Man stands smiling behind a table with various arithmetic guides in a display.

    James Thompson, an undergraduate summer intern at the Library of Congress, has featured the materials that LOC curator Nanette Gibbs curated over eight years concerning arithmetic all around the world. He writes in a delightful post about his summer,.

    • My first task was to assist in the curation and creation of materials for a series of Teacher’s Workshops in which the Hispanic Reading Room would participate. I was presented with a depth of materials that Nanette had curated over eight years concerning arithmetic all around the world, each book shaped by the language and culture for which it was produced. These books went largely untouched for about half a century, and our job was to make them useful and exciting to modern educators. Here, Nanette urged me to think contextually – imploring me to step outside of our division or just the collection we had gathered, and instead make use of the depth of information that we have in the multiple research divisions. Diving headfirst into the collection, we were able to find a plethora of materials that could serve as aids to Spanish language learners as well as students learning English as a second language. Reviewing the books, we found that many of the word problems corresponded to goals set by state standards of education, and even SAT practice problems in books meant for elementary age students.

      Still, we thought there could be more, so we sought to, once again, think contextually, and remembered the counting songs of our youth – “One potato, two potato, three potato, four” and jump rope rhymes that counted how many doctors it would take to revive Cinderella after her mistaken romantic encounter with a snake. So, we went downstairs from the Hispanic Reading Room to the American Folklife Center where their team was eager and knowledgeable about finding some materials that could aid us in our search. To our luck, their collections contain multitudes of children’s games from over the ages and throughout the world – many of them having to do with elements of counting in various intervals. We were even able to find recordings made in my home-state of Texas during the early 1930s of Spanish counting songs!

    It is wonderful to come back to this post and to see the great additions. I am going to see if my local bookstore can get me a copy of Spanish Is the Language of My Family with the spelling bee storyline, and I love imagining our own   Mary Johnson  as a pronouncer at a spelling bee--talk about grace under pressure! I feel as if the primary source image she uploaded here should be archived and made searchable someplace that others will find it -- I hope it is! -- and I just love the little hand written note that documents its provenance. Muchisimas gracias a todas. 

    Spelling Bees - in English, Spanish, and...Hindi!

    I just saw a post in the newsletter of the Office of English Language Acquisition (see text below) and learned that there is a National SPANISH Spelling Bee! This opens so many avenues for teaching ideas, both in the the direction of primary sources about spelling bees, and in planning participatory activities for students spelling in English and in other languages.

    The Wikipedia entry on the spelling bee offers some delightful connection points: the linguistic association with work "bees," the 19th century spelling bees in schools and the National Education Association's "first national spelling bee"  held at its convention at which Marie Bolden, a Black girl from Cleveland, OH was named champion.

    The entry then goes on to list spelling bees held in countries other than the USA, both in English and in other languages. 

    Spelling bees, in English and in students' home languages, are a lesson activity option with great opportunities for being a bit silly, whether students are teamed up or competing individually. They also, of course, offer lots of engaging primary source connections. 

    • NCELA Newsletter Header

      July 11, 2024

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      National Spanish Spelling Bee 2024

      OELA’s Assistant Deputy Secretary, Montserrat Garibay, gave welcome remarks at the National Spanish Spelling Bee in El Paso, TX. Thirty students from NM, TX, OR, CA, DE, IL, CO, WY, and WA participated at the National Spanish Spelling Bee hosted by the Education Service Region 19. After nearly 6 hours of intense rounds, the NSSB winner clinched the victory with "jovialidad."

      The following students won:

      1.     Antonietta Perozo, Richardson, TX

      2.     Melody Hinkle, Fort Worth, TX

      3.     Emiliano Ferran Martínez, El Paso, TX.

      !Felicidades estudiantes! 

      Read More

    What a fantastic artifact and wonderful memories  Mary Johnson !

    I'll bet there are a few TPS Teachers Network members with spelling bee stories of their own. Here, for example, is a photo of an engraved container for little things (or maybe even for makeup) that my mother bought with the prize money she won from a county spelling bee in 1932! She would have been 12 years old.

    I don't recall ever participating in an official spelling bee. My son apparently inherited the spelling gene, which he proved by winning the city spelling bee as an eighth grader. He went on to place 6th at the state spelling bee. Later, I was the pronouncer for three years at the Colorado Springs spelling bee, and I had to practice the words beforehand with a dictionary that used the international phonetic symbols. I loved doing it, but I was a bit surprised by the pressure from helicopter parents! 

    I'll bet there are a few TPS Teachers Network members with spelling bee stories of their own. Here, for example, is a photo of an engraved container for little things (or maybe even for makeup) that my mother bought with the prize money she won from a county spelling bee in 1932! She would have been 12 years old.

    I don't recall ever participating in an official spelling bee. My son apparently inherited the spelling gene, which he proved by winning the city spelling bee as an eighth grader. He went on to place 6th at the state spelling bee. Later, I was the pronouncer for three years at the Colorado Springs spelling bee, and I had to practice the words beforehand with a dictionary that used the international phonetic symbols. I loved doing it, but I was a bit surprised by the pressure from helicopter parents! 

    Spelling Bees - in English, Spanish, and...Hindi!

    I just saw a post in the newsletter of the Office of English Language Acquisition (see text below) and learned that there is a National SPANISH Spelling Bee! This opens so many avenues for teaching ideas, both in the the direction of primary sources about spelling bees, and in planning participatory activities for students spelling in English and in other languages.

    The Wikipedia entry on the spelling bee offers some delightful connection points: the linguistic association with work "bees," the 19th century spelling bees in schools and the National Education Association's "first national spelling bee"  held at its convention at which Marie Bolden, a Black girl from Cleveland, OH was named champion.

    The entry then goes on to list spelling bees held in countries other than the USA, both in English and in other languages. 

    Spelling bees, in English and in students' home languages, are a lesson activity option with great opportunities for being a bit silly, whether students are teamed up or competing individually. They also, of course, offer lots of engaging primary source connections. 

    • NCELA Newsletter Header

      July 11, 2024

      Facebook  Twitter  Linkedin  Pinterest  
       
       

      National Spanish Spelling Bee 2024

      OELA’s Assistant Deputy Secretary, Montserrat Garibay, gave welcome remarks at the National Spanish Spelling Bee in El Paso, TX. Thirty students from NM, TX, OR, CA, DE, IL, CO, WY, and WA participated at the National Spanish Spelling Bee hosted by the Education Service Region 19. After nearly 6 hours of intense rounds, the NSSB winner clinched the victory with "jovialidad."

      The following students won:

      1.     Antonietta Perozo, Richardson, TX

      2.     Melody Hinkle, Fort Worth, TX

      3.     Emiliano Ferran Martínez, El Paso, TX.

      !Felicidades estudiantes! 

      Read More

    There is a great new children's picture book about the National Spanish Spelling Bee: 

    Spanish Is the Language of My Family by Michael Genhart is a beautiful picture book that follows the story of a young boy participating in a Spanish spelling bee.  It goes into some of the history of the Spanish Spelling Bee as well.

    Spelling Bees - in English, Spanish, and...Hindi!

    I just saw a post in the newsletter of the Office of English Language Acquisition (see text below) and learned that there is a National SPANISH Spelling Bee! This opens so many avenues for teaching ideas, both in the the direction of primary sources about spelling bees, and in planning participatory activities for students spelling in English and in other languages.

    The Wikipedia entry on the spelling bee offers some delightful connection points: the linguistic association with work "bees," the 19th century spelling bees in schools and the National Education Association's "first national spelling bee"  held at its convention at which Marie Bolden, a Black girl from Cleveland, OH was named champion.

    The entry then goes on to list spelling bees held in countries other than the USA, both in English and in other languages. 

    Spelling bees, in English and in students' home languages, are a lesson activity option with great opportunities for being a bit silly, whether students are teamed up or competing individually. They also, of course, offer lots of engaging primary source connections. 

    • NCELA Newsletter Header

      July 11, 2024

      Facebook  Twitter  Linkedin  Pinterest  
       
       

      National Spanish Spelling Bee 2024

      OELA’s Assistant Deputy Secretary, Montserrat Garibay, gave welcome remarks at the National Spanish Spelling Bee in El Paso, TX. Thirty students from NM, TX, OR, CA, DE, IL, CO, WY, and WA participated at the National Spanish Spelling Bee hosted by the Education Service Region 19. After nearly 6 hours of intense rounds, the NSSB winner clinched the victory with "jovialidad."

      The following students won:

      1.     Antonietta Perozo, Richardson, TX

      2.     Melody Hinkle, Fort Worth, TX

      3.     Emiliano Ferran Martínez, El Paso, TX.

      !Felicidades estudiantes! 

      Read More

    Esta discusión está llena de jovialidad, gracias  Alison Noyes . :-)

    Spelling Bees - in English, Spanish, and...Hindi!

    I just saw a post in the newsletter of the Office of English Language Acquisition (see text below) and learned that there is a National SPANISH Spelling Bee! This opens so many avenues for teaching ideas, both in the the direction of primary sources about spelling bees, and in planning participatory activities for students spelling in English and in other languages.

    The Wikipedia entry on the spelling bee offers some delightful connection points: the linguistic association with work "bees," the 19th century spelling bees in schools and the National Education Association's "first national spelling bee"  held at its convention at which Marie Bolden, a Black girl from Cleveland, OH was named champion.

    The entry then goes on to list spelling bees held in countries other than the USA, both in English and in other languages. 

    Spelling bees, in English and in students' home languages, are a lesson activity option with great opportunities for being a bit silly, whether students are teamed up or competing individually. They also, of course, offer lots of engaging primary source connections. 

    • NCELA Newsletter Header

      July 11, 2024

      Facebook  Twitter  Linkedin  Pinterest  
       
       

      National Spanish Spelling Bee 2024

      OELA’s Assistant Deputy Secretary, Montserrat Garibay, gave welcome remarks at the National Spanish Spelling Bee in El Paso, TX. Thirty students from NM, TX, OR, CA, DE, IL, CO, WY, and WA participated at the National Spanish Spelling Bee hosted by the Education Service Region 19. After nearly 6 hours of intense rounds, the NSSB winner clinched the victory with "jovialidad."

      The following students won:

      1.     Antonietta Perozo, Richardson, TX

      2.     Melody Hinkle, Fort Worth, TX

      3.     Emiliano Ferran Martínez, El Paso, TX.

      !Felicidades estudiantes! 

      Read More

    I just saw a post in the newsletter of the Office of English Language Acquisition (see text below) and learned that there is a National SPANISH Spelling Bee! This opens so many avenues for teaching ideas, both in the the direction of primary sources about spelling bees, and in planning participatory activities for students spelling in English and in other languages.

    The Wikipedia entry on the spelling bee offers some delightful connection points: the linguistic association with work "bees," the 19th century spelling bees in schools and the National Education Association's "first national spelling bee"  held at its convention at which Marie Bolden, a Black girl from Cleveland, OH was named champion.

    The entry then goes on to list spelling bees held in countries other than the USA, both in English and in other languages. 

    Spelling bees, in English and in students' home languages, are a lesson activity option with great opportunities for being a bit silly, whether students are teamed up or competing individually. They also, of course, offer lots of engaging primary source connections. 

    • NCELA Newsletter Header

      July 11, 2024

      Facebook  Twitter  Linkedin  Pinterest  
       
       

      National Spanish Spelling Bee 2024

      OELA’s Assistant Deputy Secretary, Montserrat Garibay, gave welcome remarks at the National Spanish Spelling Bee in El Paso, TX. Thirty students from NM, TX, OR, CA, DE, IL, CO, WY, and WA participated at the National Spanish Spelling Bee hosted by the Education Service Region 19. After nearly 6 hours of intense rounds, the NSSB winner clinched the victory with "jovialidad."

      The following students won:

      1.     Antonietta Perozo, Richardson, TX

      2.     Melody Hinkle, Fort Worth, TX

      3.     Emiliano Ferran Martínez, El Paso, TX.

      !Felicidades estudiantes! 

      Read More

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