How To Get Classroom Spelling Games For Free

Do you have students (or a whole class) that groans when it’s time for spelling? Spelling gets a bad rap. Students think of it as a lot of rules and memorization. They often associate it with spelling tests. What if you got them to associate spelling with fun? 

Classroom spelling games are a key part of my teaching spelling tool kit. As a benefit, classroom spelling games can help students practice reading and writing and develop social skills like turn taking and fairness. 

Free classroom spelling games

If you want to jumpstart using spelling games in your classroom, there is nothing like free resources to get you started. 

Here are a few ideas … and keep reading for a spelling game challenge to engage your class (while keeping it simple for you). 

• Spelled It Word Race. Have students work in pairs or small groups. Give each student a set of sounds that includes all the letters they need to spell a word on your spelling list. Read a spelling word (or have a student do it). Then have students find the sounds they need to make the word. When a student finishes the word, have them say “Spelled it!” Then have them say the word and read the letters in the correct order. 

• Slap It. Place posters of all the sounds in the game area. Read a spelling word and have students slap each sound as they say it. You can have students go head to head to work on speed if you want. 

• Around the Circle. Have a small group of students sit in a circle. Read a spelling word (or have students take turns reading the word and being part of the spelling circle). The first student says the first letter of the word. The next student says the next letter and so on until the word is spelled. Then the first student (or the word reader) spells the full word. You can also have students practice writing by writing down the letters as they are said. This also helps students retain the letters already said and see the word as a whole. 

Classroom spelling game challenge

How would you like to have 5 classroom spelling games delivered to your inbox for free? 

Sign up for the Classroom Spelling Game Challenge and you’ll get: 

• A daily email introducing a new, fun and engaging spelling game for you to try with your students. 
• A suggested list of words to use each day that will include differentiated single and multisyllabic words for the varying levels of your students. 
• Full instructions on how to complete the challenge each day. 

To make it even better, there’s no prep for you. I’ve done that part! All you need to do is introduce the game and let your students go at it. And then maybe build it into your rotation to play again when they love it. 

Get your Classroom Spelling Game Challenge here. 

What classroom spelling games do you and your students love?