5 Tips to Help Make Spelling Fun!

Week #3 has proven itself to be the homeschool week I am able pull it all together. Either this is a sign of my hormones going back where they belong after the worst week of PMS I have had in months, or homeschool is actually starting to run smooth. I’m not sure I care which of the reasons is the actual reason, I am just glad to report that we did not have a spelling meltdown today. My youngest seems to hate spelling. This is the first year that he is starting to feel the workload, and it’s the first year I have done spelling with him. There’s a big shift in what second grade expectations are compared to the years past. The differences so far?

For starters, he is realizing that mom means business. I think he thinks I’m meaner than I was. I disagree. I just think his work is a little more challenging and there’s more of it. It’s the circle of life or something like that, kid. Just suck it up. But today, I grew a heart and decided to try and see that he really does think spelling is super hard. He’s been getting pretty upset when he misspells something, and I had a flashback today of how hard my oldest was on himself at this age. That’s it! Enough is this spelling drama!

We can’t have sad students here! When my kids are truly discouraged, I want to find something that will get them excited about learning again. So, here’s how  I make spelling more fun.

I’m not sure if you can see it, but F-U-N spells “FUN”!

1. Magazine Letters
Give your children several old mags. Have him cut letters out and spell his word list. Glue the letters onto card stock or construction paper and make it a spelling craft.

2. Glitter words
Have your child write his words in glue. Then, sprinkle glitter over them, shake excess into trash, and watch the spelling sparkle! Make it super easy and quick with glitter glue pens.

3. Paint
Roll out art paper and let your child go to town. Paint the spelling list!

4. Shape out of clay
Roll clay “snakes” out and shape the letters to spell each word.

5. Sand Tray
Pour some play sand on a cookie sheet and let your child trace the sand with his fingers to spell each word as you say it.

These are great ideas for children with sensory issues too! Anytime you can incorporate more than one sense in a learning activity the better they will retain the information! I use Spelling Power for both of the boys and it’s awesome. Some of these ideas are inspired by the Activity Task Cards. Once I began to realize spelling can fun, we were set!
Have F-U-N!

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Adrienne

Somewhere along the way I picked up homeschooling two boys and blogging. When I'm not scrubbing toilets or answering endless questions, I'm usually here, over sharing it all! My writing is always honest, sometimes sarcastic, and never perfect. I hope to keep my kids from seeking adult therapy. I know. Pipe dreams...You can find me as @TheMommyMess on Twitter and on Facebook.

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