Sparkle Spelling Game?

[charlalei]

Does anyone use this in their classroom?

In the 5th grade class I went to for one of my observation visits, the class played this game and I thought it was just awesome.

http://www.gigglepotz.com/sparkle.htm

Here's the link if anyone wants to take a look at it.

What I liked is that it was competitive but there is also an aspect of chance so it does single kids out for not knowing the answer. No one can say "the dumb kids are the ones sitting down" because of the chance aspect of it.

Very neat and the kids loved using it to drill spelling words.

[hweber]

Yes, I play Sparkle with my kids. My first class taught it to me and I have played it ever since. I however have changed it so that the next person does not sit down after the word is spelled correctly and the word sparkle is said. I think that they all need practice spelling so sitting out really doesn't help.

The kids absolutely love this game.

[Bananas]

Very good point, hweber. My kids would like that, but being a special ed resource room, they each have their own list of words.

[Teach Compassion]

I just wanted you to know that I never heard of this game before, and that I am going to be trying it out this week.

Thanks for the idea!
:)

[hweber]

Your kids will love it!

[Brit]

I do it the same as hweber -- they don't sit down after "sparkle" is said -- only misspells sit down. I do try to position struggling spellers so they can see the word wall. It has not been a universal success for me, but the only kids who HAVEN'T gone for it were notoriously hard to please to begin with. I find that it's not always so much about spelling as about listening to what others have said, too -- often, it's not the kids who can't spell who get out, but the kids who weren't listening!! I use a rule where you can only repeat your word/ letter once for someone if they didn't hear. After that, they're on their own.

[charlalei]

It's funny how different we all are! The sit down after Sparkle feature was one of the things I really liked of the game because it didn't create the environment that you were only sitting down if you didn't know the word. Seemed less "labeling" that way. Does that make sense?

[NCEC45]

Charlalei, I completely agree with what you are saying. I am an inclusion teacher and I hate that everytime we have a spelling bee for practice, most of the EC kids are out quickly. They are not seeing success with it and therefore don't enjoy it.

[upnorthteacher]

I use Sparkle with my fourth and fifth graders quite often and they love it. It is great for listening as well as spelling. We don't usually stand in a circle, but stand next to desks and I sometimes change the direction we are going to add some extra need for paying close attention. I have the students sit down after Sparkle, but they never know when I will tell everyone to stand again. Sometimes I let it get down to 1 or 2 students, but sometimes I only go down to 5 or 6 and do it in the middle of a word. This way everyone needs to listen and stay involved.

[kwood76504]

When I was teaching we played this game a couple of times a week. We played anytime we are waiting in the hallway or had extra time in the classroom. We also would play right before we would dismiss for the day. It really helped the kids pick up there stuff and get in line quicker, because they were excited to play! Great and fun game, no one is left out good or bad speller!!

[hweber]

Upnorth - I like the idea of having them stand up during the game. I may try that!

[BookLover]

When I click on the link, I don't see any directions for a spelling game. Is there another link?

[mopar]

BookLover, basically you use your spelling words. All the students stand up or sit on their desks. You say a word, the students take turns spelling the word one letter at a time. If a student says a letter out of order or a wrong letter, they sit down. When the last letter of a word is said, the next student says Sparkle and the student after him/her sits down.

EX: Many
Johnny: M
Jenny: A
Susan: N
Ronald: E (He would sit)
Berry: Y
Vanessa: Sparkle
Nancy: (She would sit)

Then begin a new word.

[hweber]

Thanks Mopar for explaining it!

[fabulousclassroom]

My son loved this game last year in 2nd grade! When I was volunteering in his class they played it often and always stood in a circle. They typically did it the day before the spelling test as a review and it really helped hone their skills! :)

[Always Learning]

I play this game with my 7th and 8th graders and they LOVE it. I initially played the game the way mopar explained it, but then I realized that a lot of my students were "out" because of the student before them saying "SPARKLE", and my students were not enjoying the game as much. So, the only revision I made is that the person to say the last letter of the word says SPARKLE, but then gives the definition of the word. If the student gets the definition wrong, then they are out. A student is also out if they are not paying attention and don't know the word being spelled. This prolongs the game a bit, and students are more engaged. I typically let the students get in a circle and they go around that way (rows in my room gets a bit confusing), but they're more compelled to talk. Once a student is out, I ask them to follow along with the game and spell the word on paper.

[Centers n' Circles]

My 3rd grade daughter just came home last week and told me all about "sparkle"...she thinks it's so cool!