How to Practice Spelling with Kinesthetic Learners

I'm not really a fan of spelling lists.  Everyone remembers those grueling lists from elementary school.  20 or so words to memorize a week and the endless tedium of copying the words three times, five times, or heavens-- ten times each.  But going over spelling words can be made a bit more entertaining by utilizing lots of materials you may already have in the house (as a bonus, some of these activities would help students learning cursive or aiming to improve their handwriting).

Image sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9

• My all time favorite way to practice spelling is with shaving cream.  Squirt a bit out on a counter top, smooth it flat, and have the student trace the letters in the cream.  For a less messy version, keep the shaving cream in a clear ziplock bag.
• Sand.  If you live near a beach, go outside to practice.  If you can't make it to a coast, a sandbox or sand table would work just as well.
• Sidewalk chalk. You could do this by having a student write out the words with sidewalk chalk, but for some more movement and exercise, have them write letters of the alphabet all over the asphalt or cement.  Then call out a word and have them jump to the letters to spell it.
• Bath crayons.  Easy to clean up and provides so many new surfaces that are fun (mirrors and windows).
• Letter magnets.  The fridge would be the standard place to do this, but on the side of a parked vehicle (with parent supervision!!!) could change things up in a memorable way.  Or lay them down on the floor and create a magnetic fishing pole and "fish" for the letters.
• Blocks.  How big of a word can you build?  You could also use Boggle cubes or Scrabble Tiles for game play.
• Clay or Play Dough or actual dough. Great for little hands that can't stay still and need to always be "helping."  Also, you could have a kid spell out words with mustard on a hotdog or burger pattie if you trust your child with condiments.
• Letter cards and flashlights.  Hang alphabet cards around the room.  Wait for it to get dim and have the student use the flashcard to spell out the word by shining a light on the letters in sequence.
• For words that have tricky rules (like the "ei" in "weird), have the student highlight the parts that are tricky.
• This one isn't so much for the kinesthetic learner, but it's a super resource for having a child independently practice a list.  The student or adult can type in the spelling list at SpellingCity.com, and the computer will read the word and use it in a sentence.  Incredible I tell you.
• I haven't tried this, but I want to so badly.  Create scratch & sniff words.  Write the words in glue and sprinkle jello or Koolaid powder over the glue.  When students trace over the letter, the scent will come off.
• For low levels who are still needing to trace words, have them write their spelling words on a sheet of sandpaper and practice tracing with their finger.  They'll start to "feel" when they are right.
• Write the spelling list on a dry erase board.  Have your student practice spelling the word by tracing over the word list with a Q-tip.  They will practice the movement of writing the word but will have erased it, so have them grab the dry erase pen and write the word again, and erase it again by tracing with the Q-tip.
• Similar to the last one, write the spelling words on a sheet of paper and then place a sheet of tissue paper over the words.  Students will trace the letters onto the tissue paper.
• Palm or back reading.  I still have Bigbad do this when I'm having trouble falling asleep.  I have him trace a word on my back and I guess what he wrote.
• Ransom Note.  Have your student cut out the letters needed for their spelling words from a magazine or newspaper.

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