BEE COORDINATORS and TEACHERS

Please read the information on the Student and Parent Page so you will know what they are expecting.

Registration and Payment Information

Register your school at www.spellingbee.com; Deadline is October 15, 2010.
Some school districts have a district person that handles registration and payment for all of the district’s schools. But, in most cases, a representative at each school registers for the school to participate. 

Your $99 enrollment fee covers enrollment and resources, including Study Words for students, Pronouncer Guides, Rules, Certificate maker and Fundraising Materials.

No Purchase Orders - Scripps does not accept purchase orders.  

Paying by Credit Card - This is the quickest way to get access to your resources.  As soon as a school completes payment by credit card, the key contact at the school has immediate access to all of the materials behind the log-in section of spellingbee.com.

Paying by Check - If you enroll before the October 15 deadline, you may pay by check. If you choose the "pay by check" option on Scripps' website, it will generate an invoice, which will tell you where to mail your check, and a W-9 form. Scripps will charge $7.50 in addition to the $99 enrollment fee if you pay by check, for a total of $106.50. Your enrollment status will show as "pending" until Scripps receives your check.

Paying by School District - If a school district wants to pay for all of its schools in one check, the district needs to contact Scripps, bee@scripps.com or call 513-977-3040. There is a $7.50 check handling fee, per-invoice.

Early Registration Bonus - Enroll by September 30, 2010, and Encyclopædia Britannica will double the awards for your students. Your school will receive TWO free one-year prize subscriptions to kids.britannica.com—a combined value of $139.90.

Late Enrollment - The late enrollment period is from October 16, 2010, through December 17, 2010. Late enrollment is accepted by credit card only. There is a $75 late fee in addition to the $99 enrollment fee.

Questions about payment, fees and enrollment with Scripps should be emailed to bee@scripps.com or call 513-977-3040. 

How To Get Started

STEP 1 - Register Your School
For the $99 entry fee, receive access to all the official 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee materials and guidelines:
-Study Word Lists for students
-Pronouncer Guides for Classroom and School
-Rules
-Fundraising Materials (Great American SpellCheck)
-Certificate Maker
-From Encyclopaedia Britannica, a free one-year subscription to the Britannica Online Student Edition (a $69.95 value) for use as a prize in your spelling bee program. study materials, Great American SpellCheck materials, award certificates, a bonus from Encyclopædia Britannica, and local spelling bee program information.

STEP 2 - Download Materials
You will have log-in access. Download the following documents from your account and familiarize yourself with them:
-Study Word Lists, grades 1-8
-Classroom Pronouncer Guide (for your use only - not for the students)
-School Pronouncer Guide (for your use only - not for the students)

About the Study Word Lists!
The Scripps National Spelling Bee's Study Word Lists are designated by grade level difficulty, grades 1-8. That does not mean that students in each grade should only study their grade level's words. Scripps advises: "Please begin by providing students with the words for their grade level. After they have mastered the 100 words for their grade level, prompt your students to learn the study words for other grade levels. The word list for the school spelling bee will include words that appear on the lists for grades 5–8."

Example: A student who learns the 100 words from their grade level will be prepared for a classroom bee. A student who learns the study words from the entire Study Word Lists, grades 1-8, will be prepared for the school spelling bee.

What About Spell It!—the Study Booklet?
"Spell It!" is no longer used at the school competition level. (Again, no words from "Spell It!" are in the Pronouncer's Guides for the classroom, grade or school bees.) "Spell It!" is used at the regional/district spelling bees.

STEP 3 - PLAN YOUR BEE
Before you give any information to students and teachers, thoroughly read the Pronouncer Guides including the Table of Contents, Tips and Rules.  Using the Pronouncer Guides, plan your school’s spelling bee.

Decide How you will Organize your School Spelling Bee.
Example: Some schools have class bees + grade level bees + a final school bee.
Example: Some schools have only a school-wide bee.
Each school organizes its own Spelling Bee and sets its own date. You must complete your bee and report your champion by January 14, 2011. Many schools prefer to have their bee before the Winter Break.

IMPORTANT note for Elementary Schools
The School Pronouncer Guide includes grade level difficulty of 5-8. If you intend to modify or supplement your bee with some of the lower grade level Words from the Classroom Pronouncer Guide, you need to decide that now.  Make sure that the level of Study Words you give to your students matches the level of Study Words that you will use in your bee.

STEP 5 - Distribute Bee Information and Study Materials
Inform teachers, students, and parents about the procedure, study materials, rules, deadlines and dates for your school’s spelling bee. Print the individual Study Word Lists or print the cumulative word list and distribute to the students. Make sure that the level of Study Words you give to your students matches the level of Study Words that you will use in your bee. Let the students know that in the bee they may ask for the following: repeat the word; definition; sentence; part of speech; language of origin; alternate pronunciation. Let the students know that the spelling bee will include words from the study lists as well as words from the dictionary that are not on any study list.

Additinal Study Resources for Students:
Merriam-Webster OnLine ; Merriam-Webster's Word Central  

STEP 6 - Conduct the Spelling Bee. 
-Thoroughly read the rules weeks/months before the bee. 
-Using the Pronouncer Guides, plan your school’s spelling bee. (Keep the Pronouncer Guides secure.)
-Recruit your judges, pronouncer and back-up pronouncer weeks/months before the bee.
-Reserve the room, arrange for microphones, chairs, etc.
-Arrange for a certificate or trophy.  Your spelling bee account has a certificate maker.
-Print speller numbers, participant certificates, and program.
-Send a copy of the rules to your judges.
-Send a copy of the rules and word list to the pronouncer and back-up pronouncer so she/he can practice.
-Word List advice: During the bee wait until a round is completed before advancing to a more difficult level. Once you progress to the more difficult words, do not backtrack. It is good to have a back-up word list in case you run out of words.

For more details on holding a spelling bee, go to the section, How To Have a Great Bee. 

STEP 7 -  Log-in to your account and report your school champion’s information by end of day January 14, 2011. (Please do this sooner if you can.)

STEP 8 - Give your champion information about the date and location of your Regional/District Spelling Bee.
Each school sends its spelling bee champion to a Regional/District Spelling Bee during February. Your school will be notified of the specific date and location for your Playoff. If your school has not received Playoff information by January 14, contact spellingbee@houstonpbs.org. 

STEP 9 - Download Spell It!"
Download a copy of "Spell It" from your account and give it to your champion. There are two versions of Spell It". Both versions have the same list of words, but presentation is different and include additional information. If you can, give a copy of both versions to your champion.

Words for Regional/District Spelling Bee
The words get harder for this level of competition. The Bee begins with a selection of words from the School Study Words; then progresses to a selection of words from "Spell It"; and then to words from the dictionary that are not on any study list.  Your champion should know all of the words on the School Study Words Lists, grades 1-8. Next, your champion should study "Spell It" which contains about 1150 words and has spelling tips.

Do You Need a Fundraiser?

The Great American SpellCheck is a fund-raiser that is a benefit of school enrollment in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program. 100% of the money raised benefits your school. Students study grade-specific word lists and collect pledges from family and friends for every word they spell correctly. For more information, click here.

How to Have a Great Spelling Bee

Room/Auditorium Layout: There are two main ways to lay out a spelling bee.

option 1. Spellers are on stage in profile to the audience, looking toward one side of the stage where the pronouncer and judges are. One student at a time walks up to the side of the stage and stands facing
the pronouncer. (This layout puts the speller closer to the pronouncer and judges.)

option 2. Spellers are on stage facing the audience. The judges and pronouncer are on the floor facing the spellers, backs to the audience. One student at a time walks up to the microphone and faces the audience, pronouncer and judges. (This layout looks like a traditional spelling bee but needs more lighting and sound amplification to make sure the speller can understand the word being given.)

Lighting and Positioning: Make sure the speller can see the pronouncer. You do not want the pronouncer's mouth to be in shadow. If you choose the layout in which the pronouncer is on the floor and the spellers are on the stage, make sure the pronouncer has good lighting.

Microphones: Have at least one microphone for the pronouncer and one for the speller. Auditoriums are usually set up for the audience to hear. Make sure speakers are placed in such a way that the speller can hear the pronouncer and the pronouncer and judges can hear the speller. 

Ways to adjust height of microphone for students:

option 1. Don't use a stand. Instead, lay the handheld microphone on a padded stool. Each student holds
the microphone to his/her comfort level and then lays the microphone on the padded stool when finished.

option 2. Have two stands: one short and one tall

option 3. Have a stand with a flexible neck and let each child adjust as needed.

Pronouncer and Judges:
Have a meeting before the bee starts so that each judge knows what to do and is familiar with the word lists and the rules. Many bees assign specific tasks  to each judge: spokesperson and bell ringer; scribe (record each letter the child spells); Some bees have the judges announce the sentences and definitions when requested by the speller. Most bees have the pronouncer do all of those tasks.

Bell: The Scripps National Spelling Bee dings a bell when a word is misspelled. Students expect this after watching the broadcast. It isn't mandatory, but many people expect it. The ding also helps the audience know how the judge ruled if her/his voice is difficult to hear. 

Greeter/Hugger: As the speller exits the stage, Have a greeter/hugger give encouragement and acknowledgment of his/her effort. This helps the speller know how to exit and helps her/him to not feel awkward upon exiting.

Video: If a protest arises, it is helpful to rewind the tape for the judges to see a replay. Have at least 3 hours of tape. Test the camera before the bee to see if it is placed to adequately pick up the sound. If video is not available, use an audio tape recorder.

Protests: Have a clearly visible table manned by a spelling bee official with forms for appeals. Place this table away from the judges/pronouncer so it won't distract the speller. The bee official should take the form to the judges. Judges can rule on the appeal at the end of the round.

Speller Numbers and Speller Order:

option1. Numbers are preassigned alphabetically by school name.

option 2. Numbers are assigned randomly by drawing numbers as each speller arrives at the registration table.

option 3. Spellers select their own numbers as they arrive. Numbers are spread out face up on the registration table. As each speller arrives, he/she picks from the remaining numbers.

Before the Bee Begins: Rules, Introductions and Practice Round: Before beginning the rules should be read aloud to the participants and the audience. Let each child introduce himself/herself and conduct a practice round. This gives the students experience on the microphone, lets them know where to stand and 'breaks the ice'.  The practice round should be easy...you can even let them know what their word will be when they receive their speller numbers. The practice round should also have a bee person show an example of what will happen when a word is misspelled.

Give the correct spelling after a student misspells:

option 1. The pronouncer or judge can announce the correct spelling after the word has been misspelled.
This public announcement helps everyone in the audience to understand the error.

option 2. A greeter can meet the speller as he/she exits the stage
and to show the correct spelling in the printed competition word list. 

TEKS and Educational Benefits

TEKS

• Aids the student in distinguishing denotative and connotative meanings of words and use of word origins as an aid in understanding historical influence on word meaning
• Aids the student in the use of structural analysis to identify root words with prefixes and suffixes and to find meaning, pronunciation, and derivation of unfamiliar words using the dictionary

Other Educational Benefits: The Spelling Bee helps students improve spelling, increase vocabularies, and develop correct English usage that will help them all of their lives. Bee experience also provides valuable experience in developing poise and sportsmanship - a necessary skill for public speaking, performing arts, and athletics.

Contact

spellingbee@houstonpbs.org; 713-743-8417