Scrabble - An Educational Tool

Scrabble can be used as a fun, educational tool for the entire family. Scrabble can be played by two to four players. The game can be played online, on a computer or on a traditional Scrabble board. Through Scrabbles' unique scoring design each player is encouraged to expand their vocabulary and spelling. At the beginning of game play players draw from a 'pot' of facedown lettered tiles. These tiles are lettered 'A' to 'Z'. Each letter is assigned a point value: the more infrequently used letters have the highest points assigned such as 'Z' and 'Q'. The more difficult the word used, the higher the points awarded.

Game play begins when the first player forms a word at the center square on the board. Each player in succession forms a word using one or all of the letters from that first formed word. The next player may choose to utilize a letter from a word formed using the first word: spelling counts. For example, player one forms used the word 'NINE' from his set of tiles. The next player in turn may change the word to 'NINER' by simply adding an 'R' to the end of that word. Alternatively, the player may use any of the remaining letters to form a new word. Players form these words using tiles both crossways and up and down.

Additionally, there are bonus squares that award double points, even triple points for a letter or for an entire word. Through the placement of these bonus squares Scrabble also encourages strategy. As an example: player one used the word 'PIE' crossways and there is a triple letter or word bonus just above the 'P'. That player may opt to use the 'P' to form the word 'OPT' thereby gaining triple the points for the letter used or for the entire word. Expounding on that scenario: the next player has the letters 'I', 'O', and 'N' using them to form the word 'OPTION'.

In that scenario the player not only gains points for the letters used, but also the letters already in place. At the end of each turn players draw additional facedown tiles from the 'pot'. As the game progresses, due to the crossways and up and down configurations, creating new words becomes more and more difficult. Special attention is required at this point, as one of the rules of the game dictates that each connected tile must form a properly spelled word.

The scoring system encourages players to spell properly: words spelled incorrectly are discarded, and the player has lost a turn. Additionally, each player has the right to challenge any word spelled out on the board. This is called a 'challenge'. Having a dictionary and a thesaurus handy is a must, as they are considered the ultimate sources for correct and proper spellings of words. The fun and the challenge of going head-to-head with your friends or family members make this game a rewarding experience: through both bonding and educating. Therefore, Scrabble can prove to be a very effective educational tool.