Although many people assume gifted children need minimal instruction outside the classroom, the opposite is actually true. If you have a child who loves to read and write, spelling enrichment lessons can be a wonderful way to help encourage his or her literacy skills. Research has proven that gifted children who are offered a variety of stimulating educational experiences are more likely to remain actively engaged in the learning process.
Toys to Promote Spelling Skills
Parents of gifted children often complain that choosing appropriate toys can be a challenging task. Because they are naturally inquisitive and in constant search of new skills to master, many gifted children are easily bored by conventional playthings. However, the following educational toys are highly recommended by those who work with preschoolers and gifted children in the lower elementary grades:
- Elegant Baby Black & White Wooden Spelling Blocks are simple enough for a toddler to use, but the sophisticated styling makes them appealing to older children as well.
- Alphabet Sand Molds are fun for young children who also love working with their hands.
- Spelling Beez is an educational board game for children ages 4 and up that works to develop spelling skills by encouraging kids to collect the letters necessary to spell a variety of vocabulary words.
- Chunks is a word building game that encourages kids to explore how words are formed through the use of prefixes and suffixes while promoting rhyming skills and general vocabulary development.
- Mind Mania Spelling Clip is a portable electronic game that offers a variety of ways to practice new spelling words. A "Word of the Day" feature allows kids to learn a new word every day and then watch for it in the games they play.
Online Spelling Games for Older Children
Most gifted children tend to dislike printable spelling worksheets due to their repetitive nature. However, there are many free online games that can be used to help your child hone his or her spelling skills.
- Literati is a free title from Yahoo! Games that is somewhat similar to the board game Scrabble. Players use a set of seven letter tiles to create intersecting words on a board and collect points based on letter values as well as bonus squares. If you wish, you may allow your child to compete online with other players from around the world.
- Bookworm is a fun game that encourages players to link letters together to make words. Just don't let the red tiles reach the bottom, or the library will catch fire!
- A Game a Day is a unique Web site that provides a different puzzle or word game each day. The selection includes word searches, cryptograms, and crossword puzzles to test vocabulary, critical thinking, and spelling skills.
Spelling Bees
If you're looking for a challenging and highly rewarding way for your child to master a variety of new spelling words, consider encouraging him or her to participate in a spelling bee. The competitive aspect of spelling bee participation is often a great incentive for the gifted child to improve his or her spelling skills.
Although many communities have small informal spelling bees on a regular basis, the most famous spelling bee is the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. The competition is open to students under the age of 16 who are the winners of sponsored American regional spelling bees as well as top spellers from Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, New Zealand, and the Bahamas. The winner of the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee receives a generous prize package valued at over $40,000.
To learn more about how to study for a spelling bee, check out the following helpful articles:
Helping the Struggling Gifted Child with Spelling Enrichment Lessons
While many gifted children are naturally talented spellers, others struggle to learn new words. Some gifted children prefer to spend their time on math and science, while others suffer from ADHD or have a visual-spatial learning style that is a poor fit with traditional spelling instruction methods.
To learn more about helping a gifted child who struggles with spelling skills, visit these resources:
- Characteristics and Behaviors of the Gifted
- Gifted Students with Disabilities
- Written Output Suggestions for Gifted Children and Visual Spatial Learners
- Gifted Except for Spelling
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