The O. Y. O. Program
Spelling students who earn grades
of 100% on five or more consecutive spelling tests may accept an
invitation to participate in the "On Your Own" spelling program.
Qualifying students who accept this option may choose their own twenty words
for the week.
Their homework
for the week (as always, due Wednesday) will consist of two--one for the student and one for the
teacher--legible copies of those 20 words and
their definitions (copied from a Merriam-Websters, an Oxford English, or other
equally-reputable dictionary).
The advantages
of this program include the fact that the student is choosing words he
or she wants to learn. Perhaps they are terms related to a desired
possible career or a subject of interest, or perhaps they are simply
words that looked interesting as he/she leafed through a text book or
dictionary or read a novel.
The program is optional;
those invited to participate are neither expected nor required to
accept, and those participating may return to the regular spelling
assignments at any time.
However, participants must continue to show a high level
of spelling mastery of the chosen words. Occasional scores of 95%
and rare
scores of 90% are acceptable; scores below 90% are not acceptable--nor is failure to do the homework
properly--and may be considered grounds for returning to the
regular word lists.