P.S. Are you new to the Sitton methodology, in need of a refresher, or looking for new ideas to extend your use of the Sourcebooks? You may wish to attend one of our 45 open-enrollment workshops scheduled for October 2008–February 2009. Check our 2008–2009 seminar schedule to see if we’re coming to a city near you. If not, consider having a Sitton seminar at your school or district. Call 888-WE-SPELL for more information.

To help put this fall’s presidential election into historical perspective for your students, play Presidential Spelling Boxes. This game activity increases students’ knowledge of past U.S. presidents and familiarizes them with the spellings of presidents’ names. The follow-up research and writing activities—the apple activities—provide skill application and spirited academic dialogue as students extend their knowledge of our past leaders.

Play the game throughout the fall election season. Select from the easier primary games or the more difficult upper-grade games. Some students may benefit from a posted list of our past presidents to use as a reference.

Duplicate the game sheets. Cut the pages into separate game strips, or have students do so. Save the strips. Use the twelve different game strips over time for homework or for an at-school activity for individuals, cooperative groups, or student pairs. Provide students with a game strip, then let them play!

More able students can use the game as a model to create more Presidential Spelling Box games for your class to play.

• Presidential Spelling Boxes & Answer Key—Primary grades
• Presidential Spelling Boxes & Answer Key—Upper grades