Where There Here Spelling Activities

Description

Where, There, and Here are often misspelled. Why? Because we have various options to spell them. How do we practice spelling these without it being boring? A brief look at their histories, two spelling games, a correct-the-spelling activity, and a writing activity with our phrases.

Spelling Graphic & Etymology

First, where did the words come from? Look at their entries in Etymonline.com. Use the spelling graphic on page 1 for your discussion.

Dictation Phrases & Silly Sentence Writing

Next, use some of the dictation phrases to help your students spell them correctly in real-world writing. Do a couple phrases of each word (there, where, here). Then ask your student to expand one of the phrases into a silly sentence. Do a few more the next session.  ***Brief, spaced repetition builds memory.

Go Fish Game

Then, play Go Fish with the where, wear, there, their, here, and hear cards. Get Them Ready to Play: Discuss the homophones with cues like:

• “the-place kind of where” (big eyes looking in all directions) or the “put-on-clothing kind of wear” (give yourself a hug like you’re cold)
• “the-place kind of there” (index finger point up above you) or the “It-belongs-to-them kind of their” (gesturing to imaginary people to your side)
• “the-place kind of here” (index finger pointing to a spot) or the “I-hear-you kind of hear” (hand by your ear)

Ready? Play! Full instructions in the resource. Students will 1) say the word on their card, 2) explain the meaning of the word, 3) spell it aloud, and 4) ask the other player for more of that card. Say it, explain it, spell it. ***Let’s get these spellings and meanings into their long-term memory.

Homophone Spelling Wipe Out Game

Time for another game? Play this Homophone Spelling Wipe Out in a PowerPoint/Google Slide. Link is in the instructions. Students take turns reading a slide and filling in the blank from the phonetic clue above the sentence. Then they spell the where, wear, there, their, here, or hear word. Continue using your cues, mentioned above. ***Working memory work out!

Correct the Spelling Sentences

Here’s one more activity to see how they’re doing with where, there, and here “place” words. Students will read the sentences and then correct spelling mistakes. It’s a good reminder for them to check their own spelling after writing.

Download the resource:

• Spelling Graphic
• Go Fish Card Game
• Spelling Dictation Phrases
• Homophone Wipe Out Powerpoint/Google Slide Game
• Correct the Spelling Sentences

Happy Spelling!