Strategies

When it comes to studying for the spelling bee, there are so many strategies that can help maximize the number of words you can learn. I am not exaggerating when I say that I could talk all day about ways to study for spelling bees. Here are just A FEW.

Always start studying with the easier words. Although these words may bore you to tears, just remember that these are the words that will come up first in a spelling bee, and if you make a mistake on an easier word, there is no point in having studied the harder words.
Come up with tricks to remember words. For example, the word trichinosis is a sickness you can get from consuming raw pork. You can remember the spelling because “tri” means three, reminding you of the three little pigs (pork). The three little pigs always tell the wolf, “Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin,” and the word chin is also in trichinosis. Songs are also really helpful. When I studied with my mom, she would often make up songs with the spellings of words that I had trouble with. Although I found it to be super annoying in the moment, I never misspelled those words again!
Try making flash cards for words that give you trouble. You can easily use flashcards to go over the hardest words at any place and any time!
Write difficult words out ten times. I find that spending a minute with all my focus on the spelling of one word can really make a difference.
Just because you have gotten a word right a few times, does not mean that you should stop going over it. The words that you go over frequently are the words you will always remember, even if you did not know them to begin with. On the other hand, the words that you put to the side are the words that you will forget first, even if you knew them to begin with.
Do you want a way to be able to practice words quickly no matter where you are? Check out Word Club on the Additional Resources page.