Granger sisters to compete in national spelling, geography competitions

April 04, 2012|WSBT-TV Report

GRANGER – Two local sisters will represent our area in two national competitions in Washington D.C. next month. Their specialties? Spelling and geography, and they have a winning history in both.

This isn’t the first time they have competed on a national level. Margaret Peterson, 12, went to the national spelling bee when she was in fourth-grade. Caroline Peterson, 14, to the state geography bee when she was in sixth-grade.

Their parents couldn't be more proud.

"As homeschoolers, my husband and I both wanted them to have some of the opportunities that children in traditional schools do, including speaking in front of groups and being comfortable in different kinds of settings other than just our house," said their mother, Kate.

And the girls have flourished. Both are headed to the nationals – Margaret in spelling and Caroline in geography.

Both are very good at playing the violin. And both are avid readers.

"I read a lot of history so there is a lot of geography in there,” said Caroline. “News, Also. I read the Wall Street Journal and the Economist – news like that. I really like the news. Often you have to have that background on geography."

While Kate Peterson works with Margaret reviewing her words with spelling, Caroline uses her love of history to win geography competitions.

For instance, this is how Caroline was able to come up with the right answer to this question: Which of these three countries is not a member of the Eurozone – Switzerland, Germany, or Belgium?

"I have studied which countries are in the Eurozone or not,” she said. “I didn't remember them off the top of my head right then. But I was thinking Switzerland is always neutral during wars. It often seems to be the loner in terms of European politics, so I thought it must be Switzerland and so Switzerland was the answer."

Their mother says both girls love the competition, but for different reasons.

"Margaret I think likes the competition part more and Caroline enjoys the competition, but she's very excited just to be around the kids who are also interested in the things she's interested in,” said Kate.

The girls say the travel and experience are just as important as learning the words and places. And more importantly, they'll be together.

"So excited that we're both able to do that together, makes it so much more fun," said Caroline.

The family will be in Washington D.C. for two weeks at the end of May – the geography bee is the week before Memorial Day, the spelling bee is the week after.

The girls have three younger siblings and their mother says they will also take part in spelling and geography bees, but she says there's no pressure on them to do better than their sisters. Just to have fun and enjoy the experience.

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