Over the years, many teaching and testing methods have come and gone. One that is still going strong is the weekly spelling test.
When a child reaches the third grade he or she is typically expected to remember 20 new words each week.
For many, simple memorization works well. Over the course of the week, children have homework associated with their spelling words, such as writing the words three times each, using them in sentences, and studying the day before the test.
Two other methods that can be implemented to improve spelling test grades are the Building Block method and playing games on free educational sites.
Build-a-Word, or the Building Block Study Method
The building block method of studying spelling words is very simple. A child will take a spelling word such as "hatch" and build it with one letter, then two, as follows:
- h
- ha
- hat
- hatc
- hatch
The child is not meant to sound out the word as it's built. This would cause some confusion, especially with "hatc." It is a means to enforce memorization through repetition.
As the child builds the word, she is essentially writing it more than once. This method is great for kinesthetic learners, or those who learn best with some form of physical and/or visual interaction, making this study method more effective than reading the words and then repeating them upon being asked.
Read and Speak the Letters
Some students are auditory learners. For those who learn more effectively by hearing what they need to study, it's a very good idea to not just read the spelling words silently, but to say the letters.
For example, using the word above, the child can say, "Hatch. H-A-T-C-H. Hatch," repeating the words three to five times each.
Fun and Games While Studying on SpellingCity.com
Free educational sites like SpellingCity.com are great for assisting kids with their spelling. Not only are there fun games, such as hang mouse and matching, but children can have several other learning methods implemented into the use of this site.
To start, the spelling words are typed into the program. If parents are doing the inputting, which is best to avoid errors, such as those a child might make by reversing letters, such as the "d" in the word "ditch," children can still be studying while they think they are getting a break.
As mom or dad types, Joe or Nancy can tell them the words and spell them as they go. As they do, they'll feel like they're getting a break from typing, and mom and dad will know that study time is being maximized as learning and fun are about to come together.
The method one chooses to help a child study most effectively is subjective to the student. Where one method, such as games, may work for one child, memorization is best for another. The important thing is that children enjoy learning and get great grades.
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