Many BGJHS students attended the spelling bee, but only a few won. So how did these kids do it, and why do they even do the bee? I interviewed Ian Gibson, Zayden Haynes, and Harper Huffman. (1st, 2nd, and tied for 3rd with Phoebe Shepherd, respectively). To see why they did the bee, how they did it, and who they did it with. To undertake the bee, you need much preparation. Students who reach the top usually achieve a lot of practice. For example, Zayden starts practicing at the beginning of the year for the bee. For others, it depends, such as Ian. If you’re going to go to the national bee, you might study a little harder compared to the school bee, like Ian does. But what motivates these people to study at all? For Zayden and Harper, it’s because of their early school careers. In the words of 8th grader Harper, “My first-grade teacher told me that I should start working on my words.” For Zayden, he used a sort of revenge to fuel his spelling. “When I was in second grade, I got made fun of for not knowing how to spell. So I started reading the dictionary.” After practicing his craft and writing his words at least 10 times a day, Zayden made it to the silver medal. However, some people get more than just a medal; they get money! After all this hard work and practice, one deserves a prize. So what are the prizes?
The BGJHS has a spelling bee every year; this year Ian Gibson won. Ian Gibson won last year as well. Ian won a free one-year membership to Britannica Online, and the national spelling bee prize has ranged from 7th place. The prizes for 7th place are 2,500; 6th is 5,000; 5th is 7,500; 4th is 10,000; 3rd is 20,000; 2nd is 40,000; and lastly, 1st is 50,000. Ian Gibson and other regional winners also got to go to the nationals. National is located in Washington, D.C. Ian, when asked about nationals, said, “It was delightful, and there were different landmarks there, and I went to some Smithsonian museums.” For many people, going to Washington, D.C., is a very one-of-a-kind experiment. In summary, the spelling bee has many interesting prizes. If you want to win big and get a prize, you may not know how. So how do you win?
If you’re like me, you’re probably wondering how these people got to where they are now. The biggest tip from all the winners was to study and to have a love for spelling. In the words of Harper, “Practicing helped me.” Other than the obvious practice, how can you remember words? Many people have different ideas. Harper remembers words by remembering the letters, while Zayden writes down his words to remember them. However, I think Ian has a very interesting way of remembering words, which relates to his love of spelling. “Well, I read a lot, so if I hear a word I know, it pops into my head, and if it doesn’t, I guess.” Using his knowledge of literature, Ian remembers most words, and they pop into his head. A good tip for spellers starting is definitely to read as much as possible. If you see a word on paper, you know its use and remember it easier. Another tip used by the winners was to practice a lot each week. Zayden explained, “I think like 3 to 4 days a week.” This practice can consist of writing down your words, looking at them, or having a friend tell you words to spell. This practice can take a lot out of your day, so what do you get in return for all this?
Do you know how spelling bees got started? The first national spelling bee was started in 1925 by the Courier-Journal newspaper in Louisville, Ky. The first winner was 11-year-old Frank Neunauser of Louisville. He spelled “gladiolus” and won $500. “Words can change the world.” The history of spelling bees shows people there are definitions of our vocabulary and the importance of learning letters and words. Reading skills are closely related and help develop overall literacy. This allows people to communicate and understand what others are saying. It also allows us to understand our language’s definitions. Our spelling has a direct impact on our language as well.
Simply put, the spelling bee is an amazing way to learn, have fun, and win it big. Whether you’re a fan of the winners, want to be victorious, interested in the prizes, or just desire to know the bee’s history,. It’s all a way to learn more about this amazing competition. Think of your spelling skills. Do you believe you have what it takes to conquer the bee?