According to Rae Pica of BAM Radio, “Children learn best through active involvement.” Some common strategies that actively involve children as they learn new spelling words include:

• tracing letters in the air
• tracing letters on sandpaper or in a sand tray
• tracing letters in shaving cream on a desk

Another way to add meaningful movement to spelling is to use fingerspelling (manual alphabet). Here’s how:

• Learn the manual alphabet with your child at the beginning of the school year.
• Practice new spelling words by fingerspelling each letter as you say its name aloud.
• If there are patterns in the words (the consonant blend “str”, for example), see how many times you can fingerspell the patterned letters in 10, 15 or 30 seconds.
• Practice by fingerspelling a word to your child and letting her guess the word. Now give your child a turn while you guess the spelling word!

Get started today with the Practice Time ABCs video from Signing Time!

Already have it? Here are some more great resources for fingerspelling:

• Signing Time Vol. 5 ABC Signs DVD
• Signing Time Vol. 5 ABC Signs Flash Cards
• ABCs and 123s Wall Posters

Handy links:

• See the research that supports the use of fingerspelling and signing to promote learning.
• Get How-To Guides for signing with children of all ages and abilities.
• Subscribe to the newsletter for signing tips, fun crafts and monthly specials.

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