Helping your student practice their 2nd grade spelling words is not only necessary, it can help them become better readers. Also, knowing words on sight can build confidence as your child is required to write more. Lastly, getting 100% on a spelling test can make your child feel pretty special so make sure you post those grades on the refrigerator for some positive reinforcement.

Tip #1 – Read. Reading to your child or having them read to you is by far one of the best ways for your child to become better at spelling. They become familiar with the words and the intricacies of the English language. Let you child pick books of interest from the public library, the school library or purchase grade level appropriate books. Many books have grade levels on the front cover which makes it easy for parents to know which books will be right for their child.

Tip #2 – Create Your Own Books. Get just five pages of paper and staple them together. Ask your child to write the story and illustrate it. You can help them with spelling and writing, but they should be doing the physical writing of the book. This allows their brain to remember the letters and spelling of words.
Tip #3 – Make A Card Game. It’s easy to make a card game like Go Fish or Memory out of spelling words. Create a template in Microsoft Word or a similar program and type the weekly words in, print them and cut them out. You can get creative if you have time and add clip art. Have a younger child? Save the cards because you might end up with the same lists for them someday!

Tip #4 – Practice Spelling Online. There are many online spelling games available, some of which are even free. On some sites, you can use your own lists from your school. Take advantage of your child’s comfort with computers to have them play a few games everyday online instead of simply writing the words out which can be tedious and boring.

Tip #5 – Use Speech Recognition. Many computers come with Speech Recognition software ready to be installed. You can set it up for free and if you have a child who learns verbally, they might like try using the spelling feature so they don’t have to type. As you tell them the words, they would spell them into the microphone as they are typed onto the screen. For Microsoft users, you go to Start > Control Panel > Speech Recognition Options to set up the program. » Read more: 5 Easy Ways to Practice 2nd Grade Spelling Words

The journey back to school is a time when students meet new friends and get adjusted to a new school environment. The adjustment is not limited to K12 students there are changes for college bound students too. Often after the first week students realize that they do not know how to study and they easily get behind on assignments. Going back to school becomes a burden when students realize how much work that they need to complete. Students don’t realize that learning how to study is one of the best ways to succeed during the new school year.

For most students it is easy to discover how much they do not remember from the prior year. The first test score or quiz can reveal a lot. It takes devotion to get back into the habit of studying. Students who want the best grade realize that they need to hit the ground running. They are ready for the challenge of a new school year and they are organized. There are five study tips that they have learned to use:

(1). Start reading your chapters right away,
(2). Pick up other books at the library,
(3) always manage your time,
(4) research your course topics over the internet and
(5) form a study group. Go into each school year prepared to learn. The studying that you do prior to the beginning of school will help you to achieve better grades. The best students focus on having a great awareness of all of the requirements for each course.

Take advantage of the technology that is all around you. There are all types of gadgets that are essential for 21st century students. Every student should have a laptop that connects to the internet and prints documents. Some school systems are saving money by using laptop computers. They are reducing their paper consumption, Consider purchasing an IPOD which an be used to download educational information. There are programmable calculators that help with complex math problems. There is also the new IPAD that stores books and provides access to the internet. All of these technologies are converging to provide a wealth of knowledge for everyone.

The potential for independent learning opportunities is growing each year. You can be successful when you go back to school by pursuing knowledge with other friends. Make a commitment to forming a study group. You can meet in person or over the telephone. Hand out assignments by way of email. Each person must answer the assignment questions. Then set a time to meet in person or over the telephone. A group that starts out with a strong effort by everyone will have a greater chance of lasting until the end of the course. » Read more: 5 Back to School How to Study Tips