For example, if four students are playing and the word is cat, play would look like this:
- Student 1: Cat. C
- Student 2: A
- Student 3: T
- Student 4: Sparkle.
The sparkled student is out of the game. Whoever is sparkled gets to pick the next card from the spelling word pile and read it to the group. Play continues until only one person is left that hasn’t been sparkled. Note: if a student spells the wrong letter, he or she is out, and the next person should say the correct letter. Then play continues as before.
Spelling Squares
This partner game requires the ability to spell as well as talent at Tic-Tac-Toe. Have one student draw a Tic-Tac-Toe board on a whiteboard or piece of paper. Lay the spelling cards in a pile in the center of the desk. Decide who goes first by playing rock, paper, scissors.
The person who goes first draws a card from the deck and reads the word to her opponent. The opponent must spell the word correctly. If he does, he puts an X in a space on the Tic-Tac-Toe spelling game board. If not, he loses the opportunity to make a mark on the board.
There is no penalty for misspelling a word other than not getting to make a mark on the Tic-Tac-Toe board. The other person should say, “Good try! The correct spelling is…” and spell the word out loud to the other player. Play continues in this manner until someone gets three in a row.
Spelling Word Scramble
The object of this word scramble game is to be the first to unscramble a spelling word. The game can be played in groups of three to six students. The person with the longest pencil gets to be the first scrambler.
The scrambler takes a spelling word card from the pile in the center of the desk, or chooses one from a spelling list and scrambles the letters of the word. The scrambler should write the mixed up letters on a whiteboard or paper. When everyone is ready, the scrambler shows the scrambled letters by holding up the whiteboard or paper.
The scrambler should continue to show the mixed up letters until someone unscrambles the spelling word. No hints are allowed. The first person to unscramble the spelling word correctly gets to be the next scrambler. Play continues as long as everyone wants.
Benefits of Spelling Word Games
Incorporating fun word games into a daily or weekly routine will help to reinforce good spelling habits and good study habits. Competitive students will study harder to gain an edge in these games. Less competitive students will get extra practice with the spelling words by playing with others. In the end, all the students will benefit from better spelling in a fun way.
Suzanne Pitner - Suzanne Pitner is a teacher and published writer. A member of RWA and YARWA, she writes fiction as Suzanne Lilly.
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