<![CDATA[Hexco Academic: Latest News]]> https://www.hexco.com Tue, 09 Jun 2026 05:20:26 +0000 <![CDATA[UIL Computer Applications – Phasing Out the Contest]]> https://www.hexco.com/blog/uil-computer-applications-contest-ends-2024/ Mon, 20 Mar 2023 16:41:50 +0000 https://www.hexco.com/blog/uil-computer-applications-contest-ends-2024/ For those of you who have not heard the news, the Computer Applications Contest will be ending in May 2024. There is no doubt the value that the contest provides, and we've received numerous positive responses from coaches and students in favor of the competition.

Quotes from our Coaches

  • CompApps is probably one of the most fulfilling and demanding contests in UIL. The name is deceptive; there's a lot more to it than just typing a letter. These are the skills that millions of people who use spreadsheet and database programs utilize daily in their jobs, whether as an employee or a business owner. And it's these same skills that CompApps students leave the contest with year in and year out. They've got a step up on their peers as they enter college or the workforce. They have advanced knowledge of the software, and they have developed critical thinking skills.
  • I feel passionately about computer classes that we offer. My Computer Apps students, especially, thrive in college and at their jobs because of the knowledge gained through this contest.I just cannot imagine a more important or pertinent contest for our students in this day and age. I always say that there isn’t a more difficult contest than this, but it is so worth it. The knowledge received takes students so far in life and in their careers.
  • In reading many posts on a Coordinators Facebook page I was disappointed and heartbroken.I would like to give you my thoughts on a possible phase out of Computer Apps.This is a valuable contest.It does prepare students for using and integrating various applications that are actually used in the real world.I do see the expense in equipment/software, but I do not think that is so much the problem. All schools receive money for CTE programs.

Quotes from our Students

  • Computer Apps definitely played a major role in college for me. Knowing the basics of operating Microsoft applications was very crucial for typing an essay or manipulating numeric data or actually understanding databases for my criminal justice classes.
  • The skills I gained from competing in Computer Applications in high school helped build a foundation for me to further those skills in college and beyond. Having a proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, and databases is now a requirement for many job positions; competing in Computer Applications helped me and undoubtedly has helped a plethora of other students gain practical skills for their future careers. Now, as a data librarian, I am putting these skills to use every day—spreadsheets and databases are integral to doing this work, and I can honestly say my experience competing in Computer Applications ignited my interest in my current field and gave me an edge in my undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
  • Not only does it look good on paper on your resume, but a lot of jobs like for you to be knowledgeable on basic computer skills, and I’ve seen some jobs where they ask for certain Microsoft skills like Excel for spreadsheets and Access which learned during Computer Apps.
  • I own a landscape company, and I use computer applications a lot. I also do my own invoices and quote sheets using Excel and take notes using Word.

Linda Tarrant, the Computer Applications director of 20+ years, stated the following:

"You all know that I believe this is one of the most useful academic contests offered by UIL. Spelling and Ready Writing hone your language skills, and Social Studies, Number Sense, Math, and Science hone skills in their respective areas. In turn, Computer Applications offers a better way to present reports and projects during your academic career in addition to skills that are invaluable to employers in the job market.

Almost every job uses a database of some kind. Even retail stores use databases to store sales, customer, and pricing information, all of which will require manipulating, updating, and analyzing data. Many students that participate in this contest find jobs as business analysts, software engineers or developers, data administrators, accountants, economists, sales managers, digital marketers, IT specialists, and other tech and research jobs. These careers are in high demand, and students proficient in Excel and a database such as Access have the advantage … I regret that our state removed courses that cover this material from the required curriculum. This is probably a reflection of thinking that everyone understands computers because they use them in their phones, watches, TV, games, etc. Understanding how computers are actually employed in the business world is entirely different. To be frank, the state's elimination of these classes is the primary reason why I believe this contest is so valuable."

As you prepare for the last year, remember the following:

  • Templates: You can create your own file of Word document templates modeling those found in the UIL Computer Applications Handbook, or you might also consider purchasing a Hexco Computer Apps Templates CDasit has all the work done for you.
  • Resources: Several resources are obtainable from the Computer Applications page on the UIL website. You can download the handbook, starter files, and several lesson plans. There are two instructional videos, including a walkthrough of the grading process.
  • Study material: UIL offers the Computer Applications Study Packet that contains a copy of the prior year's UIL tests for District, Region, and State Meets. Hexco offers Region and State Practice Packets and instructional videos. Spring Practice Packets are also some of Hexco's more challenging test material, specifically tests E and F in each packet (require Starter Files).
  • Starter files: These Access files are required for Region and State. Make sure you have downloaded this year's starter files found on the contest page on the UIL website.

We are sad to see the contest go but are so appreciative of what it has done for students who have competed throughout the years. Best of luck, and we hope to see you at State!

]]> For those of you who have not heard the news, the Computer Applications Contest will be ending in May 2024. There is no doubt the value that the contest provides, and we've received numerous positive responses from coaches and students in favor of the competition.

Quotes from our Coaches

  • CompApps is probably one of the most fulfilling and demanding contests in UIL. The name is deceptive; there's a lot more to it than just typing a letter. These are the skills that millions of people who use spreadsheet and database programs utilize daily in their jobs, whether as an employee or a business owner. And it's these same skills that CompApps students leave the contest with year in and year out. They've got a step up on their peers as they enter college or the workforce. They have advanced knowledge of the software, and they have developed critical thinking skills.
  • I feel passionately about computer classes that we offer. My Computer Apps students, especially, thrive in college and at their jobs because of the knowledge gained through this contest.I just cannot imagine a more important or pertinent contest for our students in this day and age. I always say that there isn’t a more difficult contest than this, but it is so worth it. The knowledge received takes students so far in life and in their careers.
  • In reading many posts on a Coordinators Facebook page I was disappointed and heartbroken.I would like to give you my thoughts on a possible phase out of Computer Apps.This is a valuable contest.It does prepare students for using and integrating various applications that are actually used in the real world.I do see the expense in equipment/software, but I do not think that is so much the problem. All schools receive money for CTE programs.

Quotes from our Students

  • Computer Apps definitely played a major role in college for me. Knowing the basics of operating Microsoft applications was very crucial for typing an essay or manipulating numeric data or actually understanding databases for my criminal justice classes.
  • The skills I gained from competing in Computer Applications in high school helped build a foundation for me to further those skills in college and beyond. Having a proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, and databases is now a requirement for many job positions; competing in Computer Applications helped me and undoubtedly has helped a plethora of other students gain practical skills for their future careers. Now, as a data librarian, I am putting these skills to use every day—spreadsheets and databases are integral to doing this work, and I can honestly say my experience competing in Computer Applications ignited my interest in my current field and gave me an edge in my undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
  • Not only does it look good on paper on your resume, but a lot of jobs like for you to be knowledgeable on basic computer skills, and I’ve seen some jobs where they ask for certain Microsoft skills like Excel for spreadsheets and Access which learned during Computer Apps.
  • I own a landscape company, and I use computer applications a lot. I also do my own invoices and quote sheets using Excel and take notes using Word.

Linda Tarrant, the Computer Applications director of 20+ years, stated the following:

"You all know that I believe this is one of the most useful academic contests offered by UIL. Spelling and Ready Writing hone your language skills, and Social Studies, Number Sense, Math, and Science hone skills in their respective areas. In turn, Computer Applications offers a better way to present reports and projects during your academic career in addition to skills that are invaluable to employers in the job market.

Almost every job uses a database of some kind. Even retail stores use databases to store sales, customer, and pricing information, all of which will require manipulating, updating, and analyzing data. Many students that participate in this contest find jobs as business analysts, software engineers or developers, data administrators, accountants, economists, sales managers, digital marketers, IT specialists, and other tech and research jobs. These careers are in high demand, and students proficient in Excel and a database such as Access have the advantage … I regret that our state removed courses that cover this material from the required curriculum. This is probably a reflection of thinking that everyone understands computers because they use them in their phones, watches, TV, games, etc. Understanding how computers are actually employed in the business world is entirely different. To be frank, the state's elimination of these classes is the primary reason why I believe this contest is so valuable."

As you prepare for the last year, remember the following:

  • Templates: You can create your own file of Word document templates modeling those found in the UIL Computer Applications Handbook, or you might also consider purchasing a Hexco Computer Apps Templates CDasit has all the work done for you.
  • Resources: Several resources are obtainable from the Computer Applications page on the UIL website. You can download the handbook, starter files, and several lesson plans. There are two instructional videos, including a walkthrough of the grading process.
  • Study material: UIL offers the Computer Applications Study Packet that contains a copy of the prior year's UIL tests for District, Region, and State Meets. Hexco offers Region and State Practice Packets and instructional videos. Spring Practice Packets are also some of Hexco's more challenging test material, specifically tests E and F in each packet (require Starter Files).
  • Starter files: These Access files are required for Region and State. Make sure you have downloaded this year's starter files found on the contest page on the UIL website.

We are sad to see the contest go but are so appreciative of what it has done for students who have competed throughout the years. Best of luck, and we hope to see you at State!

]]> <![CDATA[Linda's List of "Classic" Books for Kids]]> https://www.hexco.com/blog/lindas-list-of-classic-books-for-kids/ Fri, 02 Dec 2022 17:21:26 +0000 https://www.hexco.com/blog/lindas-list-of-classic-books-for-kids/ As a grandmother with another magical grandson on the way, my thoughts return to teaching your child the magic of language. The beginning happens long before your baby understands words, and it is never too early to introduce a young one to the wonder of books. Reading to your infant over time provides the child with a variety of sounds as well as the building blocks needed for language development. One study shows parents who read to babies every day expose them to around 78,000 words each year, such that by age five, that infant has been exposed to nearly a million and a half words during storytime.

As children grow, stories stimulate their imaginations and allow them to learn about the world around them. A baby's brain grows more in the first year of life than at any other time. They are learning the sounds of languages, the meanings of words, emotions, and communication. And with all of this, reading to your child builds listening, memory, and vocabulary skills. It is also an opportunity to cuddle your baby, making him or her feel safe and connected.

Bear in mind that many of my suggestions date back to when I read to my own children. Many of these are considered "classics." Of course, there are thousands of other books to read, and these are many of my favorites; not all of them, but enough. If you like a book, get the next one from the same author!

On a side note, for spellers who are well-read, the actual skill of spelling is usually easier, and their vocabulary is much broader!

Linda's Favorite Books for Infants & Toddlers - Many of these are available as board books or soft books, as well as regular hard-bound books For some you'll want both types.

  • A color of his own, Leo, Lionni
  • A to Z Picture Book, Gyo Fujikawa
  • A Hole is to Di, Ruth Krauss & Maurice Sendak
  • Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, Judith Viorst
  • Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Eric Carle & Bill Martin, Jr.
  • Dear Zoo, Rod Campbell
  • Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Mo Willems
  • First 100 Words, Roger Priddy
  • First Book of Colors, Roger Priddy
  • Frederick, Leo Lionni
  • Good Dog, Carl, Alexandra Day
  • Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown & Clement Hurd
  • Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, Sherri Duskey Rinker
  • Good Night Moon, Margaret Wise Brown
  • How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?, Jane Yolen
  • Make Way for Ducklings, Robert McCloskey
  • Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Robert McCloskey
  • Now We Are Six, A. A. Milne
  • Nutshell Library, Maurice Sendak
  • Pat the Bunny, Dorothy Kunhardt
  • Peter Rabbit Books, Beatrix Potter
  • Planting a Rainbow, Lois Ehlert
  • The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss
  • The Going to Bed Book, Sandra Boynton
  • The Little Engine that Could, Watty Piper
  • The Little House, Virginia Lee Burton
  • The Original Mother Goose, Blanche Fisher Wright
  • The Runaway Bunny, Margaret Wise Brown
  • The Touch Me Book, Pat and Eve Witte
  • The Ugly Duckling, Robert McCloskey
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
  • There's a Nightmare in My Closet, Mercer Mayer
  • We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Helen Oxenbury & Michael Rosen
  • When the Sky is Like Lace, Elinor Lander Horwitz & Barbara Cooney
  • Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak

And anything by the above authors will be outstanding!

Linda's Favorites for Young Readers or read-along books, and again, anything by these authors...

  • Aesop's Fables, anonymous
  • Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
  • Black Stallion Books, Walter Farley
  • Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson
  • Call of the Wild, Jack London
  • Charlotte’s Web, E. B. White & Garth Williams
  • Children of the Star Series, Sylvia Engdahl & Robert Wallace
  • Dragon's Blood series, Jane Yolen
  • Dragonsong trilogy, Anne McCaffrey
  • Harry Potter books, J. K. Rowling
  • Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell
  • King of the Wind, Marguerite Henry & Wesley Dennis
  • Old Yeller, Fred Gibson
  • Random House Book of Poetry for Children, Jack Prelutsky & Arnold Lobel
  • The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis
  • The Chronicles of Prydain, Lloyd Alexander
  • The Dark is Rising Series, Susan Cooper
  • The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, Patricia McKillip & Gail Carriger
  • The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien
  • The Jungle Books, Rudyard Kipling
  • The Lorax, Dr. Seuss
  • The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
  • The Story of Babar, Jean de Brunhoff
  • The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams
  • Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
  • Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
  • Where the Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein
  • Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
  • Wizard of Oz books, Frank Baum
  • Wrinkle in Time series, Madeleine L'Engle

And anything by above authors will be outstanding!

Books for older readers, including many classics..

  • 1984, George Orwell
  • A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess
  • A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway
  • All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
  • Animal Farm, George Orwell
  • Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
  • Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand
  • Babbitt, Sinclair Lewis
  • Beowulf, --
  • Catch 22, Joseph Heller
  • Cat's Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut
  • Contact, Carl Sagan
  • Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  • Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand
  • Death Comes for the Archbishop, Willa Cather
  • Doctor Zhivago, Boris Pasternak
  • Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
  • Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes
  • Foundation series, Isaac Asimov
  • Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
  • Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
  • Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift
  • Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
  • Iliad, Homer
  • Ivanhoe, Sir Walter Scott
  • Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
  • Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton
  • Lord of the Flies, William Golding
  • Les Misérables, Victor Hugo
  • Middlemarch, George Eliot
  • Midshipman Hornblower, C. S. Forester
  • Moby Dick, Herman Melville
  • The Odyssey, Homer
  • Out of the Silent Planet, C.S. Lewis
  • Planet of the Apes, Boulle, Pierre Boulle
  • Pride and Prejudice, Austen, Jane
  • Rabbit, Run, John Updike
  • Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
  • Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe
  • Selected Tales, Edgar Allan Poe
  • Slaughterhouse-Five, Vonnegut
  • Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
  • The Andromeda Strain, Michael Crichton
  • The Call of the Wild, Jack London
  • The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger
  • The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chekhov
  • The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand
  • The Glass Menagerie, Williams, Tennessee
  • The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
  • The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo
  • The Last of the Mohicans, James Fenimore Cooper
  • The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde, Oscar
  • The Red Badge of Courage, Stephen Crane
  • The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner
  • The Stranger, Albert Camus
  • The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas
  • The War of the Worlds, H. G. Wells
  • Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
  • To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
  • Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne
  • Ulysses, James Joyce
  • Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe
  • Vanity Fair, William Thackeray
  • Walden, Henry David Thoreau
  • War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
  • Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë

And anything by above authors will be outstanding!

ENCOURAGE READING FOR YOUR YOUNGSTERS!

]]> As a grandmother with another magical grandson on the way, my thoughts return to teaching your child the magic of language. The beginning happens long before your baby understands words, and it is never too early to introduce a young one to the wonder of books. Reading to your infant over time provides the child with a variety of sounds as well as the building blocks needed for language development. One study shows parents who read to babies every day expose them to around 78,000 words each year, such that by age five, that infant has been exposed to nearly a million and a half words during storytime.

As children grow, stories stimulate their imaginations and allow them to learn about the world around them. A baby's brain grows more in the first year of life than at any other time. They are learning the sounds of languages, the meanings of words, emotions, and communication. And with all of this, reading to your child builds listening, memory, and vocabulary skills. It is also an opportunity to cuddle your baby, making him or her feel safe and connected.

Bear in mind that many of my suggestions date back to when I read to my own children. Many of these are considered "classics." Of course, there are thousands of other books to read, and these are many of my favorites; not all of them, but enough. If you like a book, get the next one from the same author!

On a side note, for spellers who are well-read, the actual skill of spelling is usually easier, and their vocabulary is much broader!

Linda's Favorite Books for Infants & Toddlers - Many of these are available as board books or soft books, as well as regular hard-bound books For some you'll want both types.

  • A color of his own, Leo, Lionni
  • A to Z Picture Book, Gyo Fujikawa
  • A Hole is to Di, Ruth Krauss & Maurice Sendak
  • Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst, Judith Viorst
  • Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Eric Carle & Bill Martin, Jr.
  • Dear Zoo, Rod Campbell
  • Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Mo Willems
  • First 100 Words, Roger Priddy
  • First Book of Colors, Roger Priddy
  • Frederick, Leo Lionni
  • Good Dog, Carl, Alexandra Day
  • Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown & Clement Hurd
  • Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, Sherri Duskey Rinker
  • Good Night Moon, Margaret Wise Brown
  • How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?, Jane Yolen
  • Make Way for Ducklings, Robert McCloskey
  • Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Robert McCloskey
  • Now We Are Six, A. A. Milne
  • Nutshell Library, Maurice Sendak
  • Pat the Bunny, Dorothy Kunhardt
  • Peter Rabbit Books, Beatrix Potter
  • Planting a Rainbow, Lois Ehlert
  • The Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss
  • The Going to Bed Book, Sandra Boynton
  • The Little Engine that Could, Watty Piper
  • The Little House, Virginia Lee Burton
  • The Original Mother Goose, Blanche Fisher Wright
  • The Runaway Bunny, Margaret Wise Brown
  • The Touch Me Book, Pat and Eve Witte
  • The Ugly Duckling, Robert McCloskey
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
  • There's a Nightmare in My Closet, Mercer Mayer
  • We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Helen Oxenbury & Michael Rosen
  • When the Sky is Like Lace, Elinor Lander Horwitz & Barbara Cooney
  • Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak

And anything by the above authors will be outstanding!

Linda's Favorites for Young Readers or read-along books, and again, anything by these authors...

  • Aesop's Fables, anonymous
  • Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
  • Black Stallion Books, Walter Farley
  • Bridge to Terabithia, Katherine Paterson
  • Call of the Wild, Jack London
  • Charlotte’s Web, E. B. White & Garth Williams
  • Children of the Star Series, Sylvia Engdahl & Robert Wallace
  • Dragon's Blood series, Jane Yolen
  • Dragonsong trilogy, Anne McCaffrey
  • Harry Potter books, J. K. Rowling
  • Island of the Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell
  • King of the Wind, Marguerite Henry & Wesley Dennis
  • Old Yeller, Fred Gibson
  • Random House Book of Poetry for Children, Jack Prelutsky & Arnold Lobel
  • The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis
  • The Chronicles of Prydain, Lloyd Alexander
  • The Dark is Rising Series, Susan Cooper
  • The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, Patricia McKillip & Gail Carriger
  • The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien
  • The Jungle Books, Rudyard Kipling
  • The Lorax, Dr. Seuss
  • The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
  • The Story of Babar, Jean de Brunhoff
  • The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams
  • Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
  • Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
  • Where the Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein
  • Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
  • Wizard of Oz books, Frank Baum
  • Wrinkle in Time series, Madeleine L'Engle

And anything by above authors will be outstanding!

Books for older readers, including many classics..

  • 1984, George Orwell
  • A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess
  • A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway
  • All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque
  • Animal Farm, George Orwell
  • Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
  • Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand
  • Babbitt, Sinclair Lewis
  • Beowulf, --
  • Catch 22, Joseph Heller
  • Cat's Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut
  • Contact, Carl Sagan
  • Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  • Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand
  • Death Comes for the Archbishop, Willa Cather
  • Doctor Zhivago, Boris Pasternak
  • Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
  • Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes
  • Foundation series, Isaac Asimov
  • Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
  • Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
  • Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift
  • Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
  • Iliad, Homer
  • Ivanhoe, Sir Walter Scott
  • Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
  • Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton
  • Lord of the Flies, William Golding
  • Les Misérables, Victor Hugo
  • Middlemarch, George Eliot
  • Midshipman Hornblower, C. S. Forester
  • Moby Dick, Herman Melville
  • The Odyssey, Homer
  • Out of the Silent Planet, C.S. Lewis
  • Planet of the Apes, Boulle, Pierre Boulle
  • Pride and Prejudice, Austen, Jane
  • Rabbit, Run, John Updike
  • Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
  • Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe
  • Selected Tales, Edgar Allan Poe
  • Slaughterhouse-Five, Vonnegut
  • Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
  • The Andromeda Strain, Michael Crichton
  • The Call of the Wild, Jack London
  • The Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger
  • The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chekhov
  • The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand
  • The Glass Menagerie, Williams, Tennessee
  • The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
  • The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo
  • The Last of the Mohicans, James Fenimore Cooper
  • The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray, Wilde, Oscar
  • The Red Badge of Courage, Stephen Crane
  • The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner
  • The Stranger, Albert Camus
  • The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas
  • The War of the Worlds, H. G. Wells
  • Time Traveler’s Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
  • To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
  • Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
  • Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne
  • Ulysses, James Joyce
  • Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe
  • Vanity Fair, William Thackeray
  • Walden, Henry David Thoreau
  • War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
  • Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë

And anything by above authors will be outstanding!

ENCOURAGE READING FOR YOUR YOUNGSTERS!

]]> <![CDATA[Zaila Avant-garde wins 2021 National Spelling Bee]]> https://www.hexco.com/blog/zaila-avantgarde-wins-2021-national-spelling-bee/ Fri, 09 Jul 2021 14:40:19 +0000 https://www.hexco.com/blog/zaila-avantgarde-wins-2021-national-spelling-bee/ Despite the threat of Hurricane Elsa, the 2021 National Spelling Bee was held as scheduled at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. Eleven finalists gathered to compete, but only one would emerge victorious. While the format of the bee was slightly different, the unwavering poise and confidence of each speller was reminiscent of years past. One by one, the spellers took to the microphone, arming themselves with all the possible information to help them spell their given word correctly.

During the first round, five of the 11 contestants were eliminated. Every remaining speller aced the new vocabulary element, and because the bee ended within the two-hour time slot, the spell-off tiebreaker was not used.

Bhavana Madini, a finalist in the 2020 Kaplan and Hexco Online Spelling Bee, finished third after slipping on athanor. Chaitra Thummala misspelled nereli oil, earning her the second-place title. Chaitra came in third place at the 2020 Kaplan and Hexco Online Spelling Bee, and with two years left to compete, we will likely see her again on the national stage.

The winner of the 2020 Kaplan and Hexco Online Spelling Bee expectedly became the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion. Zaila Avant-garde correctly spelled challenging words such as ancistroid, duchesse, depreter, fidibus, and retene. She was a joy to watch as she humbly progressed throughout the competition, high-fiving her competitors while celebrating each victory. She even provided pronouncer Jacques Bailly with correct etymologies and definitions. While her performance seemed effortless, there was one word that seemed to give her trouble; Nepeta, a genus of mints, caused her to hesitate on the second vowel, but she prevailed. Her winning word was Murraya, a tree genus of Asia and Australia, and she slipped in a Bill Murray joke before sharing the correct spelling. The win earned her the $50,000 cash prize and a special place in history.

Hexco wants to congratulate all spellers and their families for their hard work and dedication, and we are also extremely proud of Zaila and wish her great success in whatever she decides to do next!

]]> Despite the threat of Hurricane Elsa, the 2021 National Spelling Bee was held as scheduled at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida. Eleven finalists gathered to compete, but only one would emerge victorious. While the format of the bee was slightly different, the unwavering poise and confidence of each speller was reminiscent of years past. One by one, the spellers took to the microphone, arming themselves with all the possible information to help them spell their given word correctly.

During the first round, five of the 11 contestants were eliminated. Every remaining speller aced the new vocabulary element, and because the bee ended within the two-hour time slot, the spell-off tiebreaker was not used.

Bhavana Madini, a finalist in the 2020 Kaplan and Hexco Online Spelling Bee, finished third after slipping on athanor. Chaitra Thummala misspelled nereli oil, earning her the second-place title. Chaitra came in third place at the 2020 Kaplan and Hexco Online Spelling Bee, and with two years left to compete, we will likely see her again on the national stage.

The winner of the 2020 Kaplan and Hexco Online Spelling Bee expectedly became the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion. Zaila Avant-garde correctly spelled challenging words such as ancistroid, duchesse, depreter, fidibus, and retene. She was a joy to watch as she humbly progressed throughout the competition, high-fiving her competitors while celebrating each victory. She even provided pronouncer Jacques Bailly with correct etymologies and definitions. While her performance seemed effortless, there was one word that seemed to give her trouble; Nepeta, a genus of mints, caused her to hesitate on the second vowel, but she prevailed. Her winning word was Murraya, a tree genus of Asia and Australia, and she slipped in a Bill Murray joke before sharing the correct spelling. The win earned her the $50,000 cash prize and a special place in history.

Hexco wants to congratulate all spellers and their families for their hard work and dedication, and we are also extremely proud of Zaila and wish her great success in whatever she decides to do next!

]]> <![CDATA[History and Geography Coaching]]> https://www.hexco.com/blog/history-and-geography-coaching/ Wed, 09 Jun 2021 13:47:36 +0000 https://www.hexco.com/blog/history-and-geography-coaching/ Hexco specializes in personal coaching and is now enrolling until our coaches' schedules are maximized. Personal coaching provides a way to engage, teach, and test students simultaneously through the instruction of an online coach.

Personal History Coaching

Maximize your performance and feel more confident at the National History Bee or History Bowl by enrolling in our Personal History Coaching (PHC) program! Coaching includes biweekly, personalized assignments based on the student's assessment, special areas of focus that covers U.S. and World History, Dynasties, World Leaders, Wars, Art, and Literature, open-ended questions and discussions for improved comprehension, and personalized follow-up emails with the student and parents.

Some of the recommended student resources include Hexco's History Essentials (required), a subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica, and Hexco's History Snapshots: U.S. 1900-1949, History Snapshots: Europe, Ancient and Classical, and Current Issues & Events Notes. All PHC students qualified for the National History Bee's Regional and National Finals in 2019!

Personal Geography Coaching

Hexco's Personal Geography Coaching (PGC) program is ideal for contestants preparing to compete in the National Geographic Bee, the higher rungs in the North South Foundation geography competition, and other geography contests. Ideally, students in the PGC coaching program will have studied beyond the basics of geography and are ready to tackle higher-level skills.

Coaching includes an assessment to determine each student's skill level and background in the subject before beginning the first 8 class sessions, weekly or biweekly personalized lessons conducted over Skype or by phone, and personalized follow-up emails after each class session to track progress.

Required student resources include Hexco's Geo eMentor and/or GeoTests in Foundations, Intermediate, or Advanced, and access to Google Sheets. It is also recommended to have a subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica and to purchase a copy of Hexco's Current Issues & Events Notes.

Tuition is based on 8 or 16 sessions. For more information about Hexco's coaching programs and the experienced coaches, click HERE. You can also fill out the Coaching Interest Form for more information.

Good luck and good studying!

]]> Hexco specializes in personal coaching and is now enrolling until our coaches' schedules are maximized. Personal coaching provides a way to engage, teach, and test students simultaneously through the instruction of an online coach.

Personal History Coaching

Maximize your performance and feel more confident at the National History Bee or History Bowl by enrolling in our Personal History Coaching (PHC) program! Coaching includes biweekly, personalized assignments based on the student's assessment, special areas of focus that covers U.S. and World History, Dynasties, World Leaders, Wars, Art, and Literature, open-ended questions and discussions for improved comprehension, and personalized follow-up emails with the student and parents.

Some of the recommended student resources include Hexco's History Essentials (required), a subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica, and Hexco's History Snapshots: U.S. 1900-1949, History Snapshots: Europe, Ancient and Classical, and Current Issues & Events Notes. All PHC students qualified for the National History Bee's Regional and National Finals in 2019!

Personal Geography Coaching

Hexco's Personal Geography Coaching (PGC) program is ideal for contestants preparing to compete in the National Geographic Bee, the higher rungs in the North South Foundation geography competition, and other geography contests. Ideally, students in the PGC coaching program will have studied beyond the basics of geography and are ready to tackle higher-level skills.

Coaching includes an assessment to determine each student's skill level and background in the subject before beginning the first 8 class sessions, weekly or biweekly personalized lessons conducted over Skype or by phone, and personalized follow-up emails after each class session to track progress.

Required student resources include Hexco's Geo eMentor and/or GeoTests in Foundations, Intermediate, or Advanced, and access to Google Sheets. It is also recommended to have a subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica and to purchase a copy of Hexco's Current Issues & Events Notes.

Tuition is based on 8 or 16 sessions. For more information about Hexco's coaching programs and the experienced coaches, click HERE. You can also fill out the Coaching Interest Form for more information.

Good luck and good studying!

]]> <![CDATA[Hexco's Spelling Coaching Programs]]> https://www.hexco.com/blog/hexcos-spelling-coaching-programs/ Tue, 18 May 2021 08:36:37 +0000 https://www.hexco.com/blog/hexcos-spelling-coaching-programs/ Hexco specializes in personal coaching and is now enrolling until our coaches' schedules are maximized. Online group courses are also available on a seasonal, rotating basis, and these courses provide a way to engage, teach, and test students simultaneously through the instruction of an online coach.

Spelling Coaching and Courses

Bee-ginners Circle starts Sunday, June 13, 2021, at 2:00 PM EST.

For the spellers just starting to show interest in spelling, the Bee-Ginners Circle is a six-week class for those who have minimal or no bee preparation or experience or who have possibly studied Scripps' Class/School list for school bees. Candidates for this class may have studied some of the "Words of the Champions" list but have not spent serious time studying for spelling bees. Quizzing/coaching sessions are conducted via Skype with Hexco’s head coach, Michelle Horton, who has guided many spellers to the highest reaches of competition in her 15+ years of coaching.

Fast Track to Spelling starts Sunday, June 13, 2021, at 4:00 PM EST.

This group course provides young spellers a strong foundation of fundamentals to build upon. Organized as a small "class," study lists are assigned on a weekly basis. Ideal candidates for Fast Track may have studied the Class/School list and much of the "Words of the Champions" list, attended district or regional bees, spelled at the National Bee, or are ready to expand their word bank to advance to a higher level. Coaching sessions are also conducted via Skype by Michelle Horton.

The Personal Spelling Coaching (PSC) is a one-on-one program with one coach and one speller. This also has regular assignments and follows-up with coaching/teaching sessions via Skype on a weekly or every-other-week schedule. Assignments are made via email, and the study lists are made available in our eMentor online application for all lists that are specific to coached spellers, depending on the level of your speller. As a speller is approaching a particular level of bee, emphasis will be on words typical of such upcoming bee, and time will be spent teaching techniques for fielding unfamiliar words.

The Crash Course is a five-week course only for spellers who are going to the National Spelling Bee. Learn how to optimize study time, develop spelling skills, and learn techniques for fielding those unknown words! The class is currently underway but will take place again next summer in the months before the National Bee.

And finally, Hexco's hourly Spelling Quizzing quizzes spellers on words they have already learned and test their retention. An experienced coach or speller will quiz from Verbomania, New Nat's Notes, or Blitz List during your hourly session.

  • Verbomania – 13,398 words total - random sequence with index or alpha sequence - primarily vocabulary enriching words
  • New Nat's Notes – 18,067 words total - random sequence with index or alpha sequence - difficult words used at National and Regional Bee from most of the last 40 years plus similar words
  • Blitz List – 12,000 words total - random sequence (New! Blitz 4!) - difficult words not used at prior bees or in published lists, at least until these were published - some have been used in last 5 years

For the past 20 years, one or more National Spelling Bee winners have used Hexco products for a total of 29 National Champions, counting the ties along the way and 7 of the 8 octo-champs in 2019.

For more information about Hexco's coaching programs, click HERE. You can also fill out the Spelling Coach Interest Form for more information.

Good luck and good studying!

]]> Hexco specializes in personal coaching and is now enrolling until our coaches' schedules are maximized. Online group courses are also available on a seasonal, rotating basis, and these courses provide a way to engage, teach, and test students simultaneously through the instruction of an online coach.

Spelling Coaching and Courses

Bee-ginners Circle starts Sunday, June 13, 2021, at 2:00 PM EST.

For the spellers just starting to show interest in spelling, the Bee-Ginners Circle is a six-week class for those who have minimal or no bee preparation or experience or who have possibly studied Scripps' Class/School list for school bees. Candidates for this class may have studied some of the "Words of the Champions" list but have not spent serious time studying for spelling bees. Quizzing/coaching sessions are conducted via Skype with Hexco’s head coach, Michelle Horton, who has guided many spellers to the highest reaches of competition in her 15+ years of coaching.

Fast Track to Spelling starts Sunday, June 13, 2021, at 4:00 PM EST.

This group course provides young spellers a strong foundation of fundamentals to build upon. Organized as a small "class," study lists are assigned on a weekly basis. Ideal candidates for Fast Track may have studied the Class/School list and much of the "Words of the Champions" list, attended district or regional bees, spelled at the National Bee, or are ready to expand their word bank to advance to a higher level. Coaching sessions are also conducted via Skype by Michelle Horton.

The Personal Spelling Coaching (PSC) is a one-on-one program with one coach and one speller. This also has regular assignments and follows-up with coaching/teaching sessions via Skype on a weekly or every-other-week schedule. Assignments are made via email, and the study lists are made available in our eMentor online application for all lists that are specific to coached spellers, depending on the level of your speller. As a speller is approaching a particular level of bee, emphasis will be on words typical of such upcoming bee, and time will be spent teaching techniques for fielding unfamiliar words.

The Crash Course is a five-week course only for spellers who are going to the National Spelling Bee. Learn how to optimize study time, develop spelling skills, and learn techniques for fielding those unknown words! The class is currently underway but will take place again next summer in the months before the National Bee.

And finally, Hexco's hourly Spelling Quizzing quizzes spellers on words they have already learned and test their retention. An experienced coach or speller will quiz from Verbomania, New Nat's Notes, or Blitz List during your hourly session.

  • Verbomania – 13,398 words total - random sequence with index or alpha sequence - primarily vocabulary enriching words
  • New Nat's Notes – 18,067 words total - random sequence with index or alpha sequence - difficult words used at National and Regional Bee from most of the last 40 years plus similar words
  • Blitz List – 12,000 words total - random sequence (New! Blitz 4!) - difficult words not used at prior bees or in published lists, at least until these were published - some have been used in last 5 years

For the past 20 years, one or more National Spelling Bee winners have used Hexco products for a total of 29 National Champions, counting the ties along the way and 7 of the 8 octo-champs in 2019.

For more information about Hexco's coaching programs, click HERE. You can also fill out the Spelling Coach Interest Form for more information.

Good luck and good studying!

]]> <![CDATA[​Overview of the Kaplan-Hexco Online Spelling Bee]]> https://www.hexco.com/blog/overview-of-the-kaplanhexco-online-spelling-bee/ Thu, 15 Apr 2021 15:41:31 +0000 https://www.hexco.com/blog/overview-of-the-kaplanhexco-online-spelling-bee/ In 2020, spellers around the nation were deprived of their chance to attend the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee because of the coronavirus. The goal of the Hexco Online Spelling Bee was to provide the optimal spelling bee experience in spite of the limitations caused by the pandemic, and to fulfill this dream, Hexco Academic teamed up with Kaplan Test Prep, a provider of educational programs and services, to host a national online spelling bee. Hexco's venerated word knowledge combined with Kaplan's expertise in video production, test monitoring, and live streaming services made it possible for spellers to safely compete at the highest level of spelling competition the last week of July 2020.

Spellers

A total of 88 participants ranging from first to eighth grade registered. These spellers were given a study list of 600 words to prepare for the first oral round and part of the preliminary written test.

Preliminary Written Spelling and Vocabulary Test 

Each of these contained 25 questions to be completed in one hour with all participants taking the test through a portal organized by Kaplan and monitored using Zoom rooms. Forty-eight spellers actually advanced.

Oral Rounds 1 & 2

All spellers competed in two oral rounds during an assigned time slot with 25 to 50 spellers online at the same time concurrently. If a speller spelled his or her Round 1 word correctly, that participant advanced to Round 2 and immediately was given a Round 2 word to spell. These rounds were miss-and-out format. A score of 21 or higher on the preliminary written rounds was required to advance to the semifinals.

Semifinals 

There were 48 semifinalists. Round 3 kicked off the competition, and a handful of spellers were eliminated with words such as appellation and jeroboam. Nine more spellers left Round 4 on foliiform, missalette, and caplin, to name a few. Five spellers were eliminated in Round 6 on the words Krummholz, Leicester, calyculus, kanone, and piezometer. After 7 hours of spelling, the remaining 21 spellers were declared the finalists.

Pronouncers 

Pronouncers for the first two oral rounds included 2017 National Spelling Bee champion Ananya Vinay and Michelle Horton, head coach for Hexco Academic. Pronouncers for the remaining 28 rounds were National Senior Spelling Bee champ David Riddle and Hexco founder and 6th place winner of the 1987 National Spelling Bee, Valerie Tarrant Browning.

Guest Judges 

The guest judges included three past National Spelling Bee Champions, Ananya Vinay (2017), Sriram Hathwar (2014), and Ned Andrews (1994), plus the 2016 National runner-up, Snehaa Ganesh Kumar. Sravanth Malla, the 2017 South Asian Spelling Bee champion, participated as a judge as well as Rahul Walia, the director and driving force behind the South Asian Spelling Bee. Aisha Randhawa, who competed at Nationals four times, finally placing 7th , was also a guest judge along with fill-in people from Hexco Academic.

Finals 

The finals were live streamed on YouTube and hosted by Rob Simmelkjaer, founder and CEO of Persona Media. He previously spent most of his career working as a sports media executive in a number of positions with NBC Sports and ESPN. Rob established a comedic atmosphere, frequently joking with spellers and making them feel more relaxed.

Results

The top three, Zaila, Harini, and Chaitra, would compete against the dictionary for another 17 rounds. Each one of the competitors grew more determined with each word, but Zaila emerged victorious. The winning word was Qashqai, which is a migratory Turkic-speaking people of the Zagros Mountains. With the win, Zaila beat out 88 of the best spellers around the country and took home $10,000 along with a giant trophy. Harini was awarded $4,000, and Chaitra won $1,500. All three were also given free Kaplan test prep courses.

For a recap of the 2019 National Spelling Bee and other spelling news, download our After-A-Spell.

Good luck and good spelling!

]]> In 2020, spellers around the nation were deprived of their chance to attend the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee because of the coronavirus. The goal of the Hexco Online Spelling Bee was to provide the optimal spelling bee experience in spite of the limitations caused by the pandemic, and to fulfill this dream, Hexco Academic teamed up with Kaplan Test Prep, a provider of educational programs and services, to host a national online spelling bee. Hexco's venerated word knowledge combined with Kaplan's expertise in video production, test monitoring, and live streaming services made it possible for spellers to safely compete at the highest level of spelling competition the last week of July 2020.

Spellers

A total of 88 participants ranging from first to eighth grade registered. These spellers were given a study list of 600 words to prepare for the first oral round and part of the preliminary written test.

Preliminary Written Spelling and Vocabulary Test 

Each of these contained 25 questions to be completed in one hour with all participants taking the test through a portal organized by Kaplan and monitored using Zoom rooms. Forty-eight spellers actually advanced.

Oral Rounds 1 & 2

All spellers competed in two oral rounds during an assigned time slot with 25 to 50 spellers online at the same time concurrently. If a speller spelled his or her Round 1 word correctly, that participant advanced to Round 2 and immediately was given a Round 2 word to spell. These rounds were miss-and-out format. A score of 21 or higher on the preliminary written rounds was required to advance to the semifinals.

Semifinals 

There were 48 semifinalists. Round 3 kicked off the competition, and a handful of spellers were eliminated with words such as appellation and jeroboam. Nine more spellers left Round 4 on foliiform, missalette, and caplin, to name a few. Five spellers were eliminated in Round 6 on the words Krummholz, Leicester, calyculus, kanone, and piezometer. After 7 hours of spelling, the remaining 21 spellers were declared the finalists.

Pronouncers 

Pronouncers for the first two oral rounds included 2017 National Spelling Bee champion Ananya Vinay and Michelle Horton, head coach for Hexco Academic. Pronouncers for the remaining 28 rounds were National Senior Spelling Bee champ David Riddle and Hexco founder and 6th place winner of the 1987 National Spelling Bee, Valerie Tarrant Browning.

Guest Judges 

The guest judges included three past National Spelling Bee Champions, Ananya Vinay (2017), Sriram Hathwar (2014), and Ned Andrews (1994), plus the 2016 National runner-up, Snehaa Ganesh Kumar. Sravanth Malla, the 2017 South Asian Spelling Bee champion, participated as a judge as well as Rahul Walia, the director and driving force behind the South Asian Spelling Bee. Aisha Randhawa, who competed at Nationals four times, finally placing 7th , was also a guest judge along with fill-in people from Hexco Academic.

Finals 

The finals were live streamed on YouTube and hosted by Rob Simmelkjaer, founder and CEO of Persona Media. He previously spent most of his career working as a sports media executive in a number of positions with NBC Sports and ESPN. Rob established a comedic atmosphere, frequently joking with spellers and making them feel more relaxed.

Results

The top three, Zaila, Harini, and Chaitra, would compete against the dictionary for another 17 rounds. Each one of the competitors grew more determined with each word, but Zaila emerged victorious. The winning word was Qashqai, which is a migratory Turkic-speaking people of the Zagros Mountains. With the win, Zaila beat out 88 of the best spellers around the country and took home $10,000 along with a giant trophy. Harini was awarded $4,000, and Chaitra won $1,500. All three were also given free Kaplan test prep courses.

For a recap of the 2019 National Spelling Bee and other spelling news, download our After-A-Spell.

Good luck and good spelling!

]]> <![CDATA[Get Ready for the National Spelling Bee with Hexco]]> https://www.hexco.com/blog/get-ready-for-the-national-spelling-bee-with-hexco/ Thu, 25 Mar 2021 14:55:40 +0000 https://www.hexco.com/blog/get-ready-for-the-national-spelling-bee-with-hexco/ If this is the first time you are attending the National Bee, you might be wondering how to prepare for the top spelling competition. Even if you've made it to the final rounds in past years, below are some tips for getting one step closer to taking home the grand prize.

Tips for the National Spelling Bee

Make sure you learn the off-list words provided by Scripps to spellers attending the National Bee. You can download these words when you register with Scripps on the National Spelling Bee website. This list contains approximately 600 of the off-list words given at various Regional or State bees.

To compete at the national level, your word foundation should be around 30,000+ words, and the higher rungs should be closer to 100,000.

Top Hexco word lists ranked from beginner to advanced:

  • Verbomania – 13,398 words total - random sequence with index or alpha sequence - primarily vocabulary enriching words
  • Paideia – 11,818 words total - organized by Beginning, Intermediate & Advanced levels - words from beginning, intermediate and advanced levels
  • New Nat's Notes – 18,067 words total - random sequence with index or alpha sequence - difficult words used at National and Regional Bee from most of the last 40 years plus similar words
  • Blitz List – 9,000 words total - random sequence (New! Blitz 4!) - difficult words not used at prior bees or in published lists, at least until these were published - some have been used in last 5 years
  • Webster Detector – 2,506 words total - random sequence - difficult words that were NOT in the printed Webster's Third New International, but are not in the Online Merriam Webster

Improve your performance by mastering spelling rules, etymology, and vocabulary. For building word foundation, check out The Spelling Rules Book and Etyma Notes.

Last, but not least, the Crash Course can help launch you to the top. This five-week course is only for spellers who are going to the National Bee. Classes start April 11, and participants will learn how to optimize study time, develop spelling skills, and learn techniques for fielding those unknown words!

In 2019, Shruthika Padhy, one of the 2019 octo-champions, participated in our Crash Course and then in our Personal Spelling Coaching (PSC) program. Ananya Vinay, the 2017 National Champion, and Gokul Venkatachalam, the 2015 champion, followed the same path of participating in our Crash Course and then in our PSC program.

For the past 20 years, one or more NSB winners have used Hexco products for a total of 29 National Champions, counting the ties along the way and 7 of the 8 octo-champs in 2019.

Could you be the next champion? Hexco can help you get there. Good luck, and we hope to see you on the big screen!

]]> If this is the first time you are attending the National Bee, you might be wondering how to prepare for the top spelling competition. Even if you've made it to the final rounds in past years, below are some tips for getting one step closer to taking home the grand prize.

Tips for the National Spelling Bee

Make sure you learn the off-list words provided by Scripps to spellers attending the National Bee. You can download these words when you register with Scripps on the National Spelling Bee website. This list contains approximately 600 of the off-list words given at various Regional or State bees.

To compete at the national level, your word foundation should be around 30,000+ words, and the higher rungs should be closer to 100,000.

Top Hexco word lists ranked from beginner to advanced:

  • Verbomania – 13,398 words total - random sequence with index or alpha sequence - primarily vocabulary enriching words
  • Paideia – 11,818 words total - organized by Beginning, Intermediate & Advanced levels - words from beginning, intermediate and advanced levels
  • New Nat's Notes – 18,067 words total - random sequence with index or alpha sequence - difficult words used at National and Regional Bee from most of the last 40 years plus similar words
  • Blitz List – 9,000 words total - random sequence (New! Blitz 4!) - difficult words not used at prior bees or in published lists, at least until these were published - some have been used in last 5 years
  • Webster Detector – 2,506 words total - random sequence - difficult words that were NOT in the printed Webster's Third New International, but are not in the Online Merriam Webster

Improve your performance by mastering spelling rules, etymology, and vocabulary. For building word foundation, check out The Spelling Rules Book and Etyma Notes.

Last, but not least, the Crash Course can help launch you to the top. This five-week course is only for spellers who are going to the National Bee. Classes start April 11, and participants will learn how to optimize study time, develop spelling skills, and learn techniques for fielding those unknown words!

In 2019, Shruthika Padhy, one of the 2019 octo-champions, participated in our Crash Course and then in our Personal Spelling Coaching (PSC) program. Ananya Vinay, the 2017 National Champion, and Gokul Venkatachalam, the 2015 champion, followed the same path of participating in our Crash Course and then in our PSC program.

For the past 20 years, one or more NSB winners have used Hexco products for a total of 29 National Champions, counting the ties along the way and 7 of the 8 octo-champs in 2019.

Could you be the next champion? Hexco can help you get there. Good luck, and we hope to see you on the big screen!

]]> <![CDATA[UIL Computer Applications - Preparing for Region and State]]> https://www.hexco.com/blog/uil-computer-applications-preparing-for-region-and-state/ Tue, 09 Mar 2021 23:07:24 +0000 https://www.hexco.com/blog/uil-computer-applications-preparing-for-region-and-state/ SHOP COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

The Computer Applications Contest focuses on speed, skill, and accuracy using three computer applications, Word processing, database, and spreadsheet, and the integration of these applications. Every second counts in this 30-minute contest. Below is some helpful information as you prepare for your region and/or state competition.

Must-Haves

Starter files are required for Region and State. Make sure you have downloaded this year's starter files which can be found on the contest page on the UIL website. Coaches are encouraged to save the starter files each year so that you can continue to use old Region and State Tests for practice.

Ensure that you have correctly-formatted templates for any Word documents that you might encounter during competition. You can create your own file of templates modeling those found in the UIL Computer Applications Handbook, or you might also consider purchasing a Hexco Computer Apps Templates CD as it has all the work done for you. You might also think about creating a collection of format switches. Anything you have on your computer is acceptable at a contest, including templates for documents, help files, and personal files with information.

Helpful Tips

One of the determining factors that distinguishes first place from third place is the use of the keyboard. Shortcut keys are vital in this contest. Master shortcuts for Open, Print, Save, Start the Report Wizard, Create a Query in Design View, Center, Left Justify, Right Justify, Format as Currency, and Format as Percent, just to name a few.

Be familiar with grading in order to see where point values are placed. The Word document on most tests is worth 50-60 points by itself. Consider doing the document first regardless of where it is in the sequence of the test. You should print it without whatever chart, formula, or merge data to get credit in the event you don't complete the entire test.

Resources and Study Material

Several resources are obtainable from the Computer Applications page on the UIL website. You can download the handbook, starter files, and several lesson plans. New to the page are two instructional videos, including a walkthrough of the grading process. Coaches should watch this video as a refresher before the big competition to help speed-up the grading process.

UIL offers the Computer Applications Study Packet that contains a copy of the prior year's UIL tests for District, Region, and State Meets. If you're looking for more study material, Hexco offers Region and State Practice Packets and instructional videos. Designed for advanced-level students, these tests match the level of difficulty that you will encounter at your upcoming contest. Spring Practice Packets are also some of Hexco's more challenging test material, specifically tests E and F in each packet. These challenging tests require the use of starter files.

Hopefully, you have found some of this information useful. The more you prepare yourself for competition, the better your score will be. Best of luck, and we hope to see you at State!

]]> SHOP COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

The Computer Applications Contest focuses on speed, skill, and accuracy using three computer applications, Word processing, database, and spreadsheet, and the integration of these applications. Every second counts in this 30-minute contest. Below is some helpful information as you prepare for your region and/or state competition.

Must-Haves

Starter files are required for Region and State. Make sure you have downloaded this year's starter files which can be found on the contest page on the UIL website. Coaches are encouraged to save the starter files each year so that you can continue to use old Region and State Tests for practice.

Ensure that you have correctly-formatted templates for any Word documents that you might encounter during competition. You can create your own file of templates modeling those found in the UIL Computer Applications Handbook, or you might also consider purchasing a Hexco Computer Apps Templates CD as it has all the work done for you. You might also think about creating a collection of format switches. Anything you have on your computer is acceptable at a contest, including templates for documents, help files, and personal files with information.

Helpful Tips

One of the determining factors that distinguishes first place from third place is the use of the keyboard. Shortcut keys are vital in this contest. Master shortcuts for Open, Print, Save, Start the Report Wizard, Create a Query in Design View, Center, Left Justify, Right Justify, Format as Currency, and Format as Percent, just to name a few.

Be familiar with grading in order to see where point values are placed. The Word document on most tests is worth 50-60 points by itself. Consider doing the document first regardless of where it is in the sequence of the test. You should print it without whatever chart, formula, or merge data to get credit in the event you don't complete the entire test.

Resources and Study Material

Several resources are obtainable from the Computer Applications page on the UIL website. You can download the handbook, starter files, and several lesson plans. New to the page are two instructional videos, including a walkthrough of the grading process. Coaches should watch this video as a refresher before the big competition to help speed-up the grading process.

UIL offers the Computer Applications Study Packet that contains a copy of the prior year's UIL tests for District, Region, and State Meets. If you're looking for more study material, Hexco offers Region and State Practice Packets and instructional videos. Designed for advanced-level students, these tests match the level of difficulty that you will encounter at your upcoming contest. Spring Practice Packets are also some of Hexco's more challenging test material, specifically tests E and F in each packet. These challenging tests require the use of starter files.

Hopefully, you have found some of this information useful. The more you prepare yourself for competition, the better your score will be. Best of luck, and we hope to see you at State!

]]> <![CDATA[Open for Business With Careful Protocol]]> https://www.hexco.com/blog/open-for-business-with-careful-protocol/ Fri, 20 Mar 2020 15:58:53 +0000 https://www.hexco.com/blog/open-for-business-with-careful-protocol/ We’re all in this pandemic period together. Much of our staff is working from home, and we are maintaining careful protocol for hand washing/sanitizing and wiping down any doorknobs, keyboards, telephones, and surfaces that are frequently used. We continue to process orders and ship products on a daily basis and encourage use of our eMentor products as these are easily available through the Internet.

Hexco has many resources for home educating

With schools out for extended periods, we encourage your students that are competing in national contests and Texas UIL contests to maintain their competitive edge by studying at home. We also realize that isolating your kids at home is difficult. Look for new and inventive ways to keep them active. Research websites like this Pinterest site, https://www.pinterest.com/hillcountrypedi/quarant... to guide your kids in constructive activities. Break out a puzzle, play games, do art projects. Make use of this time with your kids. Have fun learning and enjoy this time growing closer together.

Spring looks the same, but this one is a bit different

Spring is here and the beautiful nature around us is growing. Flowers are blooming, trees are budding and the grass is turning green. It looks like spring but this one is a little bit different than most. Many businesses are not seeing growth but are starting to see a decline in sales.

Our team is very supportive of businesses that are more affected than we are. When we order take-out meals, we tip well and encourage all to do the same. We support our local medical personnel as they are on the front lines. To support them, as well as others, we encourage all to stay home as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Use this time to improve your skills or knowledge.

We will be posting more soon, but feel free to order, ask questions or contact us anytime!

Many virtual tours are also available:

]]> We’re all in this pandemic period together. Much of our staff is working from home, and we are maintaining careful protocol for hand washing/sanitizing and wiping down any doorknobs, keyboards, telephones, and surfaces that are frequently used. We continue to process orders and ship products on a daily basis and encourage use of our eMentor products as these are easily available through the Internet.

Hexco has many resources for home educating

With schools out for extended periods, we encourage your students that are competing in national contests and Texas UIL contests to maintain their competitive edge by studying at home. We also realize that isolating your kids at home is difficult. Look for new and inventive ways to keep them active. Research websites like this Pinterest site, https://www.pinterest.com/hillcountrypedi/quarant... to guide your kids in constructive activities. Break out a puzzle, play games, do art projects. Make use of this time with your kids. Have fun learning and enjoy this time growing closer together.

Spring looks the same, but this one is a bit different

Spring is here and the beautiful nature around us is growing. Flowers are blooming, trees are budding and the grass is turning green. It looks like spring but this one is a little bit different than most. Many businesses are not seeing growth but are starting to see a decline in sales.

Our team is very supportive of businesses that are more affected than we are. When we order take-out meals, we tip well and encourage all to do the same. We support our local medical personnel as they are on the front lines. To support them, as well as others, we encourage all to stay home as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Use this time to improve your skills or knowledge.

We will be posting more soon, but feel free to order, ask questions or contact us anytime!

Many virtual tours are also available:

]]> <![CDATA[You are going to the National Spelling Bee. Now what?]]> https://www.hexco.com/blog/you-are-going-to-the-national-spelling-bee-now-what/ Thu, 12 Mar 2020 18:03:20 +0000 https://www.hexco.com/blog/you-are-going-to-the-national-spelling-bee-now-what/ Whether you've won your bee or received an RSVBee invitation, advancing to D.C. is something to be proud of. If this is the first time you are attending the National Bee, you might be wondering how to prepare for the big leagues. Even if you've made it to the final rounds, below are some tips for getting one step closer to taking home the trophy.

Make sure you learn the off-list words provided by Scripps to spellers attending the National Bee. You can download these words when you register with Scripps on the National Spelling Bee website about the 2nd week of April. This list contains approximately 600 of the off-list words given at various Regional or State bees.

Download our After-a-Spell for a Round-by-Round report of the last spelling bee in Washington so you can better understand where the words in each round come from and how Hexco products fared.

To compete at the national level, your word foundation should be around 30,000+ words, and may at the higher rungs have closer to 100,000.

Learn the meaning of all words that you study! The written vocabulary test primarily determines who advances to the semifinal rounds. Without a very good score on the vocabulary round, a speller can't advance.

Top Hexco word lists ranked from beginner to advanced: 

  • Verbomania – 13,398 words total - random sequence with index or alpha sequence - primarily vocabulary enriching words 
  • Paideia – 11,818 words total - organized by Beginning, Intermediate & Advanced levels - words from beginning, intermediate and advanced levels
  • New Nat's Notes – 18,067 words total - random sequence with index or alpha sequence - difficult words used at National and Regional Bee from most of the last 40 years plus similar words
  • Blitz List – 9,000 words total - random sequence (New! Blitz 4!) - difficult words not used at prior bees or in published lists, at least until these were published - some have been used in last 5 years
  • Webster Detector – 2,506 words total - random sequence - difficult words that were NOT in the printed Webster's Third New International, but are not in the Online Merriam Webster

Improve your performance by mastering spelling rules, etymology, and vocabulary. For building word foundation, check out The Spelling Rules Book and Etyma Notes.

If you are interested in coaching for the bee, check out our Crash Course! Hexco's annual five-week course commences starting the week of April 5. Learn how to optimize your study time while developing spelling skills, and you will also be guided on techniques for fielding unknown words.

Good luck in Washington!

]]> Whether you've won your bee or received an RSVBee invitation, advancing to D.C. is something to be proud of. If this is the first time you are attending the National Bee, you might be wondering how to prepare for the big leagues. Even if you've made it to the final rounds, below are some tips for getting one step closer to taking home the trophy.

Make sure you learn the off-list words provided by Scripps to spellers attending the National Bee. You can download these words when you register with Scripps on the National Spelling Bee website about the 2nd week of April. This list contains approximately 600 of the off-list words given at various Regional or State bees.

Download our After-a-Spell for a Round-by-Round report of the last spelling bee in Washington so you can better understand where the words in each round come from and how Hexco products fared.

To compete at the national level, your word foundation should be around 30,000+ words, and may at the higher rungs have closer to 100,000.

Learn the meaning of all words that you study! The written vocabulary test primarily determines who advances to the semifinal rounds. Without a very good score on the vocabulary round, a speller can't advance.

Top Hexco word lists ranked from beginner to advanced: 

  • Verbomania – 13,398 words total - random sequence with index or alpha sequence - primarily vocabulary enriching words 
  • Paideia – 11,818 words total - organized by Beginning, Intermediate & Advanced levels - words from beginning, intermediate and advanced levels
  • New Nat's Notes – 18,067 words total - random sequence with index or alpha sequence - difficult words used at National and Regional Bee from most of the last 40 years plus similar words
  • Blitz List – 9,000 words total - random sequence (New! Blitz 4!) - difficult words not used at prior bees or in published lists, at least until these were published - some have been used in last 5 years
  • Webster Detector – 2,506 words total - random sequence - difficult words that were NOT in the printed Webster's Third New International, but are not in the Online Merriam Webster

Improve your performance by mastering spelling rules, etymology, and vocabulary. For building word foundation, check out The Spelling Rules Book and Etyma Notes.

If you are interested in coaching for the bee, check out our Crash Course! Hexco's annual five-week course commences starting the week of April 5. Learn how to optimize your study time while developing spelling skills, and you will also be guided on techniques for fielding unknown words.

Good luck in Washington!

]]>