Seeking Techniques on Studying for Spelling Tests

We introduce this website at my school, beginning in 1st grade. It is helpful for any age, even studying for college entrance exams (i.e. SAT). Some teachers are members and have pre-typed lists available for their students. Otherwise, you can just type in the words you need to practice and have fun while learning. This is the best spelling website that I have seen, and it is FREE!

http://www.spellingcity.com/

What type of learner is she? Visual, tactile, auditory?

Visual - she needs to 'see' the words and imprint them into her brain. Use flash cards. Write all the words on flashcards and then shuffle the deck. Flash them to her really fast - just enough to recognize the word by sight - then have her say the word and spell it back.

Tactile - These types of learners are more hands-on. Get a plastic bin and fill it with sand, powder, or some other substance. Have her practice the words by tracing the letters into the sand. The novelty of the sand might do the trick.

Auditory - Have her come up with songs regarding the words. Think about it - you know all the words to your favorite songs, right? Incorporate the words/spelling into familiar and fun songs and then she can 'replay' the tune in her head.

Hi-both my older kids have spelling tests on fridays-so beg on monday they actually get a spelling test from me-i give them the word and they have to write each word-i correct it-whatever words they got wrong they had to write 5 times each-if they got 100% then the rest of the week they are able to just do all words verbally-we do this mon-thurs every week-must be doin somethin right cuz they are both getting A's in spelling-good luck

Here is what I am doing for my 2nd grade twins. I have then write each word 5 times, they have to spell it out loud as they write the words. We do this for 2 days, and then after that we do a written test, and then verbal tests.

For my older daughter I used a program I found on the internet. You get a 30 day trial, and then if you like it you can purchase the software for $19.95. I used that for the 30 days. It is www.spellingwords.com I also found a free website: www.spellcity.com. You create your spelling list, and it will tesch you the words, and test you. I like this on as it is free, and it is fun for the kids.
I will probably start using spellcity with my younger ones.

I also really like the idea of the sign language. My girls learned the sign language ABC in their kindergarten after school program.

when we had to do this, i had them write their words. then, I would quiz them while they wrote them down. then, whatever they missed, they would practice on. then write them again. we did this during the week, then, on friday all was good.

M.,

You didn't mention how old your daughter is? I think that makes a difference.

For my 6 yr old, we are new to spelling tests this year. So every night, while I make dinner she "studies" her words and tells me when she's ready. Then she gets a special notebook that has the "printing lines" on them. I read each word (while I cook), make a sentence of it, then wait for her to look up (to tell me she's ready for the next word). After she's done, I read each word again, to make sure she's got them all and happy with how she's written them (since the teacher explained letter formation is important too and that backward "b"s and "d"s change the spelling, so we've been focusing on that too).

Finally I "grade" her paper. We've been doing this every week night since she got the words.

I've also read another FUN way to do it is in the bathtub...let the kids write on the walls with those "soap crayons". We've done this type of thing too with a dry erase easel in our playroom. We've given her "sight words" to read each day and her Daddy quizzes her every night when he gets home to see if she "read" them during the day.

I hope this helps!

I've read that sign language makes a huge difference because it is not only visual, but their body is involved too. Of course, she'd have to learn sign language, but just the letters themselves. You probably practice spelling the words out loud while signing, and eventually, you learn to visualize yourself doing that.

I will say that I have found memorization of the words does NOT work. It can actually really mess it up for kids, especially for words that sound alike (here vs hear). My kids take a spelling test on Mondays. The teachers call it a pretest. They have done this in all their classes since 3rd grade. Then during the week, they have spelling homework or writing the words 5 times each, writing sentences which helps because then they understand how to use the word, and putting the words in alphabetical order. All my kids are in the same grade so I have also had them do what I call a "round robin" in the evenings before bed. They sit down with their spelling lists and each says the word and spells it. This way they hear each word 3 times. Then on Thursday evening or the day before the test, I test them again. if they miss a word, they have to write it 5 times. This really helped my daughter last year. She went from less than 50% correct to 100% most of the time (F to A in grades). If your d is having problems with switching the letters around ( haer instead of hear) the writing 5 times can really help as well as spelling the word really slowly. I try to create tips, though some words are much easier. We have used "friend til the end", "hear with your ear", "eat some meat"