SpellPundit Spelling and Vocabulary Coaching Program

Advanced
The Advanced Coaching track is intentionally rigorous and includes fast-paced quizzing, higher difficulty levels, and expectations suited for Scripps National Semifinalists and other top-ranked spellers.

Quarter 1: Language Origins and Word Patterns – Part I

Focus: Latin, Greek, & French language spelling patterns

1. Latin Language Patterns
   Identify common endings, sounds, and structural patterns in Latin-derived words.
2. Common Latin Roots for Verbs & Nouns I
   Study core Latin roots, including verb families ending in -are, -ere, -ire and noun forms ending in -us.
3. Common Latin Roots for Verbs & Nouns II
   Continue exploring productive roots, their meanings, and high-frequency derivatives.
4. Latin Roots by Semantic Themes
   Learn roots grouped by themes such as nature, anatomy, materials, tools, and emotions.
5. Greek Language Patterns I
   Practice foundational vowel and consonant patterns across Classical, Advanced, and Modern Greek spellings.
6. Greek Language Patterns II
   Deepen practice with extended Greek sound patterns and common orthographic variations.
7. Greek Roots with Tricky Spellings & Homophonous Forms
   Master roots involving silent letters, irregular combinations, and confusing homophonous spellings.
8. Greek Roots with Variant Forms & Taxonomic Suffixes
   Explore multi-spelling roots and practice Greek-based scientific and taxonomic endings.
9. French Consonant Patterns
   Learn hallmark French consonant spellings and how they shift based on surrounding vowels.
10. French Vowel Patterns
    Study characteristic French vowel spellings and their predictable and unpredictable variations.
11. Common French Roots & Suffixes
    Learn high-frequency French roots, productive suffixes, and their meanings.
12. Mastering French Words by Theme
    Practice thematic French-origin vocabulary and the spelling patterns each category follows.

Quarter 2: Language Origins and Word Patterns – Part II

Focus: English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Germanic, and Semitic language patterns

1. English Language Patterns
   Understand why English spelling is inconsistent and learn strategies for navigating exceptions.
2. Italian Language Patterns & Suffixes
   Discover hallmark Italian spelling patterns, suffixes, and phonetic tendencies.
3. Spanish Language Patterns & Suffixes
   Learn Spanish spelling conventions, accent-based changes, and Latin American variations.
4. Portuguese Language Patterns & Suffixes
   Understand the features that distinguish Portuguese-derived spellings from Spanish.
5. Comparative Language Patterns & Etymological Mastery
   Develop the skill to identify origins, track phonetic shifts, and predict spelling patterns across Romance and Greek vocabulary.
6. German Language Patterns
   Practice characteristic German vowel and consonant patterns found in English borrowings.
7. German Roots & Suffixes
   Decode compound formations using core German roots, stems, and suffixes.
8. Scandinavian & Yiddish Language Patterns
   Learn borrowed words and spelling influences originating from Northern Europe and Jewish linguistic traditions.
9. Dutch & Afrikaans Language Patterns
   Identify overlaps, shifts, and recognizable patterns from these Germanic-based languages.
10. Irish, Welsh & Gaelic Language Patterns
    Explore the poetic yet complex spelling structures of Celtic-derived vocabulary.
11. Advanced Challenger
    High-difficulty words selected to stretch vocabulary, pattern recognition, and competitive readiness.
12. Expert Mastery
    Elite-level words frequently seen in high-round competitions; ideal for students aiming for top ranks.

Quarter 3: Language Origins and Word Patterns – Part III

Focus: Asian, and Indigenous language patterns, along with eponyms and linguistic outliers.

1. Russian Language Patterns
   Practice Cyrillic-origin transliterations and understand key Slavic spelling influences.
2. Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu, Persian & Arabic Patterns
   Analyze phonetic spellings, sound shifts, and layered etymologies from South Asian and Middle Eastern roots.
3. Hebrew Language Patterns
   Understand the distinctive consonants, syllabic patterns, and transliterations found in Hebrew-origin words.
4. Chinese & Japanese Language Patterns
   Discover transliterated spellings, borrowed cultural terms, and patterns from East Asian languages.
5. Māori & Hawaiian Language Patterns
   Practice vowel-rich, phonetic spellings and the fluid pronunciation systems of Polynesian languages.
6. Geographical Words, Eponyms & Mythological Terms
   Decode words derived from people, places, historical figures, and legendary traditions.
7. Unclassified & Outlier Words
   Explore high-difficulty vocabulary that resists categorization and requires strategic, pattern-based memorization.
8. Linguistic Pattern Mastery
   Rare but pattern-based words paired with advanced vocabulary building: synonyms, antonyms, connotations, and context.
9. Competitive Difficulty
   Words commonly seen in mid-to-late spelling rounds plus vocabulary requiring deep etymological and semantic understanding.
10. Elite Spelling & Vocabulary
    High-competition spelling words with layered vocabulary: multi-root structures, advanced academic terms, and contextual reasoning.
11. Curated Word Lists for Fast-Track Scripps Excellence
    Ultra-rare, national-level words with mastery-level vocabulary: full etymology, variant forms, usage complexity, and cross-language analysis.
12. Curated Word Lists for Fast-Track Scripps Excellence (cont’d)
    Ultra-rare, national-level words with mastery-level vocabulary: full etymology, variant forms, usage complexity, and cross-language analysis

Quarter 4: Confusing Spelling Rules & Advanced Roots

Focus: Irregular spelling patterns, complex word structure, and advanced Latin & Greek roots.

1. Unpredictable & Confusing Spelling Rules I
   Irregular patterns, silent-letter traps, and misleading vowel sequences.
2. Unpredictable & Confusing Spelling Rules II
   Exception-heavy rules, deceptive consonant endings, and common rule-breakers.
3. Unpredictable & Confusing Spelling Rules III
   Words with unusual origins, unexpected letter pairings, and confusing sequences.
4. Unpredictable & Confusing Spelling Rules IV
   High-frequency anomalies that defy standard patterns and require memorization.
5. Greek Roots I – Foundations
   Essential Greek roots that shape academic, scientific, and technical vocabulary.
6. Greek Roots II – Common Families
   High-utility roots, meaning clusters, and widely used Greek combining forms.
7. Greek Roots III – Multi-Root & Technical Words
   Decoding long compounds, scientific formations, and multi-root constructions.
8. Greek Roots IV – Advanced & Rare Forms
   Uncommon roots, challenging consonant clusters, and less familiar Greek forms.
9. Latin Roots I – Assimilation & Homophonous Roots
   Assimilatory changes, prepositional forms, and commonly confused Latin roots.
10. Latin Roots II – Major Root Categories
    Root families, productive stems, and category-based pattern recognition.
11. Latin Roots III – Advanced Roots & Tricky Spellings
    Complex formations, overlapping meanings, and irregular Latin spellings.
12. Latin Roots IV – Suffixes & Prefixes
    Challenging classical suffixes, productive prefixes, and multi-part Latin constructions.

Beginners/Intermediate
The beginners and Intermediate coaching sessions focus on building strong foundations through detailed concept explanations, interactive discussions, and guided practice.

Quarter 1: Foundations of Spelling and Word Structure

Focus: Spelling rules, word components, and Greek roots.

1. Introduction to the Dictionary & Diacritical Marks
   Learn how to navigate the dictionary, understand pronunciation keys, and interpret diacritical symbols.
2. Spelling Rules – Overview
   Explore essential spelling conventions and general patterns in English.
3. Spelling Rules – Practice & Application
   Practice applying rules through sample word sets and decoding exercises.
4. Spelling Rules – Continued
   Master exceptions and tricky rules that often confuse spellers.
5. Rule-Breakers: Words Without Strong Rules
   Tackle high-frequency irregular words that defy traditional patterns.
6. Word Construction: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes – I
   Break down words into their building blocks for easier recall and decoding.
7. Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes – II
   Deepen understanding with practice-based learning and group activities.
8. Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes – III
   Explore uncommon affixes and compound formations.
9. Common Greek Roots – I
   Begin exploring Greek origins that form the backbone of spelling bee vocabulary.
10. Common Greek Roots – II
    Learn and practice the most commonly used Greek roots along with their meanings.
11. Common Greek Roots – III
    Learn and practice the most commonly used Greek roots along with their meanings Contd.
12. Common Greek Roots – IV
    Practice decoding long and technical words derived from Greek.

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Quarter 2: Language Origins and Word Patterns – Part I

Focus: Latin roots and Romance language spelling patterns.

1. Common Latin Roots – I
   Assimilatory, homophonous, prepositional, and roots with tricky spellings.
2. Common Latin Roots – II
   Common Latin roots by categories.
3. Common Latin Roots – III
   Common Latin roots by categories cont’d.
4. Common Latin Roots – IV
   Common Latin roots by categories cont’d.
5. Common Latin Roots – V
   Common Latin suffixes and prefixes.
6. Common Latin Roots – VI
   Common Latin suffixes and prefixes cont’d.
7. Scripps Published Lists Practice
   School Spelling Bee List Practice (Three Bee).
8. Scripps Published Lists Practice
   2026 WOTC List Practice.
9. Scripps Published Lists Practice
   Roots based Practice for WOTC List.
10. French Language Patterns
    Learn the tricky French-origin English spellings through vowel and consonant patterns.
11. Common French Roots and Suffixes
    Learning the most common French suffixes, roots, and their meanings.
12. Mastering French Words
    Spellings and Vocabulary by Themes.

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Quarter 3: Language Origins and Word Patterns – Part II

Focus: English, Latin, Greek, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese

1. English Language Patterns
   Understand why English spelling is inconsistent and how to manage exceptions.
2. Latin Language Patterns
   Recognize typical endings and sounds in Latin-derived words.
3. Common Latin Roots for verbs, nouns
   Learn Latin roots for verbs ending in -are, -ere, or -ire, and -us.
4. Important Latin roots by semantic themes
   Learn Latin roots by themes like nature, anatomy, materials, tools, emotions, etc.
5. Greek Language Patterns - I
   Practice the vowel and consonant patterns through Classical, Advanced, and Modern Greek spelling.
6. Greek Language Patterns – II
   Practice the vowel and consonant patterns through Classical, Advanced, and Modern Greek spelling.
7. Greek Roots with Tricky Spellings & Homophonous Roots
   Master words with silent letters, unusual letter combinations, and Greek roots with irregular spellings.
8. Greek Roots with Multiple Spellings & Taxonomic Suffixes
   Practice Greek roots and their variant forms along with some taxonomic words
9. Italian Language Patterns & Suffixes
   Discover the musicality and logic in Italian spellings.
10. Spanish Language Patterns & Suffixes
    Learn spelling conventions rooted in Spanish and Latin American vocabulary.
11. Portuguese Language Patterns & Suffixes
    Spot the subtleties that set Portuguese-derived words apart from Spanish.
12. Comparative Language Patterns and Etymological Mastery
    Develop mastery in identifying root origins, recognizing phonetic shifts, and predicting spelling variations across languages.

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Quarter 4: Language Origins and Word Patterns – Part III

Focus: Germanic, Semitic, Asian, and Indigenous language patterns, plus eponyms and outliers.

1. German Language Patterns
   Practice the vowel and consonant patterns.
2. German Roots and Suffixes
   Decode compound words using roots and suffixes in German language.
3. Scandinavian & Yiddish Language Patterns
   Learn borrowed words and spelling influences from northern Europe.
4. Dutch & Afrikaans Language Patterns
   Spot the overlap and shifts from these Germanic roots.
5. Irish, Welsh, & Gaelic Language Patterns
   Explore the poetic but complex spellings of Celtic-derived words.
6. Russian Language Patterns
   Practice Cyrillic-origin spellings and Slavic influences.
7. Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu, Persian, & Arabic Patterns
   Analyze phonetic spellings and layered etymologies from South Asian and Middle Eastern roots.
8. Hebrew Language Patterns
   Understand unique consonants and syllabic shifts in Hebrew words.
9. Chinese & Japanese Language Patterns
   Discover transliterated spellings and cultural terms used in English.
10. Maori & Hawaiian Language Patterns
    Practice vowel-rich words with fluid pronunciation rules.
11. Geographical Words, Eponyms, & Mythological words
    Decode names of people and places turned into vocabulary.
12. Unclassified & Outlier Words
    Explore high-difficulty words that resist categorization and require strategic memorization.

Word Volume:

• Beginner: ~13,000 words/year
• Intermediate: ~30,000 words/year