How can I help my child at home with learning new words?

For some children, the process of learning new words is very difficult. They have a lot of trouble “remembering” words they are trying to learn for spelling, reading and writing. Sometimes children need fun ways to practice words that are hard for them to learn. One way to learn words is to play word games. It is always easier to learn something “tricky” if we can play a game!

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So… how do we play games with words?

Flash Word Cards
When your child brings home word cards you can use them like flash cards to help them learn the words quickly. Show each card and if the child knows the word, they get to keep the card in their pile. If they don’t know the word, it goes back in the parents pile to practice again. The one with the most cards wins!

Memory
Make sure you have 2 copies of each word card. Turn all the cards face down on a flat surface in rows. Each player takes turns turning over 2 cards at a time. If they make a match (2 cards that are the same) they get to keep the cards. If they don’t make a match, they have to turn the cards back over. The child that is learning the words has to say the words out loud no matter who’s turn it is. Whoever gets the most cards wins! Helpful hint: It is always easier to remember where the cards are if they are turned over in a pattern. Example: Two cards next to each other in a column.

Go Fish
Make sure you have 2 to 4 copies of each word card. Each player gets 5 cards dealt to them face down. The rest of the cards are put in a draw pile. They check their words to see if they have any matching cards. If they do, they say the name of their cards and get to lay them down in pairs. To start, you take turns asking another player if they have a card you are trying to match. If they do, they must give it to you. If not, they tell you to Go Fish and you draw a card from the pile that’s left over. If you make a match, you get to say it and lay it down as well. Each pair is worth one point. Whoever gets the most points wins!

WORDO
First you need a grid that is 5 squares by 5 squares with a FREE space in the center. The child writes one of their words in each square. You can practice 24 words with this game. Use the word cards to call the words. When you get 5 in a row you have WORDO! The winner must spell their words correctly to win.

Quick Tips:

Things to do:

• Flash Word Cards
• Memory
• Go Fish
• WORDO

Supplies:

• Words (see teacher if parent or Downloads Section for Letter Cards)
• Word Cards or Index cards to write words onto (these can be cut in half)
• WORDO sheet or blank piece of paper with a 5 square by 5 square grid
• Markers for WORDO: pieces of paper squares, dried beans, plastic disks, etc.

Hint:

Make sure that the words do not show through to the back side of the card! Stay away from black permanent marker.