5 Activities to Build Spelling Skills Using Puzzles!

English is notorious for its tricky spelling, so it’s definitely something students need to practice often. The problem is that practicing spelling is generally not particularly engaging for students. I am a puzzle and game kind of gal, so as with most language topics, I try to find a way to make spelling practice a game or a puzzle. 

Part of developing strong spelling skills is being able to notice the patterns of language. Unless we are paying close attention, we generally don’t notice these patterns in an active way. Through word puzzles, students are able to do this without even realizing it, all while being engaged in a fun activity! Keep reading for fun spelling practice ideas, including FREE printable activities!

1. Word Ladder Puzzles

These fun puzzles are a big hit with students, but they also provide a lot of learning benefits. With these puzzles, there is a ladder of clues, and the answer to each clue is exactly one letter different from the rung above or below it. Because only one letter is changing at a time, students are made aware of the spelling patterns as they come up with the answers.

But word ladders make more than just great spelling practice puzzles. They also help students think about context, use critical thinking skills, and even help English learners notice pronunciation differences between words that look similar. For example, some words look like they should rhyme, but do not, such as BEAR and DEAR. This is a great opportunity to highlight the different pronunciations that the same vowel combination can have. 

These word ladders come in multiple levels for differentiation, so they work for a wide range of age groups and levels. Most have a printable and digital option for even more versatility. There are 4 sets of word ladders: Volumes 1 and 2 have puzzles with four-letter words and Volumes 3 and 4 have puzzles with five-letter words. 

Want to try out a word ladder puzzle? When you subscribe to my blog, you’ll get a FREE welcome activity pack, which includes a sample word ladder puzzle.

2. Picture Word Search Puzzles

Students love word search puzzles, but what I don’t love is that there isn’t much happening besides looking for hidden words in a jumble of letters. Students are just circling the words they find from a list without paying too much attention to the spelling. But with a picture word search, they have to build their own list. They first have to figure out what word the picture represents, and then write the word in the list before looking for it in the puzzle. They have to stop and think about the spelling as they build the list. If they get the spelling wrong, they will be more likely to notice it when they spot the word in the puzzle. You can always make it an extra step of the activity for students to check their spelling against the word they circled in the puzzle.

If you want to try this activity with your students, I have created a wide variety of puzzles on different themes. They are available based on a holiday or season and there are also non-seasonal puzzles based on a spelling theme. Both types of puzzles are available in bundles.

Want to try out a picture word search puzzle? When you subscribe to my blog, you’ll get a welcome activity pack, which includes a sample picture word search puzzle featuring words with double letters. Also grab a FREE Halloween picture word search puzzle HERE.

3. Homophone Puzzles

Homophones can be tough for students and adults alike! Puzzles are a perfect way to get spelling practice for these tricky words! There are many ways to do this, such as crossword puzzles, word search puzzles (I have created a picture word search puzzle for this topic also) and other fun activities, such as these jigsaw puzzle pieces, which can be used in a variety of ways:

If you are interested in activities to practice spelling homophones, check out these creative ideas, where you’ll also get some fun freebies!

4. Anagrams

This is a great way to practice spelling because students are given the letters of a word and they have to rearrange them to find the correct spelling of the word. For a fun twist on this that will get them thinking, add an extra letter as a distractor. I have created a digital Boom Cards activity based on this idea, which has a clue and a group of letter tiles to form the answer. One of the letters is a distractor, so they drop one letter and rearrange the others to find the answer. These Word Scramble Boom Cards are fun hands-on puzzles your students will love! See them in action here:

 

By the way, if you haven’t tried Boom Cards yet, definitely check them out because there are so many reasons why students and teachers love them!

Another fun way to incorporate anagrams in your teaching is to give individuals or small groups of students a selection of letter tiles, say 10 or 12. You can use Scrabble tiles, but I like to use Bananagrams so students don’t get distracted by the point value on the tiles. Then ask students to make as many words as possible within a given time. As an extension activity, have students choose several words from their list and make sentences using their selected words. Or you can give a clue (similar to the idea in the Word Scramble Boom Cards above) and have them find the specific words you have in mind.

5. Cryptograms or Secret Code Puzzles

These have always been my favorite types of puzzles because I feel like a detective working out the clues to solve a mystery! Students love this as well, and they are amazed to see how they can make the message come together by using logic and context. But they are also a great way to reinforce spelling skills. While solving the puzzle, they become very aware of language and spelling patterns that they might not otherwise have noticed.

Cryptograms are very easy to differentiate also, which makes them perfect for any class level. Just decode one or more letters (or even a whole word) to give them a head start. Use a variety of fun alphabet codes related to different themes and holidays to add even more interest. You can make these yourself and make a code based on a funny or interesting quote, a list of related words or phrases, or even a riddle. The possibilities are endless! 

If you want something that’s ready to go, I have created a series of cryptogram puzzles, which are available individually or in a bundle. And I am continuing to add to the bundle, so grab it early for the biggest savings! If you want to try one out, grab this freebie that is available exclusively on my website or as a bundle bonus:

Fun spelling practice for any time!

It’s important to give students many opportunities to build their spelling skills, and puzzles are perfect to incorporate quick spelling practice. Use them as bell ringers, early finishers, brain breaks, class parties, or whenever you have a little extra time during class.

I hope you and your students enjoy these activities!

Want more puzzles and games that get your students thinking? Check out these resources: