Most people see them on television once a year. Delightfully well-behaved middle schoolers barely in their teens, carefully sounding out words that seem almost made up. Viewers watch them in awe as they manage to patiently tell all those watching how to spell words from every imaginable discipline.
In 2008 eighth grader Samir Mishra of Indiana spelled guerdon (appropriately meaning a reward) to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The contest is held each year in the nation’s capital. Mr. Mishra won a raft of prizes including a complete reference library and a large cash award.
In recent years spelling bees – contests where participants attempt to spell out words verbally – have become increasingly popular. Movies have been made about them and novels written about what it takes to enter, compete and win. A one act Broadway musical comedy about spelling bees called The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee even won two Pulitzers in 2005.
On the surface spelling bees may appear to be just about having children or even adults memorize as many obscure words as they can directly from the dictionary.
But the reality contestants face is often different and far more enriching.
The National Spelling Bee
The national spelling bee takes place in Washington, D.C. in late May. The Bee was started in 1925 with a handful of spellers. Since then the event has grown in size. Last year twenty hundred and eighty-eight students participated. Students were welcomed not only from all fifty states but from several other English speaking nations as well including Canada, The Bahamas and Jamaica.
Participation is the National Spelling Bee is limited by age and grade level. Students must be under fifteen on or before September 1st of the previous year. Last year two very impressive young spellers were only eight years old and attending second grade. All students who enter must also be enrolled in a participating school and have not gone beyond eighth grade at the time of their participation in the bee. Homeschoolers and students attending private and parochial schools are gladly welcomed as well as public school students.
The Written Round
Competition begins at the bee with a written round. The written round is conducted in large groups. Contestants then progress through competition from quarterfinals to semifinals and then through to the championship round. Students are allowed to ask several questions of bee officials including the origin of the word, the language of derivation part of speech and the official meaning of the word. He may also ask the official to use the word in a sentence.
There is no time limit during the preliminary round. But once past that spellers are asked to complete the spelling of a word within a given time frame.
Efforts are made during the Bee to make the experience as pleasant as possible for the youngsters who attend. There is an official area where students are given lots of comforting once they’ve lost. Parents are encouraged to come to the competition to watch their children compete.
Rounds continue until one speller wins by having a competitor miss a word and successfully spelling a different word. In the past there have been several instances of co-champions. Participation in the bee is roughly divided between genders.
Spelling bees do more than just illustrate that a child can read the dictionary. They help students broaden their horizons, master multiple languages and learn about different ways of understanding the world. Encourage your child’s participation in a spelling bee and you will hand him keys to life long learning.
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