Digital Spelling Tests

With all the crazy happening with the Coronaviris and education moving to online, I was asked how to do a digital spelling test.

You can find the link to my Google Form for spelling tests herePLEASE MAKE YOUR OWN COPY.  You are welcome to edit it to make it your own, but please make a copy before editing.



This form is set up for 20 spelling words.  It is also set up to collect student email addresses.  I have set mine so that students can only submit one test.  You can change this on your copy under the settings.  I also require students to type in their first and last name.  Our district emails only include the students' first name, so if you have multiple students with the same name, it makes it difficult to know whose is whose.  I do not give points for this, but the form will not allow students to submit if this section is not filled in.

You will need to go into each blank and put the correct answer in if you want Google Forms to grade it for you.  In my own experience, you need to put both the uppercase and lowercase spellings of the word in order for it to be marked correct.  Obviously, if it is a proper noun, then only count the uppercase spelling correct.  To do this, click the question and then click "Answer Key."  You can adjust the point settings and the type in the correct answer.  You will want to check the box that says "Mark all other answers incorrect."  This is why it is important to put in any answer that you are willing to accept.  I usually go back and double check students' tests because there can be ones that are correct that get marked wrong.  I have rarely caught it, but this is technology and "technology happens."


Next, you will need to voice record yourself giving the spelling test.  This is the voice recorder I use.  I don't usually use this for spelling tests.  I usually use this for reading comprehension.  This allows my students access to the text.  Think EL and SPED students.  This is a great digital accommodation.  In Arizona, if this accommodation is provided throughout the school year, it can also be used on state testing.  This also allows students to listen to the test as many times as they need to (think about how many times they ask you to repeat a word in the classroom).


Once you finish your recording, download it to your computer and upload it to your Google Drive.  Grab the link from Google Drive (like you were sharing the file) and copy and paste it into the form.

This is how I would give a spelling test digitally, but it is totally up to you how to do it.  You can play around with the settings and colors if you would like once you have made your own copy.  I am by no means an expert with this, but I will do my best to assist you.

Feel free to share this link with other teachers.  Good luck!



Back to School

I hope everyone enjoyed their summer.  I know I did!  I am back in the swing of the school year.  I moved to 5th grade ELA this year.  I basically teacher reading all day long. 

I have been asked to help mentor new teachers in my district as well.  So, to say I am busy, is probably an understatement.

I am supposed to be working on my next professional development, but I am taking a short break from it. 

What are some tips you would have liked to know when you first started teaching?  While you think about that, I am going to go back to working on my professional development.


March Madness

Hello blogging world!

I hope you enjoyed the 14 Days of Freebies last month!  Keep an eye out this month for more goodies to come.

Have you checked out the March Quick Writes?  Quick writes help students increase their ability to write. I use these as a warm-up and have students complete 2 or 3 a week.

This is a growing pack. There are currently 9 writing prompts.


I am also working on some Print and Go worksheets that are great for time fillers, extra practice, and homework!

Happy March!



14 Days of Freebies - Day 13


Grab this writing freebie {HERE}.  I love making writing meaningful to students and sometimes that means making it more like a quick write.  I understand the importance of writing to a text and all of that, but we also need to let students know that while writing helps us learn, it can still be done for pleasure.  This freebie lets students describe their perfect cookie.  I love reading these because students get really creative with what they would make.  I have included lines for younger kids and lines for older kids.


14 Days of Freebies - Day 12


This freebie is part of my Get Organized Series.  This is just being released today.  You can grab it {HERE}. Need more ways to stay organized?  Check out my store!


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