CUSTOM WORD LIST
Use your own spelling words for the test and the practice
If the words have already been chosen, do not search for another generic list. Keep the exact target words, turn them into recall-based practice, and review the ones that remain difficult.
When your own list is better than a premade list
Premade grade lists are useful when you need ideas. A custom list is better when a teacher, homeschool lesson, tutor, spelling-bee coach, or the learner’s own writing has already identified the words that matter. Matching the practice to the real target removes unnecessary work.
Step 1: collect and check the words
Copy the words from the source list and verify their spelling before creating the activity. Pay extra attention to proper nouns, regional variants, technical terms, or words copied from handwriting. Keep the original list nearby until the custom game is saved.
Step 2: keep one master list, even when rounds are shorter
A 10- or 20-word school list can remain one learning target even if individual practice rounds use fewer words. The important thing is that Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday are all drawing from the same source rather than introducing unrelated vocabulary.
Step 3: vary how the learner has to recall the word
Multiple Choice checks recognition. Spell It asks for sound-to-spelling recall. Word Jumble and Build Words require reconstruction. Fill in the Blank and Guess the Word add sentence or meaning context. Keeping the words stable while changing the prompt can show whether the learner truly knows the spelling or only recognises it in one format.
Example: turn one 10-word school list into a week of games
Suppose the list is because, beautiful, enough, friend, people, school, thought, through, together, and Wednesday. Use recognition and reconstruction early in the week, audio spelling later, then focus the final review on the words still being missed. The target list does not change simply because the interaction changes.
Step 4: use meaning and pronunciation when the word itself is unfamiliar
For vocabulary such as photosynthesis or equator, spelling practice is more useful when the learner also recognises the pronunciation and meaning. Add phonetics, definitions, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences where they help make the word understandable.
Step 5: turn missed words into the next practice set
Do not end with the score. Identify which words were missed, which were only correct in easier recognition activities, and which are consistently secure. The smaller weak set becomes the next session.
Make the school list the game
Think Champion lets you create a custom spelling game and try all six challenge modes in the Free Trial with up to five words per game.
Use the same custom-list workflow beyond weekly homework
The same approach works for homeschool lessons, tutoring interventions, subject vocabulary, spelling-bee study lists, commonly misspelled words from a child’s writing, and Hindi spelling practice. Start with the real learning target, then build the practice around it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I create a spelling test using my own words?
Yes. Think Champion supports custom spelling games built around the exact words you want practised.
What games can use my own spelling list?
The same list can be practised through Multiple Choice, Word Jumble, Spell It, Fill in the Blank, Guess the Word, and Build Words.
Can siblings use different custom lists?
Yes. Separate child profiles let siblings use different games and keep their progress independent under the same family account.
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