DETAILS
DATE: Thursday, January 10, 2019
TIME: 1:30 pm (spellers will check in 15 minutes prior to start of bee)
LOCATION: MTSU Honors College
Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building
Room 106
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
(PDF map here)
COST: $5 per student for MTHEA members / $10 per student for non-MTHEA members
The Honors College of Middle Tennessee State University is hosting the 2019 Middle Tennessee Home Education Association (MTHEA) school-level Spelling Bee. This bee is the first step towards eligibility to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee held annually near Washington, D.C.
This bee is open to Middle Tennessee and West Tennessee Homeschoolers (residing in one of the 51 counties listed in the FAQ section - see below) who have not turned age 15 on or before August 31, 2018 and who have not passed beyond the 8th grade before February 1, 2019. All participants must meet Scripps Eligibility Requirements.
Most participants will be in 4th-8th grades. Younger students are invited to participate, but please prepare them for competing with older students. The words to be spelled will be from the same list regardless of students' age or grade. In addition to correct spelling, vocabulary questions may also be asked at any level of the bee.
The first place place winner of this MTHEA Homeschool Spelling Bee, along with all school spelling bee first-place champions in the 51-county Tennessee Titans sponsorship region, will qualify for the regional semifinals. The regional semifinals will consist of a 50-item computer-based spelling and vocabulary test administered between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. CST beginning January 16-25, 2019.
The 50 highest-scoring students in the semifinals online test qualify to participate in person at the Tennessee Titans Regional Spelling Bee to be held on Saturday, February 16 at 12 noon in the West Club of the Titans Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The Regional Bee is open to the public, and anyone not competing is invited to attend as a spectator.
The first and second place winners of the Tennessee Titans Regional Spelling Bee are sponsored by the Tennessee Titans, including paid airfare and hotel accommodations, to attend with a parent and participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee scheduled May 27 - June 1, 2019 in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.
TIME: 1:30 pm (spellers will check in 15 minutes prior to start of bee)
LOCATION: MTSU Honors College
Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building
Room 106
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
(PDF map here)
COST: $5 per student for MTHEA members / $10 per student for non-MTHEA members
The Honors College of Middle Tennessee State University is hosting the 2019 Middle Tennessee Home Education Association (MTHEA) school-level Spelling Bee. This bee is the first step towards eligibility to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee held annually near Washington, D.C.
This bee is open to Middle Tennessee and West Tennessee Homeschoolers (residing in one of the 51 counties listed in the FAQ section - see below) who have not turned age 15 on or before August 31, 2018 and who have not passed beyond the 8th grade before February 1, 2019. All participants must meet Scripps Eligibility Requirements.
Most participants will be in 4th-8th grades. Younger students are invited to participate, but please prepare them for competing with older students. The words to be spelled will be from the same list regardless of students' age or grade. In addition to correct spelling, vocabulary questions may also be asked at any level of the bee.
The first place place winner of this MTHEA Homeschool Spelling Bee, along with all school spelling bee first-place champions in the 51-county Tennessee Titans sponsorship region, will qualify for the regional semifinals. The regional semifinals will consist of a 50-item computer-based spelling and vocabulary test administered between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. CST beginning January 16-25, 2019.
The 50 highest-scoring students in the semifinals online test qualify to participate in person at the Tennessee Titans Regional Spelling Bee to be held on Saturday, February 16 at 12 noon in the West Club of the Titans Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The Regional Bee is open to the public, and anyone not competing is invited to attend as a spectator.
The first and second place winners of the Tennessee Titans Regional Spelling Bee are sponsored by the Tennessee Titans, including paid airfare and hotel accommodations, to attend with a parent and participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee scheduled May 27 - June 1, 2019 in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.
Resources
WORDS & WORD LISTS
All words, definitions, pronunciations and pronouncer guide word lists for all bee levels are provided by Scripps National Spelling Bee and are entries in Merriam-Webster Unabridged, the official dictionary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, available at:
http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/.
2019 SCHOOL SPELLING BEE STUDY GUIDE
Scripps publishes a list of study words for students participating in school bees each year. All of the words from the 2019 School Spelling Bee Study List can be found in the books listed in the Great Words Great Works list here. These are the 450 words recommended for 1st through 8th grade students. Click HERE for a complete copy of this year's study words. Click HERE for a copy of the list of 450 words with definitions. For the MTHEA Homeschool Spelling Bee, these are the most important words to learn!
2019 RULES FOR LOCAL SPELLING BEES
This MTHEA Homeschool Spelling Bee will be using the 2019 Rules for Local Spelling Bees as published by Scripps. We highly encourage you to review these rules and eligibility requirements with your student/s prior to attending the Spelling Bee. A copy of the Rules can be downloaded by clicking HERE.
SPELLING BEE STUDY TIPS FROM SCRIPPS
For any spelling bee:
For a School-Wide or Homeschool Group Spelling Bee:
For a Regional or State Bee:
Scripps Word Club:
All words, definitions, pronunciations and pronouncer guide word lists for all bee levels are provided by Scripps National Spelling Bee and are entries in Merriam-Webster Unabridged, the official dictionary of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, available at:
http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/.
2019 SCHOOL SPELLING BEE STUDY GUIDE
Scripps publishes a list of study words for students participating in school bees each year. All of the words from the 2019 School Spelling Bee Study List can be found in the books listed in the Great Words Great Works list here. These are the 450 words recommended for 1st through 8th grade students. Click HERE for a complete copy of this year's study words. Click HERE for a copy of the list of 450 words with definitions. For the MTHEA Homeschool Spelling Bee, these are the most important words to learn!
2019 RULES FOR LOCAL SPELLING BEES
This MTHEA Homeschool Spelling Bee will be using the 2019 Rules for Local Spelling Bees as published by Scripps. We highly encourage you to review these rules and eligibility requirements with your student/s prior to attending the Spelling Bee. A copy of the Rules can be downloaded by clicking HERE.
SPELLING BEE STUDY TIPS FROM SCRIPPS
For any spelling bee:
- Read How to Study for a Spelling Bee by Scripps National Spelling Bee pronouncer and former champion, Dr. Jacques Bailly.
For a School-Wide or Homeschool Group Spelling Bee:
- Step One: Students should first learn the 100 study words for their grade level from the 2019 School Spelling Bee Study List. The Study List will be provided upon request to any student, parent, or teachers at enrolled schools or homeschool groups. Some of these study words will be asked at the (home) school bee and all participants are strongly encouraged to learn as many of these words as they can prior to the day of the Bee.
- Step Two: When your student masters the 100 grade-specific words in the 2019 School Spelling Bee Study List, s/he is ready to learn the study words for all other grade levels. There are a total of 450 words on the 2019 School Spelling Bee Study List.
- Step Three: When your students master the 450 study words for grade levels 1–8, they may get a head start on preparing for the next level of competition by learning the words organized by language family in Spell It!
For a Regional or State Bee:
- Step One: Ensure your school spelling champion knows the study words on the 2019 School Spelling Bee Study List (these are the 450 study words for grade levels 1–8).
- Step Two: When your school spelling champion masters the 450 study words on the 2019 School Spelling Bee Study List, s/he is ready to learn the words and do the activities in Spell It!. Spell It! is a list of approximately 1,100+ words grouped by language family that will be widely used in Regional Spelling Bees as well as in at least one round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
- Step Three: When your school spelling champion masters the 1,100+ words in Spell It! s/he is ready to expand his/her spelling skill set by playing the fun word games at Merriam-Webster's Word Central and studying spelling patterns of words introduced into English from a variety of other languages.
Scripps Word Club:
- The Word Club , the Bee's premier online study tool, now has two versions: Word Club Basic and Word Club Premium. Either version will prepare your child for an upcoming spelling bee, and Word Club Premium includes interactive features that will help your child make the most of the spelling bee journey. Visit their website for more information! http://spellingbee.com/word-club
REGISTER
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does my child have to be a resident of Tennessee to participate?
A: Yes! Your child must be a homeschooled student residing in one of the Middle Tennessee or West Tennessee Counties (see list of included counties) included in the Scripps Tennessee Titans Sponsorship Region* and registered with either their County LEA or a Church-related umbrella school (CRS). Students attending public, private, parochial, charter or virtual schools are not eligible to participate in this Bee. Homeschooled residents of Williamson County, Tennessee have their own homeschool spelling bee and are encouraged to participate in that spelling bee.
Q: For what grade should I register my child?
A: Register at the same K-8 grade level that your child is currently enrolled in with the above organization.
Q: How do I log on to the Scripps www.spellingbee.com website as a teacher?
A: Even though as a homeschool parent, you are obviously your child’s teacher, you are not a "teacher” holding your own classroom or school bee according to Scripps guidelines. Only the Homeschool Spelling Bee Coordinator can access the secure areas of the Scripps website. You may peruse the non-secure areas of the Scripps website for ideas and information.
Q: The Scripps www.spellingbee.com website says the deadline to register with them has already passed. How do I register my child for the bee?
A: MTHEA registered to hold a school bee for homeschoolers before the Scripps deadline. You just need to register your child/ren at the link on the Registration page of this website.
Q: My child is not yet in 4th grade but is an excellent speller. Can s/he participate in this Bee?
A: Yes! Although the Scripps National Spelling Bee is designed for 4th - 8th grade students, students as young as Kindergarten have participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. You may enroll your younger student/s in this MTHEA Homeschool Spelling Bee, but please prepare him/her for competition with older students. No allowances will be made for age or grade. All of the words given at this Bee are provided by Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Q: What time will be the bee finish?
A: There is no set ending time. It all depends on how well the spellers continue to correctly spell the words given by the pronouncer. We would like to be finished by 4:00 pm, but please bring a snack for your speller/s in case they’re hungry during the break/s. We would like for all spellers to stay until the end of the bee and participate in the awards presentation and group photos following the conclusion of the bee.
Q: Which words on the “School Spelling Bee Study List” will be asked of the students during the homeschool spelling bee?
A: Only the judges and pronouncer will have a list of which words will actually be used at the school level bee. The “School Spelling Bee Study List” provided by Scripps begins with words appropriate for 1st graders and continues through 8th grade words and is the word list they suggest your student study for the (home) school bee. You can assist your speller in learning as many of the words on the list as possible and/or supplement with your favorite spelling curriculum. Make sure to include proper pronunciation and definition(s) as provided at http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/ during study. Vocabulary questions may be asked at any level of the bee.
Q: What is the best way to study for the Spelling Bee?
A: Although every child is different, Scripps National Spelling Bee study tips, information, and links can be found on the Resource section of this website (above). Once your child has mastered the spelling words on the "School Spelling Bee Study List, the 1150 “Spell-It!” words would be the next to tackle. You may choose to purchase the Scripps "Word Club" for your student to study online. Links to all these can be found on the Resources page of this website. Some books that contain words from the study list for this year are listed on the Great Words Great Works Book List for each grade level and reading naturally enhances knowledge of spelling and vocabulary. Two movies typically enjoyed by spelling enthusiasts are "Akeelah and the Bee" and "Spellbound.”
Q: My homeschool student has already participated in a school-level bee this year, but didn't win. Can s/he register for and participate in the Middle Tennessee Inclusive Homeschool Spelling Bee this year?
A: Absolutely not. Scripps eligibility rules are very clear on this point, stating "once having been disqualified at any level of a sponsor's spelling bee program between June 2018 and April 2019, the speller remains disqualified for the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee program through another sponsor and/or enrollment in another school."
Q: I have a question not answered on this page or elsewhere on this website. Who can I contact?
A: Please email the bee coordinator at MTHEAspellingbee@gmail.com with your questions.
* The Scripps Tennessee Region sponsored by the Tennessee Titans includes all counties on this list. Homeschool students must be a resident of one of these Tennessee counties to be eligible for this Homeschool Spelling Bee:
Q: Does my child have to be a resident of Tennessee to participate?
A: Yes! Your child must be a homeschooled student residing in one of the Middle Tennessee or West Tennessee Counties (see list of included counties) included in the Scripps Tennessee Titans Sponsorship Region* and registered with either their County LEA or a Church-related umbrella school (CRS). Students attending public, private, parochial, charter or virtual schools are not eligible to participate in this Bee. Homeschooled residents of Williamson County, Tennessee have their own homeschool spelling bee and are encouraged to participate in that spelling bee.
Q: For what grade should I register my child?
A: Register at the same K-8 grade level that your child is currently enrolled in with the above organization.
Q: How do I log on to the Scripps www.spellingbee.com website as a teacher?
A: Even though as a homeschool parent, you are obviously your child’s teacher, you are not a "teacher” holding your own classroom or school bee according to Scripps guidelines. Only the Homeschool Spelling Bee Coordinator can access the secure areas of the Scripps website. You may peruse the non-secure areas of the Scripps website for ideas and information.
Q: The Scripps www.spellingbee.com website says the deadline to register with them has already passed. How do I register my child for the bee?
A: MTHEA registered to hold a school bee for homeschoolers before the Scripps deadline. You just need to register your child/ren at the link on the Registration page of this website.
Q: My child is not yet in 4th grade but is an excellent speller. Can s/he participate in this Bee?
A: Yes! Although the Scripps National Spelling Bee is designed for 4th - 8th grade students, students as young as Kindergarten have participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. You may enroll your younger student/s in this MTHEA Homeschool Spelling Bee, but please prepare him/her for competition with older students. No allowances will be made for age or grade. All of the words given at this Bee are provided by Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Q: What time will be the bee finish?
A: There is no set ending time. It all depends on how well the spellers continue to correctly spell the words given by the pronouncer. We would like to be finished by 4:00 pm, but please bring a snack for your speller/s in case they’re hungry during the break/s. We would like for all spellers to stay until the end of the bee and participate in the awards presentation and group photos following the conclusion of the bee.
Q: Which words on the “School Spelling Bee Study List” will be asked of the students during the homeschool spelling bee?
A: Only the judges and pronouncer will have a list of which words will actually be used at the school level bee. The “School Spelling Bee Study List” provided by Scripps begins with words appropriate for 1st graders and continues through 8th grade words and is the word list they suggest your student study for the (home) school bee. You can assist your speller in learning as many of the words on the list as possible and/or supplement with your favorite spelling curriculum. Make sure to include proper pronunciation and definition(s) as provided at http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/ during study. Vocabulary questions may be asked at any level of the bee.
Q: What is the best way to study for the Spelling Bee?
A: Although every child is different, Scripps National Spelling Bee study tips, information, and links can be found on the Resource section of this website (above). Once your child has mastered the spelling words on the "School Spelling Bee Study List, the 1150 “Spell-It!” words would be the next to tackle. You may choose to purchase the Scripps "Word Club" for your student to study online. Links to all these can be found on the Resources page of this website. Some books that contain words from the study list for this year are listed on the Great Words Great Works Book List for each grade level and reading naturally enhances knowledge of spelling and vocabulary. Two movies typically enjoyed by spelling enthusiasts are "Akeelah and the Bee" and "Spellbound.”
Q: My homeschool student has already participated in a school-level bee this year, but didn't win. Can s/he register for and participate in the Middle Tennessee Inclusive Homeschool Spelling Bee this year?
A: Absolutely not. Scripps eligibility rules are very clear on this point, stating "once having been disqualified at any level of a sponsor's spelling bee program between June 2018 and April 2019, the speller remains disqualified for the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee program through another sponsor and/or enrollment in another school."
Q: I have a question not answered on this page or elsewhere on this website. Who can I contact?
A: Please email the bee coordinator at MTHEAspellingbee@gmail.com with your questions.
* The Scripps Tennessee Region sponsored by the Tennessee Titans includes all counties on this list. Homeschool students must be a resident of one of these Tennessee counties to be eligible for this Homeschool Spelling Bee: