Just caught an interview with this year's National Spelling Bee winner, Anamika Veeramani, on Fox News. She was asked how she memorized so many words. She said she was not very good at memorizing, but that she learned the parts of speech, definition and etymology of words to learn to spell them. Then with the STEPS quote of the day she said, "That's why spelling isn't about memorizing. Spelling is just about everything!"
When you teach spelling with STEPS, you don't rely on children to memorize list after list of words. Like these super spellers, you'll teach students to spell sound by sound. The spelling of each sound is determined by its etymology. Even at a young age this study of the history of words and how their form and meaning have changed over time can turn a boring memorizing activity into a valuable lesson on geography, history, and vocabulary. And if you're really good, you might just be a spelling bee STAR!
Welcome to everyone interested in teaching children to read, write and spell!
