the spelling test

Today, I gave a quick spelling pretest to one of my favorite students.  I mean, I gave a quick spelling pretest to one of my students to whom I am impartial...you know, because I don't have favorite students.  Anyway, we'll call this student Roger.  The pretest was your basic format for most spelling assessments.  I explained to Roger that I would say a word, then say a sentence containing the word, and then say the word again.  Here is a sample of what turned out to be a two-way conversation with some spelling involved.

Me: Fan.  I could use a fan on a hot day.  Fan
Roger: Is it hot?

Me: Pet.  I have a pet cat who likes to play.  Pet.
Roger: Meow.

Me: Dig.  He will dig a hole in the sand.  Dig.
Roger: Who?

Me: Rob.  A raccoon will rob a bird's nest for eggs.  Rob.
Roger: I like eggs!

Me: Hope.  I hope you do well on this test.  Hope.
Roger: Thank you!

Me: Wait.  You will need to wait for the letter.  Wait.
Roger: (puts pencil down) Okay.  I can wait.

Me: Gum.  I stepped in some bubble gum.  Gum.
Roger: (looking under table)  Where?

Me: Stick.  I used a stick to poke in the holes.  Stick.
Roger: (looks very confused)

Me: Shine. I...
Roger: (interrupting) Make it shine!  Make it shine!

Me: Dream.  I had a funny dream last night.  Dream.
Roger: What was it about?

Me: Fright.  She was a fright in her Halloween costume.  Fright.
Roger: Ooh Hoo Hoo!

Me: Chewing.  Don't talk until you finish chewing your food.  Chew.
Roger: I don't have any food.

Me: Crawl.  You will get dirty if you crawl under the bed.  Crawl.
Roger: Am I a baby?!

Me: Thorn.  The thorn from the rose bush stuck me.  Thorn.
Roger: I remember Miss Thorn!

Me: Shouted.  They shouted at the barking dog.  Shouted.
Roger: That's the same thing as yelling.  I'm going to write yell.

Me: Growl.  The dog will growl if you bother him.  Growl.
Roger: Grrrrrrr. (lashes hand out like a claw)

Me: Camped.  We camped down by the river last weekend.  Camped.
Roger: I camp't be a teacher yet.  I'm too young.

Me: Clapping.  The audience was clapping after the program.  Clapping.
Roger: (claps, laughs, claps, laughs, wonders why I'm looking at him strangely)

The savvy educator in me knew that I should come up with some original sentences that might not elicit so much confusion, but the comedian in me decided to go with the prewritten sentences and enjoy the show!  Enjoyed.  I hope you enjoyed today's spelling lesson as much as I did!  Enjoyed.