My Spelling Dictionary – Customize for any grade or subject!

I have a very precious-to-my-heart 7-year-old daughter, my oldest girl.  We have taken reading and spelling a bit slower because she’s needed a good amount of extra practice and reinforcement.  In my opinion, it’s better for her to go a bit slower and really nail down particular literacy concepts, than breeze on through and those concepts not be solidified.

Most weeks, we do formal Spelling three times each week.  Recently, my daughter was in a new class at church and recognized that some of her peers were better spellers than she was.  So she asked if we could do Spelling every day so she could get better at it.

Why, yes ma’am, we sure can!!

I won’t go on and on about how proud I was of her for making that astute observation, that she was willing to work hard to improve her Spelling skills, and that she wasn’t ashamed or embarrassed to come and ask me.   So I’ll say it only once:

I was so proud of her.  You know, mama proud.

Sometimes God gives us mamas little treasures to ponder in our hearts, and this was definitely one of those moments.

So long story short, we are working on Spelling 5 times a week and she is seeing great success!

In order to help her even more, I created a personal Spelling Dictionary where she can record more difficult words.  She writes words that are more difficult to spell and can refer back to her personalized dictionary any time she needs it!

My Spelling Dictionary

This Spelling Dictionary is completely customizable for any grade or age range – from Early Kindergarten up into older grades.

For older students (around 3rd grade and older), you can have a different Spelling Dictionary for each subject.  You could record history words in one dictionary, and science words in another.

When your child is writing and has a word she wants to spell, just spell the word for her aloud as she writes it in her Spelling Dictionary.

Then when that particular word pops back up at a different time, she won’t have to ask you.  She’ll just confidently get out her Spelling Dictionary!

Note:  The cover in the picture shows a girl, however there are 3 different girl covers and 3 different boy covers included for you to choose from.

How to Assemble My Spelling Dictionary

My Spelling Dictionary is super easy to assemble.  For children in 2nd grade or older, they’ll need minimal assistance from mom.

What you’ll need to create My Spelling Dictionary:

• 2 plain file folders
• scissors
• packing tape
• copy paper or white card stock
• glue stick
• My Spelling Dictionary printables (print at the end of this post)

I print out each of the pages on cardstock so they’ll last longer and make the folder more durable.  You can certainly use regular white copy paper and still have great success.

Cut one of the file folders in half so you have two separate pieces.

Open the other intact file folder and press flat.

Then take the cut portion file folder and tape inside to create a file folder “book.”

It works best if you use packing tape to adhere the file folder book.  It also works best if you tape the cut file folder piece in place on both sides of the “spine” of the file folder book.

Next, glue the cover page on.  Only place glue on the outside edges of the paper so the paper doesn’t bend and wrinkle.  This is especially necessary if you’re using copy paper, since it’s thinner.

Now open your file folder book and glue the A-F page on the left side.  Again, only glue the edges so the inner page won’t be wrinkly.

On the opposite side of the file folder book, glue the G-L page.

Flip the page of your file folder book (which is the file folder you originally cut in half) and paste the M-R page on the right side, followed by the S-Z page on the left side.

Lastly, glue the Dolch word list on the back for easy, quick reference.

Now it’s time to start writing!  Enjoy!

Terms of Use – Please Read!

—> Please note the Terms of Use for this packet, which is for personal use only.  By downloading this packet, you agree that you will abide by the full Terms of Use as listed on the front page of the download.

—> If you would like to purchase this packet for classroom use (which includes any use outside of your own home with your own children), you may do so at the bottom of this page.

Click the image to download My Spelling Dictionary for Personal Use:

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Lauren Hill

Lauren Hill is a Christian mom to 5, ages 19 to 7. She homeschools her children in the classical education tradition and is currently in her 15th year of homeschool. She creates engaging worksheets and hands-on printable activities for Preschool and Elementary age children to supplement their daily studies.

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