The Beauty Of Spelling Tests

TBR lessons mostly follow a consistent pattern to ensure we touch on all the pillars of literacy: reading, writing, spelling, and application. Some days we might skip the reading or writing aspect, but you best believe that every single time, TBR will have a spelling test. (Heck, we even had one on the morning of our Christmas party!)

The truth is, it’s actually a highlight of our day! In a reflection activity we did recently, most of the students included spelling tests on their lists of favorite things. I think what they love most is what comes immediately after the test, when a different pair of students is called up each week to lead the class in a review. Two students get to "become the teacher" for six minutes. Before you know it, everyone has gained a bit of leadership experience by the end of the year!

To me, however, the spelling test experience starts on the Thursday before the lesson when I’m planning everything out. Fridays are for chilling, so it’s only fitting 😎. I choose the most difficult words I can find in our storybook, mixed with a few "boss level" words from previous weeks, and on Saturday, I get to present them as a test.

Despite being planned in advance, spelling tests always seem to have a bit of spontaneity. Sometimes, while reading the book, I realize there were even tougher words I could’ve used. Other times, I might decide to swap a word out mid-test because I accidentally wrote it down twice.

But my favorite part is always the marking. During the review, I get to sit back and not only mark the students' papers but also witness their growth in real-time. I’ll find myself smiling when a student scores a point higher than their usual, even if it’s not the highest in the class. I might giggle when I notice a trend among the usual back-of-the-sheet doodlers, or raise an eyebrow when I see a student has mixed up the ‘l’ and ‘e’ in "smile."

Long story short: A spelling test could be seen as just a test of letters, but at TBR, it’s a way to bring our community together.

So, the next time you catch me dangling my feet from the teacher's table while the class waits (or doodles) silently, or you see the whole room raising their hands eagerly while I sit in the corner smieling to myself as two students take charge, just know that:

1. This is completely normal! 😅

2. This is much more than your ordinary spelling test.

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