And How do you Spell That Word?

Last year Zachary won the Spelling Bee for his whole grade (after being top 3 for his class) and then went on to the all-school spelling bee. This year, Brooklyn - who is in grade 3 - asked her teacher if there were any way she could be included in the Grade 4 spelling bee (They don't start it until grade 4) to which her teacher replied that she thought it would be a good challenge for her. If the Grade 4 teachers agreed to it, Mrs. Harvie was going to allow Brooklyn to compete alongside the Grade 4's. Well, the Grade 4 teachers said she would have to get 50 out of 50 words correct because the top students in their classes each got 50 correct.

So one day in November, Zachary and I sat in the hallway while Mrs. Harvie gave Brooklyn a test of 50 words. Needless to say, Brooklyn got all 50 words correct which meant she would continue to compete against the top Grade 4 students from each class (3 from each class I believe). Zachary asked permission from his teacher to go watch and Mrs. Harvie brought the whole Grade 3 class to watch their classmate compete at a grade above herself.

Well wouldn't you know it? She tied for 1st place !!!! She said it was so funny, boys were bear-hugging each other every time she got a word right and she couldn't quite understand why. I just told her people like to cheer for the underdog! She was SOOOO excited. Last Year, Zachary won the same Grade 4 contest and made sure I was able to come and watch. This year, however, Brooklyn said she didn't want me to come watch as she thought she would be too nervous. And sure enough, she apparently cried at the beginning of the Bee as she was nervous about the words. But once it started she just took a breath after each word and thought very carefully before giving her answer.

So this Wednesday, a grade 3 student will compete in the All-School Spelling Bee. And the best thing is, she said she's not nervous or bothered about what happens in this one. Which is great because as I told her (Respectfully, of course), NO-ONE is expecting her to do very well so the pressure is off !!! (I may go and hide behind a wall so I can hear what's going on..... I know she'd want me there if she knew she would do well, but not if things go the other way!)

The best thing about this though, is that I'm extremely glad that my child has chosen to put herself in an uncomfortable situation, and is willing to challenge herself above what is normally expected of her, even if it makes her nervous or fearful. The best way to feel more and more comfortable in those kind of situations is to continue putting yourself out there!