Buzzing for the alphabet

Yesterday, we gave a go at our first Spelling Bee. Niece Natalie had participated last year so we figured we would give it a go this year. Connor and Dylan both signed on....attempting to learn 800 words. We didn't get quite that far....do you know what its like to review hundreds of words night after night? Yeah...exactly! We did the best we could. All in all, the twins studied and learned 400 words from the list...pronounciations, how to use in a sentence....in the end, it just took one word to take them out of the game. The very first word. A word that from the first day we started practicing...they got wrong. Probably the most practiced words...we came up with stratgies to trigger the correct spelling. But in the end....what was the first word they received...yep, it was THAT word. Once Connor was out, it freaked Dylan out and he faultered on his first word and was out. Alas, the "cricket" and the "crutch" had done them in. I guess thats why they call it a spelling bee, you just never know what word you will get or what will throw you off course. But thats totally ok. There were no tears, they were a bit disappointed. I was proud that they put so much effort in over a week period. They studied 400 words from 1st grade through 4th grade. No matter what, it had to enhance their spelling techniques and reading. We came home exhausted from a long day, laid on the couch and watched...what else? Akeelah and the Bee! Another busy day down...plenty more to come.