How to spell, from “A-D-A-G-I-O” to “Z-U-C-C-H-I-N-I”
At last, everything you need to master the art of spelling. Learn the basic rules and all their annoying exceptions, plus 26 words of unknown origin, like curmudgeon . • Discover the four most commonly misspelled word types (#3: words with a schwa ). • Don’t know what a schwa is? Aren’t sure about the difference between antonyms and eponyms? Discreet and discrete? Here’s your chance to learn all the tricks and tips that’ll make you a bee winner! • Oh, and did we mention the pages and pages of skill-building puzzles and games?
Pure fun for competitive spellers to be and word lovers. Conversational tone, lots of sidebars that feature national spelling bee winners, words to test your spelling acumen, and word trivia. One chapter on roots and a chapter on spelling rules and their exceptions. After chapters covering concrete suggestions on how to prepare for a bee and sail through competition day, the final chapter contains 45 pages of word games!
for the purpose it supposes to serve this book was PERFECT! really helped me prepare for my spelling be that's coming this Saturday and would recommend it to anyone who's ever considering getting into their own local spelling competition wish me luck everybody :D
How to Spell Like a Champ is a particularly useful book, and for broader a field than most people might think. Written by three important staff members of the Scripps National Spelling Bee (2 word panelists and the director), it contains hundreds of useful tips that you can use not only in spelling bees, but in your everyday writing, studying, and school work. It has mnemonic devices and several strategies for remembering rules and roots. If you'd like to improve your spelling or learn how to study (like a champ!), this book is most likely a good one to read. The context is understandable for nearly all ages (depending on maturity level), and very concise in giving information. Some bonuses are: advice on staying calm, puzzles and games around the end, a CD included, as well as some history on the bee (and Webster, dictionaries, etc.) that you can read up on. Illustrations, photographs, and features are also in "How to Spell Like a Champ"
Reading the book is a simple approach to achieving a bigger vocabulary and improving your skills in spelling (and spelling words you don't know). I'd say that it would be compatible with most readers willing to give it a shot.
I got this for Noble - because he likes to read reference type books and I thought HEY maybe he could learn to spell. (Alec and I are both terrible spellers). I know Noble is going to enjoy it - especially the lists. Oh how Noble loves lists. However, I was disappointed to find a note from the publisher in the front cover that says "sorry for the mistake, these three words are MISPELLED (!) in the book." It's a book on spelling and it has misspelled words!?
A word lover and past competitor at the National Spelling Bee, I found this book both helpful and interesting. Words from the book appeared at various spelling bees (including nationals), the advice for list making was helpful, and the stories from past spellers were inspiring. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their spelling or succeed in spelling bees!