"The whole bee," Tim said, "is largely focusing on almost , but not entirely , useless information."
The Ruiters' philosophy: Second place last year was pretty good, and winning has an element of luck in the later rounds.
"They're having to go to more obscure words, which makes it less a focus of 'Do you understand the roots and how they're put together?' and more on 'Were you fortunate enough to study this word? Or guess it correctly?'" Vicki Ruiter said. "This is why you have to go in with an attitude of 'just do the best you can.'"
Counterpoint: We learned the hard way this year that when you're studying for the early rounds, you need to focus pretty much entirely on the easy, non-obscure words, because even your all-school bee is not likely to make it halfway through their list of 300 words. Which is why our first grader can spell "latitudinarian" and "psychoanalysis" but got out on "harness."
Counterpoint: We learned the hard way this year that when you're studying for the early rounds, you need to focus pretty much entirely on the easy, non-obscure words, because even your all-school bee is not likely to make it halfway through their list of 300 words. Which is why our first grader can spell "latitudinarian" and "psychoanalysis" but got out on "harness."
Last year's 2nd place winner, Tim Ruiter, has studied 20,000 note cards of obscure words for the Bee this year.
ReplyDeleteI like these quotes:
"The whole bee," Tim said, "is largely focusing on almost , but not entirely , useless information."
The Ruiters' philosophy: Second place last year was pretty good, and winning has an element of luck in the later rounds.
"They're having to go to more obscure words, which makes it less a focus of 'Do you understand the roots and how they're put together?' and more on 'Were you fortunate enough to study this word? Or guess it correctly?'" Vicki Ruiter said. "This is why you have to go in with an attitude of 'just do the best you can.'"
Isaac, after seeing Alyssa's last name I don't think I'll be able to see my own ("Jaroch") as difficult anymore. ;)p
ReplyDeleteCounterpoint: We learned the hard way this year that when you're studying for the early rounds, you need to focus pretty much entirely on the easy, non-obscure words, because even your all-school bee is not likely to make it halfway through their list of 300 words. Which is why our first grader can spell "latitudinarian" and "psychoanalysis" but got out on "harness."
ReplyDeleteCounterpoint: We learned the hard way this year that when you're studying for the early rounds, you need to focus pretty much entirely on the easy, non-obscure words, because even your all-school bee is not likely to make it halfway through their list of 300 words. Which is why our first grader can spell "latitudinarian" and "psychoanalysis" but got out on "harness."
ReplyDeleteWhich he spelled "harnace," because he had practiced "furnace."
ReplyDeleteDear Spacepeople, you are adorable parents and I think I love you.
ReplyDeleteDo I have the potential to be an awful Bee stage-parent? I believe I do.
ReplyDeleteDear Heather K, why thank you!
ReplyDelete