Using Games for literacy learning

Games have an element of chance and an element of skill.

Games can be used to introduce and to reinforce reading skills and spelling skills and literacy rules. They help to commit learning to long term memory. It introduces fun and takes the tension and boredom out of repetition.

Games are multi-sensory. They involve elements of seeing, hearing, saying and moving – an important strategy for learning for pupils with literacy difficulties.

To make the games more effective, the player should say the word, or better still, if it doesn’t spoil the momentum of the game, and primary aim is spelling, write the word played or selected.

Games involve repetition. Your child will repeat the letter strings or high frequency words. The fewer the number of words in the pack of word cards – the more opportunity for repetition. After the last card has been turned/chosen, just shuffle the pack and start again. Words that your child knows with confidence can be removed and replaced with new ones. Take care to introduce only a few at a time.

Games can:

be customised and made relevant to the interest of the pupil. (If you have two children, you can have e.g. two sets of high frequency words – in two different colours, each suited to the particular child. They each select from their own pile). Customise the board using images of interest: superheroes, video games, films, hobbies, wildlife or use this snakes and ladders board.
be made relevant to the age and development of the pupil – for example matching literary definitions to their meanings at key stage four for English GCSE or geography.
be competitive or non-competitive
foster a positive relationship between players and parents
foster a positive attitude to learning
have rewards but winning is a reward in itself ……

Useful links

This website gives an overview of games.

Tower Hamlets Learning Advisory Service

Working with schools, learners and parents across the borough.

Useful links

Other useful Links