Spelling Resources

Spelling 101

Some people would argue that the advent of computers and smartphones has made spelling an obsolete skill. But teaching kids to spell, and starting at a very young age, will serve them well in all aspects of life. Spelling is a foundational skill—it enhances reading and writing abilities. It makes sense that the better speller you are, the more comprehension and enjoyment you’ll get out of reading. You’ll also be a better writer, because you’ll simply have more words to express your thoughts.

Some students are fascinated by spelling—just watch the Scripps National Spelling Bee every year and you’ll see kids who have spent hundreds of hours learning the origins of words and how they’re pronounced. From this information, they can figure out how to spell even the most complex, uncommon words! Encourage your child to develop a love for spelling with our worksheets and resources, and try these tips:

Play word games. Kids love games, and you can teach them spelling by playing a variation of hangman and word searches. Or play Memory by creating a double set of word cards and spreading them face-down. Then take turns flipping the cards until a pair is found.

Add some rhythm. Set words to easy-to-remember songs or rhymes. Kids will remember how to spell them when they can sing along.

Use words as art. Utilize markers and crayons to help kids remember words and word patterns. Color-code similar sounding words or group by alphabet.

Feed them a word salad. Use magnetic letters to spell everyday words on the fridge. This is a fun dinnertime activity.

Make tech your friend. Let your kid have fun typing words that you dictate on the computer. They can change up the fonts and colors.