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1/28/2014 Ten spelling games for Primary : Primary - Macmillan ELT
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Ten spelling games forPrimaryHelen Rouse offers some tried-and-tested spelling games to help your second andthird-cycle pupils write right and spell well!
Author: Helen Rouse
As we all know, the English spelling
system can prove complicated for Spanish
speakers, and especially for young learners
who are still novices at reading and writing
in their own language. The English
language can throw up a host of spelling
complexities ranging from different
graphemes for the same sound to silent
letters, double letters and clusters, weak
forms, apostrophes and many complicated
rules. Since most of our pupils are going to
need English in their adult lives, we need
to teach them to prioritise spelling so they
produce clear and accurate language with
confidence and thereby create a good
impression on their readers. In addition, at
school itself, correct spelling has an
important place in CLIL programmes
where other subjects are taught through English.
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1/28/2014 Ten spelling games for Primary : Primary - Macmillan ELT
http://www.macmillanelt.es/teachers-corner/articles/primary/mm/show/TeachersCornerArticle/?tx_macmillan%5Bnews%5D=17&cHash=372bfe2d898fdc5961394… 2/6
Spelling can be difficult to teach and what our pupils most benefit from is
regular exposure to written words and systematic spelling practice. We need to
provide regular English reading and writing activities, ensure that pupils hear
accurate pronunciation and make them aware of spelling rules. Above all, we
must recycle words regularly. Games are a great way to practise spelling and
make it fun, so here are ten of my favourites which can be used at any stage of
the class.
1 Fizz buzz: a fun spelling test
This is very similar to the numbers game, where the
words fizz and buzz traditionally substitute a chosen number. Here, pupils spell
out either picture or word flashcards positioned around the class, one letter
per pupil, but two letters have previously been chosen to
become fizz and buzz. So instead of saying these letters, pupils
say fizz and buzz. For example, fizz is E, so zebra would be:
Child 1: Z
Child 2: fizz
Child 3: B
Child 4: R
Child 5: AA buzz letter can be added once they are familiar with the idea. Pupils can
start the game standing but sit down when eliminated.
2 Strip bingo: exposure to words
Ask pupils to write any five-letter word on a strip of paper (you may have given
them a word bank to choose from). Call out letters which pupils tear off if they
occur at either end of their strip (you'll need to repeat letters). The winner is
the first person with no letters left at the end.
Letter bingo Worksheet (438 Kb)
3 Double letter bingo: notice specific spelling
Prepare bingo boards (or have pupils make them up) for pupils to play in pairs
with pictures of four objects written with a double consonant. Show cards with
the appropriate double letters and the first pair to call out the name of the
object in question, eg rubber, wins the card (in this case BB) to place over the
picture on their bingo card. Adapt the format to any number of spelling areas:
silent letters, homophones, irregular plurals, etc.
4 SMS: productive spelling practice
Ask pupils to write a short text on something you are studying or wish to
practise, eg the house. Help them with corrections and then have them write
out the text again for their partners, but with no vowels. Their partner
recreates the text and they check together.
5 Dominoes: prefixes, suffixes and compounds
Prepare or have pupils prepare a set of split words in domino form. Either a
lexical set you are teaching or a specific set of difficult words. Play in small
groups.
6 Words within words: letter configurations
What's the animal in sepaRATe or the drink in TEAcher? What is the number in
senTENce or the body part in EARth?
7 Flash: silent letters, double letters, consonant clusters, etc
Quickly flash a written word with a letter or letters missing, eg dau ter.Pupils identify both the word and the missing letters.
1/28/2014 Ten spelling games for Primary : Primary - Macmillan ELT
http://www.macmillanelt.es/teachers-corner/articles/primary/mm/show/TeachersCornerArticle/?tx_macmillan%5Bnews%5D=17&cHash=372bfe2d898fdc5961394… 3/6
8 Pictionary: letter configurations and predictions
Write a word very slowly on the board. The first group to identify it and finish
it correctly wins a point.
9 Order the middle letters: fun spelling puzzle
Research has shown that we can make sense of a text as long as the first and
last letters of each word are in place, even if the middle letters are muddled.
Prepare or have pupils prepare different, short texts (eg from their
coursebooks) in this way and swap them with their partners who then recreate
the correct text.
10 Plurals money race: irregular plurals
Play in groups. Prepare cards with singular nouns on one side and varying
amounts in euros on the other. Place the pile in the middle of the table and
pupils take turns to pick a card. If they can write the correct plural they keep
the card and win the money. The richest pupil at the end wins.
Finally, we can help pupils
acquire spelling by creating
classroom wall visuals which
we can return to for revision or
redirect their attention to in
future activities. Here are two
examples:
A pear tree poster. The fruit on the tree consists of words which rhyme with
pear, eg hair. Pupils add more 'fruit' themselves.
Pupils draw words, eg giraffe.
Studies show that most spelling errors can be grouped into set categories such
as vowel and consonant addition and omission, substituting one vowel for
another, etc. So regular spelling games and activities that draw attention to
these problem areas are the best way to iron them out. Instead of being a
chore, spelling can actually be fun!
Helen Rouse is a teacher and teacher trainer. She worked as the Director of
Studies at International House, Malaga.
1/28/2014 Ten spelling games for Primary : Primary - Macmillan ELT
http://www.macmillanelt.es/teachers-corner/articles/primary/mm/show/TeachersCornerArticle/?tx_macmillan%5Bnews%5D=17&cHash=372bfe2d898fdc5961394… 4/6
Downloads
Letter bingo Worksheet
(438 Kb)
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1/28/2014 Ten spelling games for Primary : Primary - Macmillan ELT
http://www.macmillanelt.es/teachers-corner/articles/primary/mm/show/TeachersCornerArticle/?tx_macmillan%5Bnews%5D=17&cHash=372bfe2d898fdc5961394… 5/6
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1/28/2014 Ten spelling games for Primary : Primary - Macmillan ELT
http://www.macmillanelt.es/teachers-corner/articles/primary/mm/show/TeachersCornerArticle/?tx_macmillan%5Bnews%5D=17&cHash=372bfe2d898fdc5961394… 6/6
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