Effective Literacy Website # 3 - Vocabulary Spelling City

Alyssa Torres

December 27,2018

Dr. M. Rivera

IRA Newsletter Project: Effective Literacy Website #3

            Vocabulary Spelling City (https://www.spellingcity.com/) was initially created to save teachers time by automating spelling practice tests and to empower students to study independently through engaging game-based learning activities. Vocabulary Spelling City has expanded and is now a part of the Learning City family.  With the expansion of education technology products, a wide variety of study tools for developing strong vocabulary skills and best practices for effective vocabulary word instruction is now available for teachers and students. With much research, it has been proven that these are the key factors in improved reading fluency and comprehension.

            Vocabulary Spelling City provides teaching resources such as word lists and lessons, educational topics, training, and so much more. If you were to click on the word lists and lessons, you will be able to find grade level lists that pertain to your kids’ level as well as lessons in Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts. I love how the website takes you a step further and breaks down the different skills into categories. For example, if you want to focus on sight words, word families, or spelling patterns, the sight gives you that option. The site alone offers so much resources that parents, students, and educators can use whether you’re at school or at home.

            Although there is a fee for premium membership access, I strongly believe that it is well worth it. The site offers many resources and strategies that you can incorporate in your classroom or at home for all readers at different levels. With the membership, one will be able to target vocabulary instruction with actionable data, effect vocabulary retention cycle, differentiate between vocabulary, phonics and spelling instruction, create literacy centers, automated testing and grading to track student progress, and so much more.  

            Over the years, technology has evolved in the lives of our children. I love how Vocabulary Spelling City offers different resources and strategies for students in vocabulary and spelling instruction. This site will definitely help students keep up, catch up and stay ahead. If you do not have access to a computer, one can also download the application on their mobile phones so you can take it with you where ever you go. In this way you know learning is taking place and parents are reinforcing it every chance they get.