About Missing Letters
A word with one letter removed is one of the most efficient spelling exercises there is, because it isolates a single decision. The child knows the word from the picture, can see most of the letters, and has to work out just one - which means thinking about the sound that belongs in that position rather than recalling the whole spelling.
What this game teaches
- Matching a sound to the letter that represents it
- Using a picture clue to identify the target word
- Noticing which sound is missing from a partial word
- Common vowel and consonant patterns
- Building toward independent spelling
How to play
- A picture appears with its name written below, one letter replaced by a blank.
- Choose the letter that belongs in the gap.
- The completed word is confirmed and spoken.
- Work through the level to finish.
Before you start
A child should know the letter sounds. They do not need to be able to spell the word independently - the surrounding letters do most of the work.
For teachers
Vowel gaps and consonant gaps test different things. A child who handles consonant gaps but stalls on vowels has the common English difficulty, since vowel sounds map onto letters far less predictably. Worth noting which type causes trouble.
For parents
Say the word slowly and ask your child which sound they hear where the gap is. Naming the sound is the step that leads to the letter.
Related games
- Word Builder Spelling — Class 1-4
- Alphabet Wheel — Class 1-3
- Animals Spin Wheel — Class 1-3