The Spelling Bee Before Recess

Title: The Spelling Bee Before Recess
Author: Deborah Lee Rose
Illustrations: Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis
Published: Rose, D. L. (2013). The spelling bee before recess. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
Themes: spelling, rhyming, making mistakes, reading

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I just love how this books opens:

'Twas right before recess

(about 10:23).

Not a teacher was teaching

(not even PE).

The Students were squirming,

but none made a sound,

as the spelling bee entered

its championship round.

The story centres around one of the three children (known as "The Slugger") that are in the championship round. I don't want to give anything away....but the tiebreaking word is to die for....sesquipedalian. What a delectable word! I can just see the kids in your classroom wanting to know the meaning of that word!

This story is charming and hilarious and the illustrations are so interactive and interesting. This is sure to be a hit with your class! What I love most about this book is the very end. I won't tell you who wins, but I do want to share this little line with you:

"So in spelling (and life),

if you want to succeed,

the best thing of all you can do

is to READ."

How many kids would want to go read so they could become better spellers?! I just love it.

Classroom Ideas:

- Why not introduce this book and then have your very own spelling bee? The book has a list of words used in their spelling bee, but you could also include words that you are learning in your class.
- This book could be used in your poetry unit. The stanzas vary from ABAB to ABCB.
- Reflection Question: would you consider yourself to be a sesquipedalian? How would you become one? 



Have you read this book? I would love to hear your input.