Tutors can create word puzzles to teach students how to spell. Using cardboard or poster board, write down a word in a thick marker and cut up the board into puzzle pieces, making sure to separate each letter into its own piece. Give all the pieces to the student and have the student rearrange the pieces in correct order. The student will know if he or she spelled the word correctly because the pieces will connect only when they are in the right sequence.
According to New Horizons for Learning, music has a positive effect on children's ability to associate and memorize information, and many children appreciate songs. Make up a song that spells out a few words that go together. For instance, if the lesson plan is to teach the student how to spell different animals, come up with a song about spelling the animals. Teach the student the song, and sing it together. Repeat the song until the child is comfortable with it. Then have the student spell the words he or she learned from the song (without singing) to see if the student retained the proper spelling.
Since a tutoring session is individual, students cannot participate in spelling races against classmates. However, they can still race against the clock. Provide the student with a piece of writing paper and pencil, and start the clock. Give the student one word to spell at a time. Use the clock (or a stopwatch) to time the student. At the time, review the work and see which words, if any, are misspelled. Continue practicing the spelling race until the student can beat her score.
A scrambled spelling game is one in which the tutor takes a short word and scrambles the letters until they are completely out of order. Scramble a few words and put them on index cards. Give the student the index cards, one at a time, and have him or her unscramble the words. Provide clues if the student gets stuck. This game teaches students how to identify words even as they are misspelled.