They're not like they used to be.

A few years ago, I decided to change up my spelling tests and make them a bit more challenging.  Gone are the days of simply calling out a word and crossing your fingers that they spell it correctly.  I've replaced that with a more applicable test.  Not only do they need to know how to spell it, they need to know how to use it.  It's a practical assessment that they can use.  Caroline usually says she is glad she missed me in fourth grade.  The tests I come up with usually tie in the reading concept that we have been working with, so I can kill two birds with one stone.  The questions are always revising and editing questions, with a few reading questions about the concept thrown in.  I make adjustments for students who have special needs such as dyslexia, but for the most part students are assessed on all of the words for the week.  It's a lot of work, sure, but I've noticed that their skill with this is transferring over to their writing.  They are more likely to notice things that need to be changed when they are peer editing.  On the sample below, I know that some of the words are spelled incorrectly.  Those are their spelling words.  They have to identify whether or not the underlined word is spelled correctly or not.  More often than not, they also have to know if it is used correctly as well.

¹Cast of Characters:

²Mom

³Kevin

⁴Jack

⁵Caroline

⁶Scene 1: Thanksgiving Day at the Huffman house.

⁷Mom: (rushing around the kitchen) Hey Jack!  Could you help Kevin move the extra table into the house?

⁸Jack: (exhales forcefully) In a minute Mom!  I need to finish this level.

⁹Mom: Well, make it snappy.  ¹⁰Evrything is almost ready.  (She looks at Kevin with an exasperated look) He’ll be here in a second.

¹¹(Kevin smiles and walks casually over to Jack.  ¹²Seeing Kevin’s approach, Jack stands and turns of his Xbox and the exit stage left).

¹³Caroline: (enters stage right.  Places decorations on the dining room table)  I’m  almost done with this.  14Do you need anything els?

¹⁵(Jack enters with Kevin stage left.  He mimics Caroline as she speaks.)

¹⁶Mom: (sighs as she looks towards Jack) Is there a problum honey?

¹⁷Jack: (smiles sheepishly) No ma’am.  Well be done with this soon.  When we finish, were going to clean off the walkway.

¹⁸Mom: Sounds great!

19(Jack and Kevin finish setting up the table.  They exit stage left).

20Jack: (as he’s exiting the stage) Whose car is that in front of our house?

²¹Caroline: Whose coming to dinner?

²²Mom: (stops stirring and stares off into space) Let me see.  Nana, Granddaddy, Aunt Sara, Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Kirsten, Imi and Papa are coming.

²³Caroline: (eyes wide) Wow!  That’s a lot of people!  I didnt know they were all coming.

²⁴Mom: They’re all excited to come.  It’ll be fun.

²⁵(Lights dim as Mom and Caroline keep working)

²⁶Scene 2: Outside the Huffman house, Jack and Kevin are sweeping the walkway)

27Kevin: So how’s school going?

28Jack: (Shrugs his shoulders) Its good I guess.  I’m still not sure if I want to do powerlifting or wrestling.

29(Kevin has stopped raking leaves and watches Jack)

30Kevin: So which one are your leaning towards?

³¹Jack: (scrunches up his face) I guess powerlifting.  I don’t had anything against wrestling.  I just think powerlifting will help me reach my goals.

³²Kevin: (Looks into the distance) Well, why else do you think Powerlifting.

³³Jack: Coach Barger is the coach of it.  I like him.  He is a really good coach.  He really seems to want to help. 

³⁴Kevin: Those reasons sound valid  enough.  You’ve thought of some really good reasons.  We’d best be finishing up.  ³⁸Your mom will be wondering where we are.  Shell think we are goofing off.

³⁵Jack:  (Looks at the house smiling) I don’t think shes going to worry though.  (He nods in the direction of the house).

36Kevin and Jack continue sweeping the sidewalk, and then exit stage right.

Directions: Use the script above to answer the following questions. Be sure to analyze both the question and the answer choices.  We will do the first one together.