Teachers

This is a great way to encourage vocabulary development in conjunction with learning spelling words.
 * What's on my back? **

1. Write spelling words on individual index cards -- one word per card and one card per student and teacher. For example, if you have 22 students in your class, make up 23 index cards with one word on each card. 2. Ask a student to choose one of the cards and tape it to your back. Do not look at the card that the student has chosen for you. 3. Tape the remaining cards to students' backs. Do not let any individual student see what you have taped to his or her back. 4. Ask students to give clues about the word on your back without telling you the specific word. Make a guess. Continue gathering clues and guessing. When students confirm that you have correctly guessed the word on your back, you may remove the word from your back after you spell the word correctly. 5. Ask students to visit with each other -- gathering clues and guessing -- until they have all correctly guessed and spelled the words on their backs.

This is a fun game for students to do in groups. Open this link to access your set of letter cards. Print or photocopy five sets. Cut out each letter card. Now you're ready! Divide your class into five groups. Give each group a set of cards. Call out a spelling word. The first team to spell the word correctly with their cards receives two points. Each additional team that spells the word correctly receives one point. After all the spelling words are called, the team with the most points wins!
 * Spelling Scramble**

**Detectives** Play a game that rewards good spelling skills and quick reactions! Write the week's spelling words on a chalkboard or whiteboard. Review the words with students. Instruct students to put their heads on their desks. When all heads are down, erase one of the words and write it with a spelling error. Announce "Go to work, detectives!" At that announcement, students raise their heads. See how long it takes students to find the misspelled word. Students can raise their hands as soon as they know which word has been changed, or you might have them write the word -- correctly spelled, of course -- on a piece of paper.