Put Your Spelling List Under Your Pillow

I was never a very good student and honestly believed I wasn’t capable of getting good grades, but I had one teacher who made a significant difference in my life. She was my fifth-grade teacher, and her name was Mrs. Bouck. In many ways she was quirky and unconventional with her methods, but she helped me in so many ways.
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One of my more poignant memories is of her motivational technique for helping us learn to spell better. She motivated us (perhaps bribed is a better word) with candy. We had a spelling test every week and were rewarded for our efforts every three weeks. The simple reward was motivation enough for me to learn the words.

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If we got 100% on the tests for three weeks in a row we got a candy bar. Two weeks with 100% earned us a Tootsie Pop. One test with 100% got us a piece of penny candy. Those of us who didn’t get a 100% on any of the tests received a roll of candy smarty pills.
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Mrs. Bouck gave us her key to success. Study the spelling words before going to bed and then put the list under your pillow. Putting it under our pillow allowed our brain to synthesize and absorb the words on the list and she guaranteed we would remember them. And you know what? She was right.  

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Using her unconventional approach to studying spelling I started getting candy bars. Occasionally I would mess up and only get a Tootsie Pop, but to my recollection I never got below that for the rest of fifth grade.

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I realize that Mrs. Bouck was tricking us into studying right before bed, a clinically proven way to encourage memory formation, but I tell you, even though I now know that my brain didn’t absorb those words through my pillow, putting the list there did help me gain confidence in myself with spelling. And Mrs. Bouck’s modus operandi really did motivate me to study. I respected her and was sure enough of her belief in me that I started to believe in myself a little bit too. Even though her technique may have been slightly less than truthful, I know she cared about me and wanted to help me do my very best. I appreciate her to this day and have fond memories whenever I think of her.

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So, what’s your MO for motivating kids to become their best selves? We don’t need to trick our kids to help them recognize and develop their talents and abilities. With truth and respect we can help them learn to trust and believe in themselves for who they truly are.


Happy Failing Forward,


Calvert Cazier