Spelling

11 Weirdly Spelled Words—And How They Got That Way
Spelling anomalies explained via etymology.

60 Ways to Practice Spelling
A variety of ideas. Don't miss "Musical Words," "Spell it with Beans," and "Rainbow Chains."

abcteach.com
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!

Affect or effect ?
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.

Affect versus Effect
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 Alphabet is Historic
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.

A Brief History of Plural Words
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.

Chalking Points: An Incomplete History of English Spelling
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.

Cooperative Group Spelling Game
In this game designed for grades 3-8, students use newspapers to demonstrate knowledge of their vocabulary and spelling words.

Desktop Spelling
A game to help elementary students review spelling.

Free Spelling Course
Thirty spelling units from Marie Rackham, author and producer of The Basic Cozy Grammar Course.

How do you Spell Caught ?
In this article a teacher explains her Write-Think-Check process that helps elementary LD students edit for spelling.

I Love Contractions
Students watch a 2-minute video from Between the Lions that introduces them to contractions.

Making Sense of Spelling
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.

The Reading-Spelling Connection
In this article Stephen Krashen analyzes research and makes recommendations for working with spelling.

Literacy Activities
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.

Musical Spelling Words
This activity encourages students to practice writing their spelling words.

Shepherd Drive business owners upset about misspelled sign
A real-world TV news clip about the impact of a misspelled word.

Spell, Shoot, and Score
This spelling game helps K-5 students review targeted words before a test.

Spelling
Suggestions to help integrate spelling into your reading and writing curriculum.

Spelling Activities
Spelling and memory activities for grades 2-4.

Spelling ALWAYS counts!
A humorous graphic that makes the point clearly.

Spelling Battleship
Students review spelling in the manner of a popular game.

Spelling Bee Interactives
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.

Spelling City
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.

Spelling Exercises
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.

Spelling It Right
Over 150 pages of help, worksheets and advice from an experienced English teacher and examiner.

Spelling Relay
Students review spelling words as they compete for team points.

Spelling Reform Proposal
Just for fun, a suggestion about reforming English spelling.

Spelling Strategies: Learning High-Frequency Words
This page includes the 100 most common words in English and suggests ways to learn to spell them that go beyond simple memorization.

Spelling Words Correctly Using Prefixes
In this lesson students practice with the prefix "re-" and then move to other prefixes.

Spellits
From the BBC: interactive online activities and printable resources which teach spelling strategies, rules and patterns for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.

To , Too , or Two : Developing an Understanding of Homophones
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."

Weird plurals: Latin and Greek origins, irregular plural noun forms
Explanation, infographic, downloadable poster.

Word Central
Online games for young spellers from Merriam-Webster. Click on the "For Educators" tab for other resources.

Word Sort Wizard
Customize student learning with this site. Create word lists for a class or for individual students. Registration required (free).

Word Wall "Active-ities" Build Vocabulary, Spelling, Writing Skills
Five activities using word walls.

Why is there a "b" in doubt ?
This TED-ED video (3:28) explores the etymology of the word. Captioned, includes follow-up questions and support.