Spectacular Spellers

Students will:

• Be able to use conventional spelling for high-frequency and other studied words and for adding suffixes to base words.
• Be able to use spelling patterns and generalizations (e.g., word families, position-bases spellings, syllable patterns, ending rules, meaningful word parts) in writing words.
• Be able to spell frequently encountered words; multi-syllabic, r-controlled, most consonant blends, contractions, compound and common homophones.

To prepare for this lesson:

• Go to the website and make an account.
• View the video tutorial on creating and inputting your word list.
• Input weekly spelling words.
• Share your homepage URL with parents for at-home practice.
• Post your homepage URL in the classroom so students can access the words you have assigned. Post the URL in an online bookmarking system or learning management system for easy access. 
• Preview the various activities that your level of membership allows. 
• Download the app or bookmark the website on the classroom devices that will be used for Spelling City. This makes it much easier with younger students.

Note: Although there is a paid version the free version works great for some basic spelling practice. Sometimes grants are available from various sources if you wish to pursue the paid version. 

See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students.net site in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

1. The teacher demonstrates the website to the class using a projector. 
2. The teacher goes through the samples of each game or activity so students know how to do the activities.
3. The teacher provides each student with a copy of the homepage URL and posts it in a general spot in the classroom.
4. The students will open Spelling City and from the home screen click on find teacher’s home page.
5. This brings up a text box to search by teacher or school. The students can do either.  If they search by school the next screen will list the teachers that use SpellingCity at that school.
6. The students click on their teacher’s name.
7. Have the students click on the Spelling words for the week according to date, or other manner depending on the week. 
8. The students click on games.
9. The students play as many games or activities as assigned by the teacher or as time permits.
10. The students enjoy practicing the weekly spelling words with computer games.

Different options for assessing the students:

• Observations
• Check for understanding
• The teacher may assign a set number of activities for students to complete each week. Students either check ones completed on a checklist or keep a list on their own to submit to the teacher.
• A formal assessment of words mastered on weekly spelling tests.