How Do You SPELL Inspire?

My oldest finished her spelling book awhile back and since then I've been letting her choose her own spelling words from whatever book she has been reading. She is really good at spelling so I was questioning if she was challenging herself with her choices. Last week at park day, my friend Jenn G. reminded me that in A Thomas Jefferson Education Home Companion Diann Jeppson suggests looking up the National Spelling Bee word list online. So today, my daughter and I went searching and found a great little (free, downloadable) booklet about spelling here.

At http://www.spellingbee.com/ we also found these fun suggestions for parents and students who want to prepare for the National Spelling Bee (they sound inspiring whether or not your child wants to compete):

• For inspiration, watch the documentary Spellbound on family movie night.

• Designate a spelling wall in your home. Post new words to the wall each day.

• Keep a "great words" journal for every new and interesting word that you find.

• For family game night, conduct an impromptu themed spelling bee. Use a newspaper for a current events bee or a cookbook for a cuisine bee.

• Do like Akeelah did. Spell and jump rope!

• Ask friends and neighbors to challenge you with great spelling words.

• Find a good luck charm—perhaps shoelaces with a bumblebee design or a special coin.

• Read great books. You'll be entertained while you effortlessly improve your spelling and increase your vocabulary.

• Scour the dictionary in search of words to stump your parents and teachers.

• In September, check with your school principal: Ensure that you and your school are officially on track for participation in the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee program.

Happy Spelling!