Spelling bee facts for kids
A spelling bee is a fun competition where kids spell many different words. These words can be easy or very tricky! To do well, contestants need to remember how words are spelled in dictionaries. Then, they say the letters out loud, one by one.
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What's in a Name? The Word "Bee"
Have you ever wondered why it's called a "spelling bee"? Long ago, people used "bee" to describe a gathering where everyone worked together. Think of a "quilting bee" where people made quilts, or a "husking bee" for corn. The word "bee" likely comes from an old word meaning "help from neighbors." So, a spelling bee is like a friendly gathering to help each other learn and celebrate spelling!
A Look Back: The History of Spelling Bees
The idea of a "spelling bee" has been around for a long time. The first time we saw the phrase in print was in 1850. Before that, people called them "spelling matches" as early as 1808. A big reason these contests became popular was thanks to Noah Webster. He created famous spelling books, first published in 1786. These books, often called "The Blue-backed Speller," helped many generations of American kids learn to spell. Today, the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary is often used as the official guide for these contests.
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Spelling Bees Grow in Popularity
During the 1800s, spelling bees became very common across the United States. They were a great way to help students learn how to spell words in a standard way. Most of these early bees were held in local schools and towns. They weren't organized on a national level yet.
In 1908, a group called the National Education Association held what they called the first national spelling bee. It took place in Cleveland, Ohio. A talented girl named Marie Bolden from Cleveland became the champion!
The National Spelling Bee Begins
The famous annual United States National Spelling Bee started in 1925. It was created by a newspaper called The Courier-Journal. The very first winner was 11-year-old Frank Neuhauser. He won the competition in Washington, D.C., in 1925.
Today, spelling bees happen every year, starting from local school levels. They lead up to the big Scripps National Spelling Bee. This national event gives a cash prize to the winner. English-language newspapers and educational groups support this bee. You can even watch the championship rounds live on TV! Since 2005, contestants have come from many places, including the Bahamas, Jamaica, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. The official dictionary for the Scripps National Spelling Bee is the Webster's Third New International Dictionary.
Why English Spelling Bees Are Special
Spelling bees make a lot of sense for the English language. English spelling can be tricky because words don't always sound exactly how they are spelled. In contrast, some languages like Hindi, Italian, German, and Turkish have very consistent spelling rules. This means their words are much easier to spell just by how they sound. Because of this, you won't find many spelling bees in those languages.
Spelling Bees Around the World
Spelling bees are popular in many countries, especially where English is spoken.
Africa
In Ghana, there's an annual event called The Spelling Bee Ghana. Winners get to travel to the US to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Nigeria also has its own big spelling bee, called the Nigeria Spelling Bee. It takes place in many states across the country. Winners can earn scholarships and represent Nigeria at the African Spelling Bee, a competition for the whole continent. There's also a special spelling bee in Lagos State where the winner gets to be a "one-day governor"!
Many other African countries also take part in the African Spelling Bee.
Asia
In Asia, the MaRRS Spelling Bee organizes competitions up to an international level. This contest helps students learn correct spellings and how to use words. It is held in countries like India, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (including Abu Dhabi and Dubai).
Australia
In Western Australia, the State Library Foundation of Western Australia holds a spelling bee. It's for students in school years five through eight. The first rounds are online, and the final "spell-off" happens in front of an audience. Winners receive prizes for themselves, their teachers, and their classes.
Bangladesh
Since 2012, Bangladesh has hosted a televised spelling bee. It's for students in grades six to ten. Students compete through their schools and a website. The top spellers then appear on a TV show. The champion wins a trip to Washington, D.C.!
India
The India Spelling Bee is for school students across the country. It has different levels, from school to state to national. This competition focuses on words that students often use but might misspell.
Spanish-Speaking Countries in the Americas
In Latin America, a company called Advanced Methods Corporation (Amco) organizes international spelling bees. These have been happening every year since 2015. Schools from countries like Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Chile, Honduras, and El Salvador can join. The competition has school, regional, and international stages. The international final is usually held in Guadalajara, Mexico.
United Kingdom
Spelling bees were reported in the United Kingdom as early as 1876. Since 2009, The Times newspaper has organized its own spelling bee for schools, called The Times Spelling Bee.
Vanuatu
One of the first spelling bee competitions in Vanuatu happened in August 2019. Six primary schools and 36 students took part. They competed for scholarships to secondary school.
See also
- Bible bee
- Chinese Characters Dictation Competition
- Dictation (exercise)
- Kanji Kentei
- Spelling alphabet
