spelling homework choice board 3rd grade

Megan Reynolds

I am a teacher & designer. Connecting with students & seeing them enjoy learning is my favorite feeling on earth! I hope you enjoy this article!

3rd Grade Spelling Choice Board Tutorial for Teachers

• Common Core Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.2 , CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.2.E , CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.4

Ideas & Examples of Great 3rd Grade Spelling Choices

Spell & mime game, story time spelling, spelling treasure hunt, spelling bee skit, spell & draw challenge, magic word wizardry, spell & sculpt with clay, spell & cook: recipe fun, spelling song creation, using a choice board to differentiate spelling in a 3rd grade classroom.

Keep It Simple

Everyone “teacher & student” should know exactly what they are doing. If you don’t make it even easier! 

Differential Instruction vs Saving time?

There is nothing more irritating than “Saving Time” with a Choice Board & ending up with “More work!”.  Are you using this to hit standards or save time or both? 

"Self Guided" or "instruction-based"?

If you giving out work, should they do it on their own or are these more instructions for each choice?

General rule, if the grade is > 3 there is more work per choice.

FREE Blank Fillable & Custom Choice Board

All ages, all grades where you need 9 grid choice board. Start loving learning again! 

How To Manage Your 3rd Grade Classroom During Spelling (With a Choice Board)

I find its easiest to use a big board at the front of the classroom where all students can see the choices  then  decide what they want to do . 

This often will be coming in from a break or transition between subjects. 

If you can get all students to know whats expected during a choice activity it becomes one-hundred times easier to manage the class & have everyone know what choices they have!  

There are three core steps you have to hit when using a Choice Board; 

1) The Set Up 2)  The Instruction  3)  The Q+A 

1) The Set Up

Select your choices, decide on how you are going to use this time in your classroom. Build the choice board

1) The Instruction

Tell the students what they are going to be doing (this becomes easier over time) Simply start with 3 options & move from there. 

1) The Q & A

Does anyone have questions? This will help you or the next time.  Remember the goal is to make this easier each time! 

Why Use A Choice Board?

So, let’s chat about choiceboards and why they’re like the coolest thing ever in your classroom. 

Picture this: kiddos bouncing into the room, eyes lighting up because they get to pick their own adventure in learning new words.

 It’s like a mini vocab party, and everyone’s invited!

We all have our own jam, right? Some of us are little artists, others are born performers, and some love to get lost in stories. Choice boards are like a buffet of fun learning snacks, so every munchkin finds something tasty that helps the vocab stick!

And here’s the kicker – when the little ones get to steer the ship, they turn into these mini captains of learning. They’re making the calls, and with every choice, they puff up a bit more with confidence. It’s a win-win – they’re learning and feeling like the boss at the same time.

Plus, for us teachers, it’s like having a secret helper in the room. We get to sprinkle in all sorts of activities that match our students’ levels and what makes their hearts tick. It’s like custom-making a learning playlist that gets every kid grooving to the vocab beat. How cool is that?

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• 7th Grade Writing Choice Board Tutorial for Teachers
• 6th Grade Math Choice Board Tutorial for Teachers
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The Ultimate Grade 3 ELA Choice Board Kit

Included with a Premium Membership Subscribe for instant access to this and every resource on TeacherVision.

A Complete Kit of 3rd Grade ELA Lesson Plans - Plus Accompanying Choice Board Activities

Build your students' reading and writing skills with 11 weeks' worth of ELA lesson plans and choice boards. Each choice board contains fun ELA activities that will help students build reading and writing skills and understand key topics and concepts. The activities align with the ELA Common Core State Standards set in place for Grade 3. Students will build upon creative, informative, and journal writing skills, vocabulary and word building skills, spelling skills, grammar skills, and fiction and nonfiction reading response skills. Everything in this comprehensive choice board kit is ready to print and hand out hassle-free!

What's Included In This Choice Board Kit

For the Teacher

• Common Core ELA Map for Grade 3
• Choice boards for language arts - plus accompanying printable activities
• 3rd grade ELA lesson plans - mapped out across 11 weeks

For the Students

• Fun ELA activities - lots of engaging tasks to build reading and writing skills
• Student choice activities that allow 3rd grade students to take some control of their ELA learning
• Ready-to-print journal prompts and reading comprehension questions

What You'll Find Inside

Common core standards map (page 3-7), word study and spelling (pages 4-17).

• Choice Board #1: Word Study / Spelling
• Alphabetizing
• Sentence Practice
• Practice Spelling Test
• Rainbow Words
• Syllable Sort
• Plan a Game
• Hidden Words
• Acrostic Poem

Vocabulary (pages 18-27)

• Choice Board #2: Vocabulary
• Draw the Word
• Word Search
• Vocabulary Quiz
• Story Creation

Grammar (pages 28-37)

• Choice Board #3: Grammar
• Parts of Speech
• Past Tense Verbs
• Book Titles
• Possessive Nouns
• Grammar Lesson
• Drawing Nouns

Reading Response to Fiction (pages 38-47)

• Choice Board #4: Reading Response to Fiction
• Recommendation Page
• Sequencing Worksheet
• Questioning Practice
• Visualizing
• Making Inferences
• Point of View

Reading Response to Nonfiction (pages 48-57)

• Choice Board #5: Reading Response to Nonfiction
• Make a Glossary
• Compare and Contrast - Venn Diagram
• Plan a Trip
• Text Features

Reading Response to Poetry and Drama (pages 58-67)

• Choice Board #6: Reading Response to Poetry and Drama
• Poetry Picture
• Drama Contrast
• Parts of a Drama
• Stanza Summary
• Favorite Poet
• Drama Characters
• Nonliteral Language Search

Reading Response to Traditional Literature (pages 68-77)

• Choice Board #7: Reading Response to Traditional Literature
• Comparing Fairy Tales
• The Moral of the Story
• Exaggerations
• Myth Summary
• Magical Elements
• Favorite Part
• Create a Quiz

Fluency and Accuracy Practice (pages 78-87)

• Choice Board #8: Fluency and Accuracy Practice
• Fluency Practice
• Performing a Play
• Partner Practice
• Poem Fluency
• Fluency Check
• Timed Trials

Creative Writing (pages 88-97)

• Choice Board #9: Creative Writing
• Play Writing
• Persuasive Paragraph
• Write a Song
• Thank You Template
• Create a Planet

Informative Writing (pages 98-107)

• Choice Board #10: Informative Writing
• Research Report
• Autobiography
• Journal Entry
• Save the Animals
• How-To Writing Practice
• Time for Text Features
• Letter Writing Template
• Read All About It

Journal Writing (pages 108-117)

• Choice Board #11: Journal Writing
• An Exciting Memory
• Spending Spree
• Plan a Meeting
• Splendid Seasons
• Superpower Prompt
• New Invention
• Perfect Day

Featured 3th Grade Resources

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Multiple Choice Spelling Test and Practice with Third Grade Lists

• Home Spelling Words
• Third Grade Spelling Words
• 3rd Grade Spelling Multiple Choice Practice

Spelling Test and Practice

About our online 3rd grade spelling test.

Our third grade spelling test and practice section is fun and easy to use. Improve your spelling by using the practice section or test section as many times as you like. To store your test results, register for an account .

Would you like to save your test scores?

Saving test scores is easy. Simply register an account . We respect your privacy and do not sell or share your information.

How Do I Practice Spelling?

Practicing your spelling list or ours is simple. In the top bar of the panel, select the checkbox for practice. Then select the list you want to use and click on the orange "say it" button. After you type it in, click on the green "check it" button and repeat. When you have completed the list, your score will be given to you.

How Do I Take The Test?

The test works the same way as the practice. First select test from the checkbox from the top bar. Then select the list you want to use and then click on the "say it" button. After you type in the word click on the green "check it" button. Continue until you see your score on the screen.

Would You Like To Make Your Own Spelling Lists?

You can make up your own spelling lists or put in your lists from school. Create your account, login and use the menu Manage Lists > Custom Lists. Select a student, then name your list and click on the Add button. The next screen will allow you to add words and sentences to your list. Adding sentences can help build vocabulary!

Would You Like To Play Games With These Lists?

We have some really fun dynamic games for you to play with our spelling lists or your own. We've got Fill-in-the-Blank, Spelling Soup and more. Each time you play, the games change so you never get bored.

Low-Prep, Standards-Based Resources for Upper Elementary

Make Spelling Practice Engaging with a Spelling Choice Board

by Marianna Monheim UPDATED 3/30/24

Take Your Spelling Practice to the Next Level

Stuck in a spelling rut? A few years back, I was too. My students were bored with our spelling routine- and quite frankly, so was I. I was spending way too much time hunting down homework assignments, and my class’s spelling grades were subpar at best. All that changed when I mixed things up with a spelling choice board!

Have you been searching high and low for spelling activities that are effective AND reach all your learners. You can grab this spelling choice board in my TPT store!

Spelling Choice Board Structure

• How do I make sure students get the practice they need ?
• How can I balance that with more fun activities that are still meaningful ?

Sign up for my weekly email list to receive a sample of my spelling choice board activities . You can unsubscribe at any time.

Introducing a Spelling Choice Board

Any time you introduce an activity that centers around independence and choice, you must clearly provide the directions and expectations beforehand. More work with practicing the routines up front leads to a smoother transition into student independence.

The absolute worst thing to do would be to hand students a choice board like this and say, “okay, get to work”! What you’ll end up with is poorly done work that is not enhancing your students’ spelling instruction at all.

Rather, take time to introduce each activity individually. As students learn your expectations for each activity, gradually increase the amount of activities they can complete independently, until all the activities have been presented. This way, your students will know exactly how you would like the work to be completed.

Increasing Student Accountability

By allowing students to choose their own activities, you are increasing their accountability when it comes to practicing their spelling words. You can take this a step further by making sure caregivers know how to help students at home. For activities they may be unfamiliar with, send home directions and examples of each activity so that the whole family can be involved.

Using a Spelling Choice Board in Upper Elementary

This is a great activity for homework, centers, independent practice, or even for students to use with tutors or pull-out teachers. Once I started using this choice board for homework, my return rate went from 22% to 78%, at a school where homework completion was a struggle. In turn, as students began to pay more attention to their spelling practice, assessment grades went up as well! 

What If I Did the Work for You?

Choice board, meaningful activities, directions for students and parents, examples…all of this sounds great, but who has time to make this for their own classroom? If that’s how you’re feeling after reading this post, today’s your lucky day! I’ve already done all the hard work for you – you simply have to decide how you want to use it with your students!

My Spelling Choice Board resource includes:

• Choice Board with 27 Activities
• Practice Worksheets that Align with Each Activity
• Activity Slideshow with Directions and Examples
• Activity Directions for Student Notebooks
• Digital and Editable Items
• Bonus Items to Help Students Use the Choice Board

Find the Spelling Choice Board in my TPT store!

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Teaching with Jennifer Findley

Upper Elementary Teaching Blog

Choice Board Scoring Resources {Freebies}

Over the past year, I have received several questions about how I score the choice boards I use in my classroom. I decided to go ahead and compile my favorite choice board scoring resources and offer them for free. You can use these with choice boards that I create or with any choice boards you have. I have included a variety of different printables that you can choose from.

When the students have completed the work, I like for them to self assess themselves before turning it into me. I have included two different self assessment printables for your students to use: a rubric and a questionnaire. Use one or the other or use both.

The rubric requires the students to “score” themselves on specific categories. They highlight, color, or circle the descriptor that matches their work.

Need Choice Boards for Math and Reading?

Are you interested in purchasing full sets of choice boards for our grade level? Click on the grade level you teach to see choice boards for reading and math.

3rd Grade Choice Boards

4th Grade Choice Boards

5th Grade Choice Boards

Want some FREE choice boards to try out? Click here to read a blog post with more information about how to use choice boards and grab free ones!

Where do I get the free choice board scoring resources?

Grab all of these free choice board scoring resources mentioned in this post by clicking here or on the image below.

Share the Knowledge!

Reader interactions.

September 4, 2015 at 12:00 pm

I love that you have students evaluate themselves first!

September 4, 2015 at 7:21 pm

I love this. Do you have any for lower grades (1st and 2nd – in particular, reading) or would it be okay to create some along the same format?

September 9, 2015 at 9:08 pm

Hi Sydney! My friend Cyndie at Chalk One Up for the Teacher has 1st and 2nd grade versions. You can find them at this link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Chalk-One-Up-For-The-Teacher/Category/Choice-Boards

July 16, 2016 at 12:16 pm

Hello Jennifer, I was wondering how long you give your students to complete the board and when you give them new ones. I read your original blog post, but didn’t see anything about due dates. This looks like a great resource and I’m so excited to use!! Thanks!!

November 5, 2016 at 8:49 pm

I think your choice boards are great but I’m in Texas and we don’t use Common Core. Do you know of anyone in Texas who has something similar for the TEKS? Thanks. Jana

April 7, 2017 at 1:50 pm

Do you happen to have these for sixth grade?

April 11, 2017 at 7:22 pm

Hi Deb, I don’t have 6th grade resources. Thanks for asking though!

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I’m Jennifer Findley: a teacher, mother, and avid reader. I believe that with the right resources, mindset, and strategies, all students can achieve at high levels and learn to love learning. My goal is to provide resources and strategies to inspire you and help make this belief a reality for your students.

Spelling Choice Board Activities

A few years ago, we started using spelling choice board activities in our classroom and have never looked back! Educators have such an important job of building a strong spelling foundation for our students. While this can be pretty challenging, you can make it easier by introducing fun activities to keep your little learners engaged and interested. One way of doing this, is by using spelling choice boards (or spelling menus) for weekly practice.

The kids not only LOVE them, but it gives students the ownership to choose what activity they want to complete. Giving children a choice will make them more likely to want to follow through on the selection they made. We have observe more enthusiasm from our students when implementing choice boards over the traditional “write each word 3 times” approach. The choice board allows you to introduce the process of learning to spell new words to kids with a variety of fun and creative activities. Some of their favorites are using their words in silly sentences or playing a memory game!

Edit and Customize the Spelling Choice Board

Use the options we have provided year-round or change them up to better suit your classroom needs. Simply print out the choice board as is or edit and customize. Not only can you can change the directions, but also the activities and even your weekly spelling list! The spelling word box can also be left blank so that the students can write the words themselves.

Take a closer look at this board and wherever you see the light blue highlighted areas, is where you can edit the printable. Plus, there is no need to be hesitant about how to edit the file. This download contains directions on how to customize the choice board. The only thing you need installed on your computer is ADOBE READER. It is FREE and if you don’t have it, you can get it  here .  NOTE : It’s important that the file is open in Adobe Reader and not in your Internet browser or Preview.

Getting Students Started With Choice Boards

Never used a choice board before? We are here to help you get started! First, you will need to go over the activities with your students. We like to show completed examples of each one. Next, decide how many activities you expect to be completed during the week. We have found 3-4 activities a week to be a good target range. Then, instruct your students to circle or clearly mark the activities they have chosen to complete. Finally, explain to your kids that in order to show their work, they will need to attach their completed activities to the spelling choice board. This helps hold them accountable for turning in their spelling assignments.

Some materials to have on hand include:

• lined paper
• index cards

Spelling Choice Board: FREE CHOICE Ideas

You may be wondering about that FREE CHOICE space in the middle of the board. Well, we strongly encourage teachers to let their students come up with their own creative way to practice their words. It always surprises us just how clever our little ones can be! For example, in the past some students have used them in a scary story, written them in bubble letters and even written a rap song using their spelling words. Also, you can brainstorm ideas as a class to help get those creative juices flowing! You can keep those ideas up in your classroom and add to them whenever students come up with another good idea.

Tic-Tac-Toe Spelling Activities

By now, you probably have a good idea on how you will implement these choice boards into your classroom routine. But, we wanted to give you one last idea that has been super successful in our classroom. Since there are nine boxes on this board, you can change the directions to have students circle and complete three activities in a row: TIC-TAC-TOE style! Just change the wording so that the students pick three in a row! This can be diagonal, horizontal or vertical.

Ready to get started using choice boards with your students? Click on the button below for your instant download. Happy spelling!

If you’re looking for even more fun and creative ways to have your students practice spelling, check out our editable spelling activities available in our shop or on TPT . Customize it for ANY word list. Just type your word list ONCE and create 10 spelling activities in a couple of minutes!

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3rd Grade Homework Choice Boards - Differentiated Homework Worksheets

Multiple File Types

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What's included.

1 zip file with:

-Homework choice PDF

-Digital homework choice PDF

-Editable homework choice PowerPoint

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