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!
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.
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