If you are like me the word quiz makes you cringe. Visions of yellow pencils and lined paper come to mind. Honestly, how many times in the “real world” do we take these types of quizzes? Sure, there are those annoying safety quizzes to make sure you walk around a ladder correctly-but those aren’t what I’m referring to, the quizzes I refer to are verbally fast with high stakes attached.
“What five features of your product will yield us the highest profit?”
“When can you deliver?”
“What time is it in Singapore?”
“Mom, when’s lunch?”
I want to teach my daughter the importance of life quizzes, not single word answers on lines.
Enter spelling quizzes, lists of words randomly associated. I believe that Charlotte Mason would also cringe at this type of quiz.
Transcription should be an introduction to spelling. Children should be encouraged to look at the word, see a picture of it with their eyes shut, and then write from memory.
Home Education Volume I – Charlotte Mason
Transcription leads to spelling, not random word memorization.
Now, here is my dilemma-I like spelling quizzes. They are fast, easy and my chosen curriculum has a word list for each week. So, here we are, torn between philosophy and reality.
Taekwondo!
Yes, I see your puzzled expression, but Taekwondo has now become our route for spelling quizzes.
Here’s our process, which can be modified for any activity that has various steps involved (even the Hokey-Pokey!).
Step One:
Write spelling words down on index cards.
Step Two:
Create a “Know” and “Study” card to separate words as the activity proceeds.
Step Three:
Trilobite Gal (name changed to reflect interest of day) then moves through her Taekwondo stances. If you are doing the Hokey-Pokey you just start with one foot out. Keep it out until step six.
Step Four:
Fearless me says the word “prodigious” which is on the first card. Ok, ok, so the first word is really “Monday”, I can dream can’t I? Just please don’t ask me to spell prodigious.
Step Five:
Trilobite Gal shouts the spelling of the word. The word must be spoken, followed by each letter clearly pronounced.
Step Six:
If the word is correct, I reply “Next!” Trilobite Gal then proceeds to the next pose and I place the card in the “Know” stack. Hokey-Pokey would merely put their foot in.
If the word is incorrect, I hold the card up for her to see. She then reads the letters on the card and moves to the next pose. I place the card in the “Study” stack.
Step Seven:
Repeat until sequence ends or someone is ready for a snack. Since Trilobite Gal loves practicing her forms we are able to go through several words.
Outcome:
Taekwondo Spelling is a win-win for us. She gets to practice something she loves, I am able to determine her current level of understanding and we both end up rolling in laughter.
Pencil quizzes will come some day, but not now. Besides, her spelling quizzes will be based upon transcription so random lists are not necessary. Life is necessary.