Intervention for Struggling Speller: Part 2 (games!!!)

I was at the running store the other day, picking up some new sneaks for the big marathon (we are running it in less than a month! Eeeks!!). As I was being fitted, the guy was asking me about how I am hydrating myself. (Well, I drink coffee...that's all water, right???) He said, you are a marathoner now, you've got to start living like one. Ok, that kinda hurt. :) I wouldn't have even called myself a "real runner"! Why? Maybe because it didn't come naturally to me? What do I think a "real runner" looks like anyway? So, that got me to thinking...


How many of our kids are doing the same thing? Just because a subject doesn't come naturally to them, doesn't mean they can't enjoy it, become proficient in it or even master it! So, back to the subject of games. Making spelling a game and laughing while learning is going to be one of your greatest resources! Thankfully, there are TONS of fantastic spelling games (& apps) on the market. If you know of more, please add them in the comments! We will all thank you!! Here are a few of my favorites:

Fantastic Spelling Games:

1. Banana grams - $14.00 on Amazon.com (or cheaper from other sources on Amazon)
2. Quiddler - The rules are brutal, but the rewards are worth it in this card game that works a bit like Scrabble. Although there is a solitary version of the game for one player, you can play with up to eight. Cards containing letters of the alphabet and special combinations of letters are dealt in increasing number each time the dealer completes a round. Once you've collected your share, you can discard and pick up a new card with each turn. The object is to turn all the letters in your possession into dictionary-proof words while leaving one stray card as a final discard. You want to be the first to accomplish the goal, of course, but there is a scoring system that makes the play competitive for everyone. One nice element is the cards themselves: the letter design is based on beautiful artwork from Celtic manuscripts. This card game is a 1999 Parents' Choice Silver Award winner. --Tom Keogh

Fantastic Spelling Apps:

1. Spelling Test - I purchased this simple app to give my techie kid practice in spelling. What is fun about this game is recording in your own voice the spelling words and a sentence to put the word in context. We thought the kids would think it was a hoot if daddy recorded them and made really crazy sentences. He did...and they loved it! They begged to practice their spelling. Whaa-what?? Laughing + learning! P.s. 100% on spelling test this week!!
2. Chicktionary - This is such a fun game that I had to boot my son off the iPad so I could play it! Lol! The game is reminiscent of Boggle. It gives you a line of letters to make into words. The challenge comes when you are trying to make the 5 and 6 letter words...eeeksies. Super cute.
3. Hooked On - This app feels a little bit like an educational Bejeweled. Make words by dragging your fingers along letters that are touching. Extra score for finding the target word. Great fun, though maybe a little challenging for my 3rd grader.

There are so many options out there, tons of spelling games, websites and do-it-yourself games, please share what worked for you! Hope you enjoyed these suggestions, they have been great fun at our house!

Happy Spelling!

Kristen

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