Make Spelling Easy for Children

source

How to Make Spelling Easy for Children
Simple Kids' Activities with Short Vowel Words

© Kalyani Candade
Nov 6, 2008

Read more: http://kids-educational-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_make_spelling_easy_for_children#ixzz0Vzpk5uJv


The most effective tool to good spelling is an amazingly simple one: "Open your mouth and say the word".

English spelling is actually not difficult, once the logic is clear. While many spellings are phonetic and are spelt as they are spoken, the confusion arises from groups of words that are drawn from different European languages. Here are some simple exercises you can do with your child to create strong fundamentals.
Make your Child Say the Word Aloud

This is the golden key that can unlock the secrets of the English alphabet. Say the words aloud with your child, play with the sounds of the alphabets, show him or her how the shape of the mouth correlates with the sound made.
Start with the Vowels, the Triangular "A"

Identify about five words with a similar "A" sound and make her repeat the words, for example: Hay, May, Gay, Day, Way. Let her get familiar with the sound of "A". Demonstrate the triangular shape the mouth makes when you say the "A". Experiment with the changing sounds when the shape of the mouth changes. Move slowly into a long "aah", and start making a list of words with that sound; like Car, Bar, Mar, Par, Far. Play around with the many different sounds of "A". You could act, or mime, if you feel like it. Have fun!
Move on to the Circular "O"

After a while, turn the "A"’ into a slow "aaaoooo’"and then make a full "O". Talk about how the mouth makes a complete circle. Move to "O" words. For your examples, use short "O" words like Hot, Got, Dot, Pot, Rot.
Smile your Way into a Wide "E"

When you’re finished with "O", stretch your mouth into a wide smile, and move into an "eeee". Point out the shape of the mouth and the correlation with the sound. Use words with a double "E" for your examples: Feet, Meet, Sweet, Greet, Beet.

Read more: http://kids-educational-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_make_spelling_easy_for_children#ixzz0Vzpg6KRx



Then, slowly, mouth still open in a smile, shorten the 'ee' sound to an ‘eh’. Move to words like Pet, Bet, Red, Ten, Pen. Discuss how the shape of the mouth stays the same, but the sound is shortened.
Experiment with the Shape of "I"

After "E", it’s time to move into the slightly less defined "I". Continue the exercise. Discover, along with your child, how the shape of the mouth changes to make the various "I".sounds. For your examples, use words making the short "I". sound; Bit, Kit, Hit, Pit, Lit. Highlight the plosive "I".; play around with the short, expulsive sound and maybe create simple mimes around it.
Discover the fun of the Pursed "U"

Introduce the "Ooh" sound dramatically. Make a long, drawn out sound complete with pursed mouth, and make your child do the same. Repeat it a couple of times for effect and fun. Then create your words; use the long "ue" words to demonstrate the sound of "U"; Blue, True, Glue, Cue, Hue. Explain that "U" often likes to have another vowel along for company. Do not tackle the odd "U" words like "but" and "put" at this stage.
Repeat the Activity and Make it a Game

At the end of this exercise, your child should have a fair understanding of the standard sounds of the vowels, and should begin to enjoy vocalizing the sounds and understanding how they work. It is important that the word groups that you choose should be standard and easy to follow; do not introduce odd spellings or exceptions right now. Repeat this a couple of times, always taking care to choose a simple and predictable set of words. Catch the odd moment, throw it around, surprise each other. Once your child starts enjoying the game, it’s time to move on to activities with vowel combinations like the long "ee" diagraph , the long "a" sound and the long "o" diagraph.
Related Reading

If you enjoyed this, you might want to read Rudyard Kipling's story on 'How the Alphabet Was Made'.

Read more: http://kids-educational-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_make_spelling_easy_for_children#ixzz0Vzq8Ridw


===


Spelling Game
By MB5
Clip to ScrapBook
I think this game is a great idea. Our school actually plays a version of this on field day. The class forms a circle around plastic discs that have the letters on them. Then each child takes a turn spelling a word by
running to the letter, and stomping on it. (They're placed about 1 foot apart.) The rest of the class is not allowed to talk, but they can direct their classmate by gesturing.

What I was thinking for your game is that maybe you could play the game in small groups (6-8 kids). They can take turns, and if they get stuck, they can look to their team-mates for non-verbal help. This will

promote teamwork (hopefully), and the other kids in the group will be paying attention to the spelling since they may need to assist their teammate. I think the shower curtain/keyboard idea is GREAT (kinda reminds me of Twister!) I don't know what your floor situation is there, but you could buy that no-skid stuff they sell to put under rugs, and glue strips of it on the back of the shower curtain using rubber cement. If they're permitted, kids could take their shoes off to play, which will add to the appeal of this game. Wow! I'm getting excited about this. I'm off to the dollar store to get my shower curtain!

P.S. Does anyone have other games that they use shower curtains for? I'm very intrigued by this idea...

MB


http://www.proteacher.org/


http://www.proteacher.org/c/186_Spelling_Word_Review_Games.html