Having Fun with Homophones

Dear Parents,

This week we will be working with homophones, which are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings.  For example,  too and to and two are three homophones, each with a different spelling and meaning, but they all sound the same. Homophones are especially problematic because even spelling checkers aren't helpful when the incorrect use of these words create grammatical errors in sentences. Following are several online games that will help your child to learn the correct spelling of these words within context.

Pairs Word Game

In this game, you can choose your level - the higher the level, the more the words.  Look at the location of the words for about 5 seconds, and then try to find the pairs of homophones.

Catch the Spelling Game

In this fast finger action game, you must catch the letters to spell the homophone of the one given. Your student will love this one!

Mr. Anker Tests

Students pick from the pairs of homophones to correctly fill-in-the blank of the sentence. Simple but effective.

Word Association

Dear Parents,

As children grow, they learn how to express themselves better as their vocabulary grows. These online word association games will help your student to increase their vocabulary and clarity of communication.

Lateral - The Word Association Game

Use lateral thinking to guess associated words and phrases to those given. Enter guesses at the bottom of the game screen. Move around by clicking and dragging on the main game screen or by using the map. Guess phrases with stars to unlock more levels. This game has been played over 148,000 times!

Funny Farm

What do you find on the farm? Good luck, farmer -- you can play this until the cows come home! 

KeyMABA

In this word game, you are first given a clue, and then presented with words or phrases with blanks. You guess the word by filling in the blank. The faster you figure out the word, the higher your score.

Reading Comprehension: Compare & Contrast

Dear Parents,

One of the reading comprehension skills that a child should master is the ability to compare and contrast different pieces of information in order to more accurately decipher the meaning or intent behind the information. Following are several Internet resources that may help your child to improve this important skill.

Crocodiles & Alligators

Read along and listen to this article about crocodiles and alligators for an excellent example of expository writing structured by the concept of compare and contrast.  Questions are provided at the end of the article as writing or talking prompts.

The Daily Life of Pilgrims & Wampanoag
As part of a unit, The First Thanksgiving, provided by the good people at Scholastic.com, this interactive webpage compares and contrasts the food, clothing, housing, school, chores and games of the pilgrims and the native people, the Wampanoag. Other entertaining and informative parts of this unit include a virtual tour of the Mayflower and a slideshow and web quest about the first Thanksgiving feast.

Something is Different
This printable worksheet provides 6 different opportunities to identify which picture out of four is different. You and your can also just view the worksheet on the screen.

Comprehension Upgrade
Choose Activity #42, Compare and Contrast, to see how a use a Venn Diagram as a graphic organizer to visualize information to improve comprehension.

Spell and Tell

Dear Parents,

In our digital age, many of us use the computer for work and play. Here are some Internet games that will help children learn the sight words that describe the different parts of a computer system. A sight word is any word that is instantly recognized and known by a reader. You can help your child remember the parts of a computer by looking at a computer together and naming each of the main parts.


Rags to Riches
This "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" style game will quiz you about the different parts of a computer system. The questions get harder as the dollar amounts get bigger. Good luck to you!



Find the Technology
This interactive activity helps students to learn computer vocabulary. Kids look through the messy room and click on the computer and technology related items to match the word bank. A fun way to learn!

Computer Basics Crossword Puzzle
A printable crossword puzzle of computer terminology that covers computer parts and common types of operations that you perform with computer software. Answer sheet is also available.