Flashcards look simple, yet they can feel stubborn when a test is close. You flip, read, flip again, and somehow the facts still slide away.

Reading a card ten times feels productive, but it mostly builds familiarity. Your brain recognizes the words, then panics when you need to pull the idea out on command. What you want is retrieval. You want to force the answer up from memory, even if it comes up messy at first. That struggle is useful. It strengthens recall more than calm rereading does.

The same idea applies to writing-heavy classes: students often need more than rereading notes, especially when an essay, research task, or deadline is involved. In those moments, EssayService.com can be a helpful source of human writing support, essay guidance, and help with organizing ideas clearly.

So the best way to memorize flashcards is to practice remembering, then space those attempts out, then mix them so your brain has to choose the right idea fast. Tonight, you’ll use short rounds, quick resets, and a few deliberate “hard moments” to make the memory stick.

How to Memorize Flashcards: What Actually Works

Flashcards work when they trigger retrieval practice, not passive review. When you test yourself, you are training the exact skill you need on an exam: pulling information out without a prompt. Research on the testing effect shows that memory tests can improve later retention compared to additional studying, especially when the final test happens after a delay.

Spacing matters, too. When practice is distributed across time, recall tends to last longer than when it is packed into one block. A large meta-analysis of distributed practice found consistent benefits for spaced learning over massed learning across many experiments.

Finally, difficulty is your friend when it is controlled. A recall attempt that feels slightly hard pushes your brain to rebuild the memory, which makes it more durable next time.

Technique 1: Blurting (Brain Dump)

Blurting is simple: you stop looking, then you dump everything you can recall onto paper or a notes app. Start with a tiny set, like 10 to 15 cards. Flip through them once, then close the stack. Now write the answers you remember in rough form. No peeking. The goal is to catch what your brain can produce under pressure.

After you dump, check your cards and mark what you missed. Then do a second dump, but only for the missed items. This creates a fast feedback loop that forces recall again before you forget.

If you want to memorize flashcards quickly, blurting is a good first move because it exposes weak spots in minutes, not hours of “studying.”

Technique 2: Active Recall + Timing

Active recall is the engine. Timing is the steering wheel. Set a short timer so you stay honest and avoid drifting into rereading. Do a quick round where you answer out loud, then score yourself with brutal honesty: correct, partial, blank.

Keep the pace tight. The point is many recall attempts, not a slow performance. After each round, take a small pause, then do another round. That tiny gap helps your brain re-access the memory instead of coasting on the same mental snapshot.

Use this rhythm:

• 6 minutes: test yourself on a small deck, answering out loud
• 2 minutes: review only missed cards, then reshuffle
• 6 minutes: retest the same deck in a new order
• 3 minutes: walk, stretch, water, then repeat with the next deck

Add one more rule to make the timer work harder for you: switch the prompt style on the second 6-minute round. If your card is a definition, force yourself to give a real-life example. If it’s a formula, say what each symbol means before you compute anything. If it’s a concept, name one common mistake students make with it. This tiny twist stops your brain from memorizing the card’s wording and pushes you to recall the idea in a new shape, which usually holds up better on an exam.

Technique 3: Spaced Repetition (Micro-Spaced)

Classic spaced repetition is day-by-day scheduling, but you can still use the logic overnight. Think “micro-spaced.” Instead of grinding the same card repeatedly, you create small gaps, even if the gaps are only minutes. Those gaps matter because spaced practice tends to outperform massed practice for long-term retention.

Here is a clean approach for tonight: split your flashcards into three piles. Pile A is hard, Pile B is medium, Pile C is easy. Cycle them in waves. You see A, then B, then C, then back to A. That rotation creates spacing automatically.

The key detail: every time a card moves from hard to medium, you increase the gap before you see it again. Even a 10- to 20-minute delay can make the next recall attempt feel effortful, which is exactly what strengthens memory.

Technique 4: Interleaving (Mix Topics on Purpose)

Interleaving means you mix problem types or topics instead of studying one category in a block. It feels slower because your brain cannot stay on autopilot. That is the point. In real tests, questions arrive mixed, and you must choose the right idea, not just repeat the last one.

Research in math learning has found that interleaved practice can outperform blocked practice on later tests, because it trains strategy selection and discrimination.

So, how do you memorize flashcards? You stop grouping them by comfort. Mix chapters. Mix definitions with examples. Mix formulas with “when would you use this?” prompts. Then, when you miss a card, keep it in the mix instead of isolating it forever. Your brain learns the boundary lines between similar ideas, and those boundary lines are where most exam mistakes happen.

Technique 5: Teach-Back

Teach-back means you stop treating the card as a prompt and start treating it as a lesson plan. Look at the front, then flip it, read the answer once, and close the card. Now explain the concept out loud like you’re talking to a friend who missed class. Use simple words, then add one detail that proves you understand it. If you get stuck, pause and try again before you peek. That pause forces retrieval.

When you teach, you naturally organize the idea into steps, cause and effect, or a quick example. That structure makes the memory easier to find later. Testing research supports the idea that pulling information from memory strengthens later retention compared to extra review.

Keep it tight: one card, one explanation, one example, then move on. Your goal is fluent recall, not a perfect lecture.

Technique 6: Dual Coding (Words + Tiny Sketch)

Dual coding is pairing a short verbal cue with a simple visual cue so your brain has two routes to the same memory. You’re not making art. You’re making a tiny symbol that captures the idea fast. A stick figure, an arrow, a quick shape, a weird icon. Anything you can redraw in three seconds.

Do this right after you answer a card, so the image becomes part of the retrieval attempt. If the card is “glycolysis outputs,” your sketch might be a glucose hexagon turning into two little “pyruvate” shapes with a couple of ATP coins. If the card is a history concept, you might draw a crown, a crowd, and a broken chain.

The visual becomes a shortcut. When you blank, the sketch can jog the pathway back to the words. It also keeps you actively engaged, which helps your attention stay sharp.

Technique 7: Memory Hooks (Story or Weird Image)

Memory hooks work because the brain grabs onto vivid, emotional, and strange details more easily than bland ones. You take a dry fact and glue it to a mini scene that feels loud in your head. The hook does not need to be logical. It just needs to be sticky.

Start by choosing one anchor element from the card, then exaggerate it into something you can “see.” Make it embarrassing, gross, dramatic, or hilarious. Then replay it quickly each time the card appears. Over a few rounds, the hook becomes the bridge back to the real answer.

Use these hook styles:

• Turn the keyword into a character with a job and a prop
• Shrink the concept into a tiny object you can hold in your hand
• Make the process a short action scene with one absurd twist
• Place the idea in a familiar location, like your kitchen or bus stop

To keep hooks from turning into pure nonsense, add a quick “return link” after the image: say the real answer in one clean sentence right away. The weird scene is the doorbell, but the sentence is the address, so your brain learns where the memory is supposed to land.

Final Round: Make It Stick Before Sleep

Finish with one clean pass that feels like a test. Shuffle the whole deck, answer out loud, and mark anything that still hesitates. Take those shaky cards and do two fast cycles with short gaps between them. Then stop. Sleep matters because memories consolidate after learning, and a rested brain retrieves better the next day.

In the morning, do a five-minute check. Hit the hard cards first, then walk away while you still feel sharp. If you have time later, repeat a short spaced round instead of rereading. Your goal is reliable recall under pressure, with fewer cards getting stuck on the tip of your tongue.

The post How to Memorize Flashcards Overnight With Proven Methods appeared first on Spelling Bee Ninja.

The digital age has brought us endless ways to absorb information. We have podcasts, immersive video games, and interactive apps that promise to teach us a new language while we sleep. Yet, in the middle of all this high tech noise, one of the oldest methods remains the most effective. Honestly, I think the humble flashcard is still the undisputed champion of vocabulary acquisition. It’s simple. It’s direct. And it works because it aligns perfectly with how our brains actually process and retain new words.

The Power of Active Recall

Most people study by reading and re reading. They look at a list of words, highlight them, and hope that the information sticks. This is passive learning. It feels productive because your eyes are moving across the page, but it’s actually quite inefficient. Your brain isn’t working to retrieve the information; it’s just recognizing it.

But flashcards change the game. They require active recall. Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to recognize a face than it is to remember a name? You know the feeling. You see a word in a book and think, “I know this,” only to realize ten minutes later you can’t actually use it in a sentence. It’s frustrating. Truly.

When you look at one side of a card, your brain has to work. It has to dig through your memory to find the corresponding meaning or word. This mental effort creates a stronger neural pathway. Every time you struggle to remember a word and then finally get it right, you’re physically strengthening your memory. It’s like a workout. The more you lift that mental weight, the stronger your recall becomes.

Spaced Repetition and Long Term Memory

One of the biggest challenges in learning vocabulary is the forgetting curve. We tend to lose a large percentage of what we learn within twenty four hours if we don’t review it. It’s just how we’re wired. This is where flashcards become a strategic tool. By using a system of spaced repetition, you can time your reviews to happen just as you’re about to forget the information.

Modern technology has made this even easier.

Modern technology has made this even easier. You no longer have to manually sort through piles of paper. There are excellent AI tools for creating flashcards that automate this entire process. These systems track which words you know well and which ones you struggle with. They show you the difficult words more frequently and push the easy ones further into the future. This ensures that you are spending your time where it matters most, moving words from your short term memory into your long term storage.

Breaking Down Complex Information

Vocabulary can often feel overwhelming, especially when you’re dealing with technical jargon or a foreign language with complex nuances. I’ve sat there at midnight, the hum of the laptop filling the room, feeling like my brain was just full. Flashcards force you to simplify. Because a card has limited space, you have to distill a word down to its most essential meaning.

So, this process of atomization is incredibly helpful. Instead of trying to swallow a whole paragraph of context, you’re learning the building blocks. Once those blocks are solid, you can start to see how they fit together in sentences and conversations. It provides a sense of manageable progress. When you master five cards, you feel a small win.

Those small wins add up quickly. And honestly? We all need more of those.

Portability and Consistency

The best study method is the one you actually use. One of the reasons flashcards have endured for decades is their sheer convenience. Whether you carry a physical stack in your pocket or have an app on your phone, you can study anywhere. You can get through ten words while waiting for coffee or twenty words during a commute.

And that’s the point.

This portability turns dead time into productive time. Consistency is the most important factor in learning any new skill. Flashcards allow you to maintain that consistency without needing to carve out a two hour block of deep study time. Maybe a few minutes here and there throughout the day is actually better than one long, exhausting session at the end of the week. Honestly, I’ve found that shorter bursts keep me from burning out. It’s just more sustainable.

The Psychological Edge

There’s a psychological satisfaction in the flashcard method that’s hard to replicate. Why do we love checking items off a to-do list so much? It is that same feeling of completion. There’s a clear beginning and end to a deck. You can see the stack of cards you’ve mastered growing larger while the stack of “to learn” cards gets smaller. This visual representation of progress is a powerful motivator.

Learning vocabulary is a marathon, not a sprint. It can be easy to get discouraged when you feel like you aren’t making headway. But when you flip a card and the answer comes to you instantly, you have proof of your growth. And you know, that instant feedback loop keeps you engaged and reminds you that your efforts are paying off.

Beyond the Basics

While we often think of flashcards as just a word and a definition, they can be much more. You can include example sentences, images, or even audio cues. This multi sensory approach further embeds the word in your mind. By connecting a word to a specific image or a sound, you’re giving your brain more hooks to grab onto when you need to pull that word out of thin air during a conversation.

In the end, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We just need to use the tools that work. Flashcards might seem old school, but their effectiveness is rooted in fundamental cognitive science. They demand focus, encourage consistency, and provide a clear path to mastery. If you’re serious about expanding your vocabulary, it’s time to get back to basics. It just works. You’ll see. Trust the process.

The post Why Flashcards Are Still the Best Way to Learn Vocabulary appeared first on Spelling Bee Ninja.

Academic competitions like spelling bees, geography bees, math bees, and science bees have become increasingly popular for children of all ages. These events not only help kids showcase their knowledge but also promote discipline, memory skills, and self-confidence. However, success doesn’t come overnight—it requires consistent effort, smart strategies, and most importantly, parental support.

As a parent, your role is pivotal in helping your child prepare without pressure or burnout. Here’s how to support and guide them effectively in their bee preparation journey.

1. Understand the Bee’s Format and Requirements

Before diving into preparation, take time to thoroughly understand the specific bee your child is competing in. Is it a spelling bee with oral rounds, or a geography bee with multiple-choice questions? Each format demands a different approach.

What you can do:

• Visit the competition’s official website.

• Download study guides or word lists provided.

• Watch previous bee videos to understand the pace and style of questioning.

Knowing what to expect helps you tailor the preparation process and avoid unnecessary surprises.

2. Set Realistic Goals Together

Goal setting gives your child something to work towards and builds motivation. However, these goals should be age-appropriate and centered on effort and learning rather than just winning.

Tips:

• Set short-term goals (e.g., “Learn 25 new words a week”).

• Include long-term goals (e.g., “Qualify for regionals”).

• Celebrate progress, not just achievements.

This process helps kids develop self-discipline and a growth mindset, both of which are essential for academic success.

3. Create a Study Schedule That Balances Rest

Overloading a child with information can lead to burnout. A consistent, manageable schedule keeps preparation on track without overwhelming your child.

How to help:

• Use a weekly calendar to plan study blocks.

• Keep sessions short (20–30 minutes), especially for younger kids.

• Schedule regular breaks and days off to refresh their minds.

Consistency is key—daily review, even for 15 minutes, is more effective than cramming before a bee.

4. Make Learning Interactive and Fun

Kids absorb information better when they’re actively engaged. Instead of drilling words or facts for hours, turn study time into games or challenges.

Ideas:

• Use flashcards for memory drills.

• Create spelling or trivia competitions at home.

• Use educational apps and games related to the bee’s subject (e.g., geography quiz apps, math puzzles, etc.).

Learning doesn’t have to be tedious—when it’s fun, kids are more likely to stick with it.

5. Encourage Independent Learning

While your support is crucial, it’s important that your child feels ownership over their learning. Encourage them to explore topics independently and identify areas they want to improve.

What this looks like:

• Let them choose their own study materials occasionally.

• Teach them how to track their progress (e.g., a checklist or journal).

• Discuss what they learned each day or week.

This approach boosts confidence and helps children develop lifelong study habits.

6. Build a Rich Vocabulary (for Spelling/Language Bees)

For spelling bees in particular, vocabulary is not just about memorizing words but understanding how they work—origins, meanings, and patterns.

Support vocabulary growth by:

• Reading aloud together daily.

• Using new words in daily conversation.

• Introducing roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

• Watching documentaries or shows with a strong educational angle.

The more words kids hear and use in context, the better they’ll perform in any language-based bee.

7. Use Mistakes as Teaching Moments

When your child forgets a fact or misspells a word, it’s a valuable learning opportunity. Don’t scold or criticize—encourage them to analyze and learn from it.

Ask:

• “What do you think tripped you up?”

• “How can we remember it next time?”

• “Can we connect this word/fact to something you already know?”

By normalizing mistakes, you help your child develop resilience and analytical thinking.

8. Practice Under Real Conditions

Simulating the pressure of a real bee can make a big difference. It helps your child become comfortable with time constraints and public speaking (if applicable).

You can:

• Hold mock bees at home.

• Invite friends or family to act as an audience or competitors.

• Use timers and scoring systems to track progress.

Practicing under realistic conditions reduces performance anxiety on the actual day of the competition.

9. Support Mental and Emotional Wellness

Competitive settings can be intense for young children. While some kids thrive under pressure, others may feel anxious. Your role is to provide reassurance, not pressure.

Ways to help:

• Practice mindfulness or simple breathing exercises together.

• Remind your child that winning isn’t everything.

• Make time for relaxing activities and hobbies outside studying.

A calm, happy child performs better and handles both success and setbacks more gracefully.

10. Celebrate Every Milestone

Whether your child wins first place or simply participates, acknowledge the courage, dedication, and effort it took to prepare.

Celebration ideas:

• Write them a heartfelt note of appreciation.

• Plan a small treat or family activity.

• Create a “bee journey scrapbook” with photos and certificates.

This helps build positive associations with learning and competition, encouraging them to try again next time.

Use a training system as Spelling Bee Ninja

A dedicated app like our Spelling Bee Ninja can help your kids while preparing for the Spelling Bee. It offers smart training, emulated spelling tests, personal word lists and a lot of features that will improve spelling capabilities in a very short time, maximizing the odds for your kid to succeed in the next school event.

Conclusion

Helping your child train for a bee is not just about learning facts or spelling words—it’s about nurturing curiosity, confidence, and resilience. As a parent, your encouragement, structure, and emotional support are the foundation for their success.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to win the bee—but to foster a love of learning and the skills that will benefit your child far beyond any competition stage.

The post 🐝 Tips for Parents Helping Kids Train for Bees appeared first on Spelling Bee Ninja.

Spelling in English can be deceptively tricky. Unlike phonetic languages, English is filled with irregularities, silent letters, and historical quirks that make certain words challenging to spell. Whether you’re a young student preparing for a spelling bee, an ESL learner navigating a new language, or a teacher helping your students master tough vocabulary, visual strategies can be powerful tools for success. In this article, we’ll explore how visual learning enhances spelling skills and share practical, proven techniques to help you or your learners remember even the most confusing words.

Why Visual Learning Works for Spelling

Visual learning taps into our brain’s natural preference for images and spatial awareness. Studies have shown that people often remember pictures more effectively than words alone—this is known as the “picture superiority effect.” When we associate a word with a mental image, pattern, or color, it becomes easier to retrieve from memory. This is especially useful for spelling, which relies on sequential memory and attention to detail.

Visual strategies benefit all learners, but they’re especially helpful for:

• Visual-spatial learners who thrive on seeing patterns and images.

• ESL students who need to connect English spelling with their existing language framework.

• Struggling spellers who might find phonics alone insufficient.

• K-12 learners preparing for standardized tests or spelling bees.

Common Visual Strategies to Improve Spelling

Let’s dive into several effective visual methods that can turn difficult spelling into a fun, engaging challenge:

1. Color Coding Letters and Patterns

Color can be a powerful memory trigger. Try assigning different colors to tricky parts of a word. For instance:

• definitely → definitely
  (Highlight the “f” and “ite” to distinguish it from common misspellings like “definately”)

You can also color-code silent letters (e.g., “k” in knight) or irregular patterns (ei in weird). Write the word multiple times, using the same colors consistently to reinforce the visual cue.

2. Chunking and Word Mapping

Breaking a word into parts or syllables helps reduce cognitive load. For example:

• accommodation → ac + com + mo + da + tion
  This method is especially effective for long or compound words.

You can also use word mapping by connecting the base word with prefixes and suffixes visually, helping learners see the structure within:

• unbelievable → un + believe + able
  Visual tree diagrams can further clarify word families and spelling rules.

3. Spelling with Shapes or Symbols

Turn a word into a mini art project. For instance, you can make the “oo” in book look like eyes or use a smiley face for the “u” in fun. This transforms abstract letters into memorable visuals, which works especially well for younger learners.

Tools like magnetic letters, chalkboards, or drawing apps can bring creativity into the process.

4. Mnemonics and Visual Rhymes

Mnemonic devices are memory aids that can include visual cues. These often work best when they’re silly, strange, or emotional—our brains latch onto things that are odd or amusing.

• because → Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants
  Create a drawing of the elephants spelling out the word!

• island → Think of an “island” as land surrounded by water
  Circle the “land” in the middle of the word to emphasize the root.

You can even encourage students to create their own visual mnemonics for personalized reinforcement.

5. Picture Flashcards and Word Walls

Flashcards can go beyond the traditional word/definition format. Include an image that either represents the meaning or hints at the spelling. For instance, a flashcard for “knight” might show armor and emphasize the silent “k.”

Creating a spelling word wall with visuals helps with repeated exposure. Grouping tricky words by patterns or themes visually (like all words with “-ough”) reinforces recognition.
To create flash cards easily and for free using our Spelling Bee ninja app check the article below.

Create pdf word lists and flash cards in 6 easy steps.

6. Use of Digital Tools

There are plenty of online platforms and apps that support visual learning. Tools like Canva, Quizlet, or even PowerPoint allow you to create custom spelling slides or games with colors, fonts, and images.

Spelling-focused tools like Spelling Bee Ninja also offer performance tracking and word-based exercises that can include visual components.

How Teachers and Parents Can Help

At Home or in the Classroom:

• Encourage learners to draw their tricky spelling words.

• Use sticky notes with color-coded spelling rules around the house or classroom.

• Make a “Spelling Art Day” where students draw or decorate the most difficult word of the week.

• Create mini spelling posters for each tricky word and display them.

Tailoring the Strategy to the Learner

Not all visual strategies work the same for everyone. Here are a few ways to personalize them:

• For younger learners, focus on color, cartoon illustrations, and games.

• For ESL students, emphasize word roots and visual comparisons to their native language when possible.

• For older learners or teens, integrate tech tools, design-based projects, and pattern recognition exercises.

Mix visual strategies with auditory and kinesthetic methods (like spelling aloud or tracing letters) to create a multisensory approach that appeals to more learning styles.

Examples of Difficult Words and Visual Aids

Practical Exercises for Learners

To put these visual strategies into action, learners can try a variety of simple yet effective exercises. One popular method is creating a spelling journal, where students draw each difficult word, highlight tricky letters in different colors, and write a mnemonic or sketch a small illustration beside it.
Another great activity is the “spelling spotlight,” where learners pick one difficult word a day, research its origin or root, and display it on a decorated flashcard or mini-poster. For tech-savvy learners, making digital slides or short videos explaining the spelling of a tricky word using images, audio, and animation can reinforce understanding while making the process fun and creative. Repetition through writing, pairing visuals with definitions, and peer quizzes can further cement retention and build confidence over time.

Final Thoughts

Visual strategies for memorizing difficult spellings are more than fun extras—they’re vital tools that make spelling more accessible, engaging, and successful for learners of all ages. When students are empowered to see words instead of just hearing or repeating them, they develop stronger, more confident spelling habits.

By incorporating visual cues into your spelling instruction or self-study, you can turn even the most stubborn vocabulary into memorable and meaningful learning moments. And with the help of visual creativity, spelling doesn’t just improve—it becomes an enjoyable part of the learning journey.

The post 🐝 Visual Strategies for Memorizing Difficult Spellings appeared first on Spelling Bee Ninja.

The post ✈️ Common Pronunciation Mistakes and How to Fix Them appeared first on Spelling Bee Ninja.

Our app heavily relies on Spelling Bee Words list.

Words list are word sets than can be named, saved and used for studying and taking spelling tests.

Lists can be printed, embedded on web pages and shared with classmates.

They can be public, private or visible only to students belonging to a user’s account.

The following paragraphs explain how to handle lists with SBN.

If you are looking for our selection of lists divided by grade check our SPELLING LIST SECTION

My Words section

This is a temporary list used as a basket to store words that will then be saved as Lists.

You will meet a lot of terms while navigating the SBN web app; for instance in report cards or while using the search engine or while browsing the “Words and Lists” section of the website.

Close to each word you will often find a button “Add” or “Add to my words” with a basket icon.

Pressing that button will add the related element in your basket, if the word is already present in “My Words”, you will find a “Remove” button instead.

Please keep in mind that “My Words” is just a temporary area and will be deleted when your session expires.

You can access to your temporary list anytime clicking “My Words” on top menu, the page will show the words contained in the list, the corresponding grade and the following action buttons:

Copy
Copies the words contained in My Words in the device clipboard, separated by comma “,”, ready to be pasted somewhere else (a text file, a spreadsheet etc.)

Save
Saves the words into a new words list, a dialog box will appear asking to specify a name and a visibility scope, also see the paragraph “Create and delete a spelling list”.

Add to List
Adds the elements to an existing spelling bee words list, check the next paragraph for further details on how to create new lists.

Import your own lists
Import an arbitrary text snippet into “My Words”, for instance some term you got from the Merriam Webster dictionary or from anywhere else.

Imported elements could then be saved as a list, check the next paragraph for details on importing lists.

Empty
Delete all the elements contained in “My Words”.

Working with spelling lists

Now that we explained the purpose of “My Words“ section, we are ready to have a deeper look to spelling lists related operations.
Your personal spelling bee words list section is accessible from your account menu (the one labeled with your user name) click “My Spelling List”.

From here you have access to the features related to your Spelling bee words lists, described in the following paragraphs.

Create and delete a Spelling List

To create a new spelling list, click the “Create new list” button on top of the page, the spelling bee creation dialog will appear:

Specify a name for your list and a visibility; the visibility can be private, visible to students and public.

Private List
Choose “Keep this list private” if you want the spelling words visibility to be limited to your account, hidden from everybody else.

Visible to students
If you are a teacher and want the spelling words to be used by your invited students but hidden from everybody else, then choose “Make this list visible only to my students”.

Public lists
The third option labeled “Make this list visible to all the students of the world” will make your list public.
A public list can be viewed (not edited) by anyone that knows the list address.

A public list could be marked as “featured” by SBN staff and appear in the Featured List section of the website.

A public list can be embedded on any website by adding an html code snippet (see Embed a list into a webpage paragraph).

Click “Create” to proceed, your newly created list will be listed in the page, lists are alphabetically ordered.

Delete a list

To delete a previously created spelling list, from “My Spelling Lists” page, you can use the red button marked by a trash can icon corresponding to the list you want to be deleted.

Viewing and Editing spelling lists

To view a list from “My Spelling lists” page, click the list name in the table.

To edit a list for adding words or changing attributes, click the edit button in the corresponding row.

The image below shows the options available in view mode:

When viewing a spelling words  list, you can switch to edit mode by pressing the “Edit” button on the top.

From the edit page, switch back to view mode by clicking the link labeled with the name of the list at the beginning of the page.

The image below shows the options available in edit mode:

When in edit mode, use the “Change” button to change the attributes of your spelling list such as list name and visibility.

Add and import words to a list

There are two ways to add words to a list:

The first way is collecting the words into “My Words” section and then choosing the “Save” or “Add to List” (see paragraph My Words section).
The second method is to add your words directly into the list using the “Import words” feature.

To import words into your list,

First reach the Edit page for your list.

Click “My Spelling lists” under your account,

Then click the edit button corresponding to your list in the table.

To open the import dialog, click the “Import” button at the top of the page:

Enter in the text area the text you’d like to import in your list.

You can also paste them from another source like a web page or a text file.

Valid word separators are spaces, tabs, newlines, special characters, each word has to be at least three characters long and must be composed only of letters from the English alphabet.

Press Ok when ready to import, the content will be added to your list.

After import, the system will present a report of the procedure, the skipped ones and eventual errors occurred.

Remove items from a list

To remove specific elements from a list, first reach the list page in Edit mode,  then  click the “Remove” button corresponding to the word you want to remove.

In case you want to empty list, click the “Empty” button, as shown in the image below.

Take a Spelling test with a given list

Spelling Bee Ninja allows you to take spelling tests using your custom spelling lists.
Choose the “Spelling Test” option from a spelling list page (in both view and edit mode) to take a test using that list.
The new  dialog will pop up and the selected list will be preset under the “Words Source” option, set the other options and press “Start Test” to start your test.
In case the spelling list used as words source contains less than the words necessary for the spelling test (that is the number of words set by the “Words per test” option), SBN will provide the missing words accordingly with the test parameters (such as student grade, difficulty level and so on).
The spelling test result will be marked as personal (see  here the test options  paragraph for further details).

Flash cards

The “Flash Card” button will show up a dialog containing Flash Cards for the current list.
Use this feature to memorize the words you have to learn, especially the one contained in the “Error List”.

Use the arrows on the sides to slide to next or previous card, on each card:

1. Click the word to open the word’s page in another tab/window.
2. Click the speaker icon just beneath the word to listen the pronunciation of the word.
3. Use the “Go to” drop down to jump to any word in the spelling list.

Embed a Spelling Words list into a web page

Custom Spelling Lists created with spelling bee ninja can be embedded in third party website. This feature provides a useful and easy to share spelling related home works with your students or to create words list pages in your own website in a snap.

The embedded list is presented as a table and has responsive layout to correctly show data on all kind of devices: desktop computers, tablets and mobile phones.

The embedded list will contain

• The word, linked to its card in SBN. The page will eventually open in a new browser tab.
• Speaker icons to hear the right pronunciations of the words.
• The difficulty level (from Grade 1 to Grade 8 then High School and Very difficult).

To allow a list to be embedded into an external web page you have to set the list visibility to Public.

If your list is not public, please change its visibility.

Once you set the list as Public, choose the “Embed” button from in the list page (in view mode).

A dialog containing the html code for the list will pop up as in the image below.

Copy the html code in the dialog and paste it into your webpage.

If you want you can change the width and the height of the list within your page.

The list embedding service is provided for free to every SBN user.

Featured Spelling Bee Lists

This section of the Spelling Bee Ninja website offers public spelling lists that are well crafted by the SBN team.

These lists are available to be used by every user.

To access to the featured lists section choose “Words and Lists” on the top menu and then “Featured Lists”.

You will find here lists ready to be used for your training program, there are lists divided by student grade, but also themed lists, for example words coming from different roots such as Arabic terms, Japanese terms, Spanish terms and so on. Some lists are related to the previous edition of the spelling bee, some other are related to SAT test. Also, there are lists containing the most used English terms.

Please check this section often as new spelling lists are constantly added.

If you feel that one or more of your public lists should be added in this section as they could be useful to the spelling community, please contact us through the contact form specifying the public address of your lists.

The post 🤖🐝 Spelling Bee words – All you need to know. appeared first on Spelling Bee Ninja.

Our app heavily relies on Spelling Bee Words list.

Words list are word sets than can be named, saved and used for studying and taking spelling tests.
Lists can be printed, embedded on web pages and shared with classmates.
They can be public, private or visible only to students belonging to a user’s account.
The following paragraphs explain how to handle lists with SBN.

If you are looking for our selection of lists divided by grade check our SPELLING LIST SECTION

My Words section

This is a temporary list used as a basket to store words that will then be saved as Lists.
You will meet a lot of terms while navigating the SBN web app; for instance in report cards or while using the search engine or while browsing the “Words and Lists” section of the website.
Close to each word you will often find a button “Add” or “Add to my words” with a basket icon.
Pressing that button will add the related element in your basket, if the word is already present in “My Words”, you will find a “Remove” button instead.
Please keep in mind that “My Words” is just a temporary area and will be deleted when your session expires.
You can access to your temporary list anytime clicking “My Words” on top menu, the page will show the words contained in the list, the corresponding grade and the following action buttons:

Copy
Copies the words contained in My Words in the device clipboard, separated by comma “,”, ready to be pasted somewhere else (a text file, a spreadsheet etc.)

Save
Saves the words into a new words list, a dialog box will appear asking to specify a name and a visibility scope, also see the paragraph “Create and delete a spelling list”.

Add to List
Adds the elements to an existing spelling bee words list, check the next paragraph for further details on how to create new lists.

Import your own lists
Import an arbitrary text snippet into “My Words”, for instance some term you got from the Merriam Webster dictionary or from anywhere else.

Imported elements could then be saved as a list, check the next paragraph for details on importing lists.

Empty
Delete all the elements contained in “My Words”.

Working with spelling lists

Now that we explained the purpose of “My Words“ section, we are ready to have a deeper look to spelling lists related operations.
Your personal spelling bee words list section is accessible from your account menu (the one labeled with your user name) click “My Spelling List”.

From here you have access to the features related to your Spelling bee words lists, described in the following paragraphs.

Create and delete a Spelling List

To create a new spelling list, click the “Create new list” button on top of the page, the spelling bee creation dialog will appear:

Specify a name for your list and a visibility; the visibility can be private, visible to students and public.

Private List
Choose “Keep this list private” if you want the spelling words visibility to be limited to your account, hidden from everybody else.

Visible to students
If you are a teacher and want the spelling words to be used by your invited students but hidden from everybody else, then choose “Make this list visible only to my students”.

Public lists
The third option labeled “Make this list visible to all the students of the world” will make your list public.
A public list can be viewed (not edited) by anyone that knows the list address.

A public list could be marked as “featured” by SBN staff and appear in the Featured List section of the website.

A public list can be embedded on any website by adding an html code snippet (see Embed a list into a webpage paragraph).

Click “Create” to proceed, your newly created list will be listed in the page, lists are alphabetically ordered.

Delete a list

To delete a previously created spelling list, from “My Spelling Lists” page, you can use the red button marked by a trash can icon corresponding to the list you want to be deleted.

Viewing and Editing spelling lists

To view a list from “My Spelling lists” page, click the list name in the table.

To edit a list for adding words or changing attributes, click the edit button in the corresponding row.

The image below shows the options available in view mode:

When viewing a spelling words  list, you can switch to edit mode by pressing the “Edit” button on the top.

From the edit page, switch back to view mode by clicking the link labeled with the name of the list at the beginning of the page.

The image below shows the options available in edit mode:

When in edit mode, use the “Change” button to change the attributes of your spelling list such as list name and visibility.

Add and import words to a list

There are two ways to add words to a list:

The first way is collecting the words into “My Words” section and then choosing the “Save” or “Add to List” (see paragraph My Words section).
The second method is to add your words directly into the list using the “Import words” feature.

To import words into your list,

First reach the Edit page for your list.

Click “My Spelling lists” under your account,

Then click the edit button corresponding to your list in the table.

To open the import dialog, click the “Import” button at the top of the page:

Enter in the text area the text you’d like to import in your list.

You can also paste them from another source like a web page or a text file.

Valid word separators are spaces, tabs, newlines, special characters, each word has to be at least three characters long and must be composed only of letters from the English alphabet.

Press Ok when ready to import, the content will be added to your list.

After import, the system will present a report of the procedure, the skipped ones and eventual errors occurred.

Remove items from a list

To remove specific elements from a list, first reach the list page in Edit mode,  then  click the “Remove” button corresponding to the word you want to remove.

In case you want to empty list, click the “Empty” button, as shown in the image below.

Take a Spelling test with a given list

Spelling Bee Ninja allows you to take spelling tests using your custom spelling lists.
Choose the “Spelling Test” option from a spelling list page (in both view and edit mode) to take a test using that list.
The new  dialog will pop up and the selected list will be preset under the “Words Source” option, set the other options and press “Start Test” to start your test.
In case the spelling list used as words source contains less than the words necessary for the spelling test (that is the number of words set by the “Words per test” option), SBN will provide the missing words accordingly with the test parameters (such as student grade, difficulty level and so on).
The spelling test result will be marked as personal (see  here the test options  paragraph for further details).

Flash cards

The “Flash Card” button will show up a dialog containing Flash Cards for the current list.
Use this feature to memorize the words you have to learn, especially the one contained in the “Error List”.

Use the arrows on the sides to slide to next or previous card, on each card:

1. Click the word to open the word’s page in another tab/window.
2. Click the speaker icon just beneath the word to listen the pronunciation of the word.
3. Use the “Go to” drop down to jump to any word in the spelling list.

Embed a Spelling Words list into a web page

Custom Spelling Lists created with spelling bee ninja can be embedded in third party website. This feature provides a useful and easy to share spelling related home works with your students or to create words list pages in your own website in a snap.

The embedded list is presented as a table and has responsive layout to correctly show data on all kind of devices: desktop computers, tablets and mobile phones.

The embedded list will contain

• The word, linked to its card in SBN. The page will eventually open in a new browser tab.
• Speaker icons to hear the right pronunciations of the words.
• The difficulty level (from Grade 1 to Grade 8 then High School and Very difficult).

To allow a list to be embedded into an external web page you have to set the list visibility to Public.

If your list is not public, please change its visibility.

Once you set the list as Public, choose the “Embed” button from in the list page (in view mode).

A dialog containing the html code for the list will pop up as in the image below.

Copy the html code in the dialog and paste it into your webpage.

If you want you can change the width and the height of the list within your page.

The list embedding service is provided for free to every SBN user.

Featured Spelling Bee Lists

This section of the Spelling Bee Ninja website offers public spelling lists that are well crafted by the SBN team.

These lists are available to be used by every user.

To access to the featured lists section choose “Words and Lists” on the top menu and then “Featured Lists”.

You will find here lists ready to be used for your training program, there are lists divided by student grade, but also themed lists, for example words coming from different roots such as Arabic terms, Japanese terms, Spanish terms and so on. Some lists are related to the previous edition of the spelling bee, some other are related to SAT test. Also, there are lists containing the most used English terms.

Please check this section often as new spelling lists are constantly added.

If you feel that one or more of your public lists should be added in this section as they could be useful to the spelling community, please contact us through the contact form specifying the public address of your lists.

The post 🤖 Spelling Bee words – All you need to know. appeared first on Spelling Bee Ninja.