By Jules Rhee, MEd | Latest update 3/24/2025
Here’s my latest love – a spelling sandbox! What a fun and effective way to improve spelling skills.
If you’re tired of boring spelling lessons, this spelling sandbox is an exciting solution for your classroom. This simple hack is a game-changer that can improve spelling study skills for students.
They’ll have so much fun that they’ll forget they’re studying spelling words.
Inspired by a Pinterest pin, I recreated this simple yet genius idea. It engaged my students and made spelling practice enjoyable. The original Pin was very simple from Kindergarten is Crazy Blog. Here is her pin:
Creating a Spelling Sandbox is quick, low-cost, and highly effective. All you need is some sand and an inexpensive pencil box. They’re quick and easy to make, plus you get a big bang for your buck!
I liked the idea so much that I created five spelling sandboxes. My students used them (and fought over them) several times a week during word work time.
Grab the pencil boxes during the back-to-school sales for around $1 each.
My students couldn’t get enough of this station, and spelling work became more enjoyable and less of a chore. And the best part? Once you make these sandboxes, you can use them for years to come. It’s a win-win!
Looking for more ways to enhance students’ reading skills? Check out this DIY Reading Hack, a quick and easy solution for educators.
Be sure to check out my Teachers Pay Teachers shop. Become a follower today! You’ll be notified by email whenever I add a new lesson or resource to my TPT store, and best of all, they’re added at a deep discount for 48 hours!
About the Author
Written by Jules Rhee, MEd, and a 30-year teaching veteran; published 7/13/2016; latest update 3/24/2025
Jules is the creator of Caffeine Queen Teacher (CQT) – Visual Math Organizers + Graph Paper Support. She’s a veteran teacher with over 30 years of classroom experience (SPED, upper elementary, and middle school) and a Master’s in Education (MEd). Jules shares practical, classroom-tested ideas and creates step-by-step resources that help students stay organized, confident, and successful – especially with multiplication and long division.
Read more about Jules here: About Page | Browse resources here: TpT Store