Spelling Bee Information
SPELLING BEE GRADES 1 - 4 IS ON APRIL 6, 2009 IN THE AUDITORIUM.
THE ELEMENTARY BEE WILL BE HOSTED BY DALE SCHOFER [CCS LIBRARIAN]. A LETTER WILL GO HOME TO ALL PARTICIPANTS ON MARCH 4TH, 2009. YOUR STUDENT MUST HAVE PREREGISTERED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT. THE ROSTERS ARE FULL.
CONGRATS TO JOSHUA DAVIS, GRADE 5- HE MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO ROUND FOUR IN THE ACSI REGIONAL SPELLING BEE 2009. WAY TO GO!
Student word lists are available on the ACSI website.
Simply click on the BEE icon below to go to the ACSI website.
Scroll down the page to the Spelling BEE STUDENT PUBLISHED WORDS. Don't forget to enter the password! Rules below.
Objectives:
Assist students in developing good spelling habits.
Expand the students’ ability in expressing themselves in all areas of communication.
Develop the awareness of accurate usage of words and vocabulary.
General Information:
The ACSI Spelling Bee is not an exercise in memorization, but in spelling abilities.
Serious spellers desiring to advance to the regional/national levels should also study from any word source available, including the official dictionary of the ACSI Spelling Bee, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition.
Students are required to wear a 5” x 7” name card during each Bee.
Students should dress comfortably and appropriately for a public appearance [comfortable shoes].
Cameras/camcorders may only be used during practice rounds.
No cell phones or pagers during the competitions.
Please submit the Spelling Bee Participation Form to the student’s homeroom teacher ASAP, if your student is interested in being a contestant in our In-School Spelling Bee Organization:
The ACSI Spelling Bee consists of four events: Local [In-School], District, Regional, and National.
Local [In School] Bee: All students in grades 1st – 8th are welcome to participate. Grades 1 - 4 will be held in the Spring. Grades 5 - 8 will be held in October 2008.
ACSI District Participants [Nov. 2008]: winners of the October informal CCS in-school BEE. [Grades 5 – 8 only]. Letter going home on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
District and Regional Bees: the best spellers will advance to the next level.
ACSI National Bee: the champion will be determined.
ACSI Spelling Bee Awards:
Local [In-School] Bee Awards to be presented at CCS Fine Arts Awards Ceremony. [Separate from the ACSI District, Regional, and National Bees]
ACSI District and Regional Bee
o Top speller in each grade: special award
o Second – Fourth place spellers: appropriate place awards
ACSI District Bee
o Remaining spellers in each grade: certificates or ribbons
ACSI Regional Bee
o Remaining spellers: recognition awards
ACSI National Bee
o National Champion: plaque, savings bond, and grand award
o National 2nd – 4th Place: a plaque, savings bond, and special place awards
o All spellers: commemorative certificates
Procedures and Rules:
Words should be pronounced according to the diacritical markings in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary.
The spelling master may not give the root word; however if asked, “Is the root word ____?” the spelling master may answer yes or no.
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition, shall serve as the final authority for the spelling of words. If the word has two or more accepted spellings, only the spellings set in boldface type and separated by the word or, and in some cases the word also, at the beginning of the descriptive matter, will be accepted as correct.
The spelling master will initiate the spelling bee with a practice round. Only during the practice round may students misspell a word and continue in the contest [grades 5 – 8 : one practice round, grades 1 – 4 : two or three practice rounds].
The spelling master will pronounce the word, automatically give a sentence for clarification, and repeat the word.
The speller will look at the judging panel, say the word, spell the word orally, and say the word again.
The speller must speak clearly and loudly. Lack of clarity may result in the judge’s decision to conclude that the word was spelled incorrect by the contestant will be eliminated. The decision will be final.
The speller must ask for clarification, or a definition, before they begin to spell the word. The student has 30 seconds to begin spelling the word after clarification.
After the student spells the word:
o If spelled correctly, the student promptly returns to his/her seat, and the student in the waiting area moves up to the microphone. As this occurs, the next student approaches the waiting area.
o If spelled incorrectly [or eliminated by rule infraction], the student must promptly go to the round keeper [or the arbitrator, if there is a challenge].
o When a student has been eliminated, the next speller moves up to take the vacated seat.
A student may stop and start over, retracing the spelling from the beginning. However, the letters and sequence must be the same as those first pronounced. If the letters or sequences have changed, the student will be disqualified. The student must announce that he/she will be starting over.
There is absolutely no talking during the spelling round.
In the event of a challenge, the arbitrator may call a brief time out to confer with the judges. The decision will then be final.
When four spellers remain, the spelling master will announce the change of elimination procedures. “Third and fourth place will be determined by the next two spellers to go down, in that order.”
When two spellers remain, the spelling master will announce the change of elimination procedures. “If the first speller spells the word correctly, the next word will be given to the second speller. The contest will continue between spellers until a word is misspelled.” When one speller misspells a word, the other contestant shall be given an opportunity to spell another new word. If the second contestant spells that word correctly, and the next word on the spelling master’s list, then the second contestant shall be declared the champion.
Student word lists are available on the ACSI website. The password to access the Word list is: SPELLwd08@acsi [Click on the password to go to the ACSI website. Scroll down the page to the Spelling BEE student wordlists.]