Parent Prompt

Active Spelling Strategies

There are lots of different ideas we can use to help us improve our spelling. Some of these are listed below. We all learn in different ways, so not all of these ideas will suit everyone. Try them out to find out which ones suit your child best.

Active Spelling Strategies for you to try:

  • Write all your spelling words using dots, three times each. Join the dots using a different colour.
  • Write all your words together, just like a big long train. Don’t leave any spaces. Write each word in a different colour.

Matcatsathatfatratbat

  • Spelling Noughts and Crosses -A game for two players

Each player chooses one of their spelling words to use instead of a 0 or a X. Take turns to write your spelling word until one player makes a line of 3! They are then the winner!

  • Use magnetic letters to make as many of your spelling words as you can!
  • On each beam of the rainbow write a different spelling word, going over each word with a pen, pencil or crayon of each colour of the rainbow.
  • Write your word as many times as you can in 1 minute and then challenge your parent to do the same
  • Write down as many words with the same spelling pattern
  • Create a Crossword

Choose some of your spelling words and write clues for each word you choose. Ask a friend to solve the clues. The answers in the grid should interlink with other words in the grid. Check your friend’s answers.

  • Choose a spelling word. Write it in a colouring pencil three times, but with your eyes shut!
  • Choose another spelling word, and use another colour of pencil.
  • Choose a word. Take each letter for your word in order. Make up a poem to help you remember how to spell it.

BECAUSE—

Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants

  • Make all your spelling words using play-doh, you can make them flat words or standing up.
  • Write you spelling words in salt, sand or shaving foam.
  • Make a word search with your words. Make sure you spell them correctly!
  • Play hangman with your spelling words.
  • Play snakes and ladders where you have to write down your spelling word correctly before moving up a ladder.
  • Pyramid writing Exampleh

h o

h o m

h o m e

  • Circle the vowels in you spelling words
  • Toss/roll a ball back and forth with your parent. You say the first letter, parent says the second letter and so forth until your spelling word has been spelt.
  • Trace you words
  • Look, say, cover, write and check your words.
  • Finger spell your words out on someone’s back and let them guess what word it is.
  • White wax crayon the word and paint over it.
  • Use pipe cleaners to form your words.
  • Use a highlighter pen to find your word in a magazine / newspaper.
  • Put the weeks words in the enemies envelope and move them to the friends envelope when I can spell them correctly on 3 different nights