Multisensory Monday- Clothespin Spelling Game

My younger students really seem to enjoy this simple spelling game. To make it, you will need some clothespins, a clothes hanger, and some letter stickers.  Assembly time is quick: Simply place one letter sticker on one side of each clothespin. The object of the game is to create as many words as you can using the clothespin letters. You can play this game cooperatively using only one hanger, or you can play the game competitively using one hanger for each player.

Materials

• Clothespins (You can find clothespins at the dollar store!)
• Clothes Hanger
• Letter Stickers (Make sure letters will fit on the clothespins)

Directions

To play, turn all of the clothespins letter-side down. The first player chooses a clothespin and clips it onto the hanger in one of three designated word spots (the top “shoulder” areas or the “pants” area). Once a clothespin has been placed in its word spot, it can be moved within that word area, but it cannot move to another word spot (from “shoulder” to “pants” and vice versa).

The next player selects a clothespin and clips it into one of the word spots. Play continues until a word is made in each designated word spot. When extra letters begin to accumulate in the word spots, a player may elect to remove one letter per turn and return it face down to the draw pile of clothespins.

If playing cooperatively, players work together and build words on one hanger. If playing competitively, each player has her own hanger and tries to build three complete words before the other players build their words. Competitive players may also elect to give one point per letter in the word to encourage students to try to build longer words.   Use a predetermined word list for each student so that they can work on spelling Red Words or words with a specific sound or spelling rule.

Tammi Brandon, M.Ed., CDP

Tammi Brandon is a Master Instructor and Education Consultant with Brainspring Educator Academy.

Brainspring’s Educator Academy helps teachers bring Orton-Gillingham based multisensory instruction to the classroom. Our nationally accredited Phonics First® curriculum helps transform struggling readers into skilled learners with an effective, fun, multisensory approach.

For more information please visit brainspring.com or call 1-8007323211