About Spelling Bees
Most memories of elementary-school days include standing in front of a classroom or auditorium to spell a word in a contest known as a spelling bee. Spelling bees encourage students to study their spelling words, as well as to learn how to compete with one another. However, just as important as winning is learning how to lose graciously. Spelling bees should also teach kids how not to give up if they lose, but to just try harder the next time.
Other People Are Reading
-
Identification
-
A spelling bee is a competition, usually among children, where contestants are eliminated for misspelling a word. The largest and most noted contest is the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Sponsored by newspapers and foundations, the spelling bee begins at local levels and ends at a national level, with the winner receiving a cash prize and worldwide recognition.
Types
-
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is held each year in late May or early June in Washington D.C. However, spelling bees can be conducted anywhere and anytime. Even adults have their own spelling bees, with the most common types held among corporations and senior citizens. Usually, these competitions are organized to raise money for charity.
-
Geography
-
Students participate in local spelling bees, leading to the national championship, from countries around the world. Although spelling bees are typically thought to be only in the English language, competitions on the national levels are also held in Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, the Bahamas, New Zealand, Indonesia and other countries.
Preparation
-
Spelling contestants wanting to succeed in bees need to spend much time preparing. Coaches may be a parent, sibling or teacher who can give at least half an hour or more each day. Students should learn the rules of the spelling bee and be equipped with the necessary study tools, such as note cards and computer files of words. The "Study Zone" link of the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee website is an excellent study tool.
History
-
It's believed the concept of a spelling bee originated from Noah Webster's spelling books. The spelling books, which were first published in 1786, were called "The Blue-backed Speller." Because Webster's spelling books were important parts of the school curriculum of American elementary-school students for five generations, it's easy to see how spelling bees developed. In 1925 The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky, held the U.S. National Spelling Bee, followed by the Scripps Bee in 1941, which was sponsored by the Scripps Howard News Service. Later it became the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Misconception
-
Many people believe to succeed in a spelling bee, you need to have good rote memorization skills. However, successful spelling comes more from understanding the origins of words. This can be seen by watching the 2006 Lifetime movie "Akeela and the Bee," in which a tutor coaches a national spelling champion, 11-year-old Akeela Anderson.
Warning
-
Although winning a spelling bee, whether at local, regional, statewide or national levels, is a worthy goal, it doesn't mean you'll be successful in life. Too often, children are pushed beyond normal levels by parents and educators, resulting in a negative rather than a positive experience.
-
Resources
- Photo Credit Dreamstime
