Spelling
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Etymology | Words with Multiple Meanings |
Prefixes and Suffixes | Spelling |
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Spelling anomalies explained via etymology.
A variety of ideas. Don't miss "Musical Words," "Spell it with Beans," and "Rainbow Chains."
Among the generous links at this site are elementary/primary-level Word Searches, Crossword Puzzles, Shape Books, and ABC activities, all ready to print and use!
A thorough explanation for middle schoolers and above, including text, a 4-minute audio file, and a downloadable chapter from her book, which requires Adobe Reader for access.
This downloadable YouTube video (4:17) emphasizes
effect
as a noun;
affect
as a verb but also explores
effect
as a verb and
affect
as a noun. Includes advertising at the end.
The three lessons in this K-2 curriculum unit include short historical introductions to the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans, hyperlinks to selected illustrations, and suggestions for activities.
In this TED-ED talk (4:27) we learn about Old English plural forms and about the influence of the Vikings on pluralization. Includes follow-up questions. Better for middle school and above.
This downloadable YouTube video (5:38) explores the impact of the Normans and the printing press on English spelling. Engaging for upper elementary and older. Includes advertising at the very end.
In this game designed for grades 3-8, students use newspapers to demonstrate knowledge of their vocabulary and spelling words.
A game to help elementary students review spelling.
Thirty spelling units from Marie Rackham, author and producer of The Basic Cozy Grammar Course.
In this article a teacher explains her Write-Think-Check process that helps elementary LD students edit for spelling.
Students watch a 2-minute video from
Between the Lions
that introduces them to contractions.
While spelling may sometimes seem random or unexpected, this lesson illuminates how peeling back the layers of spelling helps us understand the complex history and meaningful structure of words. This TED-ED video (4:19) is captioned and includes follow-up questions and other support.
In this article Stephen Krashen analyzes research and makes recommendations for working with spelling.
Interactive spelling games. This site uses British spelling. Most of the time this will not be an issue with American students, but teachers should be aware.
This activity encourages students to practice writing their spelling words.
A real-world TV news clip about the impact of a misspelled word.
This spelling game helps K-5 students review targeted words before a test.
Suggestions to help integrate spelling into your reading and writing curriculum.
Spelling and memory activities for grades 2-4.
Spelling ALWAYS counts!
A humorous graphic that makes the point clearly.
Students review spelling in the manner of a popular game.
Students select a grade level. They can listen to and/or read words in sentences and are prompted to spell the word that's missing. Self-grading.
An online interactive site. Use their word lists (grades 1-8) or create your own. Students can hear the word pronounced, play spelling games, and test themselves. High school students who want to improve their spelling can still use the site, but with patience: the site records which words people ask for and updates the database monthly.
Designed for high school and older, the spelling exercises on this site cover these issues: -ible vs. -able,
accept
vs.
except
,
affect
and
effect
, and ie/ei rules.
Over 150 pages of help, worksheets and advice from an experienced English teacher and examiner.
Students review spelling words as they compete for team points.
Just for fun, a suggestion about reforming English spelling.
This page includes the 100 most common words in English and suggests ways to learn to spell them that go beyond simple memorization.
In this lesson students practice with the prefix "re-" and then move to other prefixes.
From the BBC: interactive online activities and printable resources which teach spelling strategies, rules and patterns for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.
In this minilesson, students begin by generating a list of homophones with which they are familiar. Students then listen to a song, identify homophones in the song, and discuss their meaning and spelling. Finally, student groups create a skit that depicts the meaning of a homophone. As the group performs the skit, their classmates attempt to guess the homophone that is on display. Groups finish the lesson by creating a comic strip version of their skit to be compiled into a class "homophone book."
Explanation, infographic, downloadable poster.
Online games for young spellers from Merriam-Webster. Click on the "For Educators" tab for other resources.
Customize student learning with this site. Create word lists for a class or for individual students. Registration required (free).
Five activities using word walls.
This TED-ED video (3:28) explores the etymology of the word. Captioned, includes follow-up questions and support.