Bendy Stick Spelling Practice

Spelling practice. Just those two words together may drudge up bad memories. I know they do for me. Write your words five times each. Write each word in a sentence. That dreaded spelling test. Yuck! Spelling practice doesn’t have to equate to boring or monotonous. It can actually be engaging and dare I say it…FUN!

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Spelling practice is vitally important for spelling AND reading. In order for kids, especially beginning and struggling readers, to learn the phonics patterns associated with words, even within sight words, they need to slow down and study words out of the context of a book. Spelling practice isn’t always something kids want to do. {I know. It’s shocking!} But when you can integrate a fun tool, spelling can become fresh and even fun.

This spelling practice idea is one that I used in the classroom at my spelling center. Once I introduced it, my class wanted me to keep it at the center permanently! I’ve been using it at home for some time, but just recently, I created lined templates to keep my Kindergartner on track with his handwriting, too. {Find the free downloads at the end of this post.}

Bendy Sticks Spelling Practice

I created two templates for our Wikki Stix {you could also use Bendaroos}; 1- for my Kindergartner, who is mostly spelling 3-letter and 4-letter words, and 2- one for my 3rd grader who needed more space for longer words. Both templates are included in the pack.

I printed the templates out on card stock {although regular copy paper could work, too} and slipped them into plastic sleeve protectors. Because my boys enjoyed this so much, I will end up laminating the templates.

My boys used the Wikki Stix, cut them apart when needed, and spelled their sight words with them. {You could totally have kids spell phonics-based words as well.}

I extended the activity by asking the boys to write the words they had spelled on a special “bendy stick” recording sheet I had made. I encouraged my Kindergartner to look carefully at how he had formed his letters with his Wikki Stix and then use the same format for writing his spelling words {since he really likes to use capital letters or write all over the lines}. Again, I made a bigger one for my Kindergartner and a smaller one that can accommodate more words, for my 3rd grader. Both recording sheets are included in this free pack.