Megan Reynolds

Megan Reynolds

I am a teacher & designer. Connecting with students & seeing them enjoy learning is my favorite feeling on earth! I hope you enjoy this article!

8th Grade Spelling Choice Board Tutorial for Teachers

Build your own Spelling Choice Board for 8th Grade in minutes! Keep kids engaged & learning using these tactics & templates
To use a choice board in your 8th Grade Classroom during Spelling you will need to create the Spellingchoices (there are lots of examples), organize the classroom, and have a goal;

Time-saving, differentiation, and dynamic classroom management are my favorite reasons to use a choice board!

Integrating choices every day you will need to hone in on the best way to apply 8th Grade Spelling choice boards to your classroom style!

Here are a few ideas and instructions on choices, classroom management and getting buy-in from your8th Graders

Ideas & Examples of Great 8th Grade Spelling Choices

Create a Spelling Comic Strip
Create a comic where characters face spelling challenges with tricky words. Use speech bubbles for correct spelling and visuals for word meanings. Have fun!
Spelling Bee Role Play
Pretend you’re in a Spelling Bee. I’ll say a word, you ask for definition or use in a sentence if needed, then spell it. If wrong, I’ll correct you. Let’s start!
Spelling Skit Creation
Create a short play using your spelling words. Write a script, act it out, and record it. Make sure each word is used correctly in context! Have fun!
Create Your Own Spelling Crossword
Craft a crossword using your spelling words. Fill in the grid with words intersecting at common letters. Clues can be definitions or sentences with blanks.
Word Origin Storybook
Create a storybook tracing the history of 5 words. Research each word’s origin, its language journey, and illustrate its meaning. Make it fun and colorful!
Spelling Song Composition
Create a catchy tune using your spelling words! Write lyrics that rhyme, include each word, and explain its meaning. Sing or rap it out! 🎶✍️
Vocabulary Fashion Show
Dress up as a vocab word, strut on a “runway” & explain its meaning. Be creative & have fun showing off your word through costume & action!
Spell & Sculpt with Clay
Spell & Sculpt with Clay: Shape clay into letters to spell new vocab words. It’s a fun, hands-on way to learn spelling and boost memory. Get creative!
Spelling Detective: Crack the Code
“Spelling Detective: Crack the Code” is a fun puzzle where you use clues to solve word mysteries. Each clue leads to a letter; put them together to spell the secret word!

Using a Choice Board to Differentiate Spelling in a 8th Grade Classroom

Keep It Simple

Everyone “teacher & student” should know exactly what they are doing. If you don’t make it even easier! 

Differential Instruction vs Saving time?

There is nothing more irritating than “Saving Time” with a Choice Board & ending up with “More work!”.  Are you using this to hit standards or save time or both? 

"Self Guided" or "instruction-based"?

If you giving out work, should they do it on their own or are these more instructions for each choice?

General rule, if the grade is > 3 there is more work per choice.

FREE Blank Fillable & Custom Choice Board

All ages, all grades where you need 9 grid choice board. Start loving learning again! 

How To Manage Your 8th Grade Classroom During Spelling (With a Choice Board)

I find its easiest to use a big board at the front of the classroom where all students can see the choices  then decide what they want to do

This often will be coming in from a break or transition between subjects. 

If you can get all students to know whats expected during a choice activity it becomes one-hundred times easier to manage the class & have everyone know what choices they have!  

There are three core steps you have to hit when using a Choice Board; 

1) The Set Up
2) 
The Instruction 
3) The Q+A 

1) The Set Up

Select your choices, decide on how you are going to use this time in your classroom. Build the choice board

1) The Instruction

Tell the students what they are going to be doing (this becomes easier over time) Simply start with 3 options & move from there. 

1) The Q & A

Does anyone have questions? This will help you or the next time. Remember the goal is to make this easier each time! 

Why Use A Choice Board?

So, let’s chat about choiceboards and why they’re like the coolest thing ever in your classroom. 

Picture this: kiddos bouncing into the room, eyes lighting up because they get to pick their own adventure in learning new words.

 It’s like a mini vocab party, and everyone’s invited!

We all have our own jam, right? Some of us are little artists, others are born performers, and some love to get lost in stories. Choice boards are like a buffet of fun learning snacks, so every munchkin finds something tasty that helps the vocab stick!

And here’s the kicker – when the little ones get to steer the ship, they turn into these mini captains of learning. They’re making the calls, and with every choice, they puff up a bit more with confidence. It’s a win-win – they’re learning and feeling like the boss at the same time.

Plus, for us teachers, it’s like having a secret helper in the room. We get to sprinkle in all sorts of activities that match our students’ levels and what makes their hearts tick. It’s like custom-making a learning playlist that gets every kid grooving to the vocab beat. How cool is that?