​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/.

​2023/24 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 2023/24 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.  We will provide you with a this list once you have completed registration for the MTHEA spelling bee! 


2023/24 RULES FOR LOCAL SPELLING BEES
This MTHEA Homeschool Spelling Bee will be using the 2023/24 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.

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For a School-Wide or Homeschool Group Spelling Bee:

• Step One: Students should first learn the study words from the 2023/24 School Spelling Bee Study List. The Study List will be sent to students who register for the 2023/24 Spelling Bee. 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 students master the 450 study words from the 2023/24 School Spelling Bee Study List, they may get a head start on preparing for the next level of competition by learning the words organized by bee level in Words of the Champions. Again we will provide this to those who have registered for the 2023/24 MTHEA Spelling Bee. 

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For a Regional or State Bee:

• Step One: Ensure your school spelling champion knows the study words on the 2023/24 School Spelling Bee Study List.
• Step Two: When your school spelling champion masters the 450 study words on the 2023/24 School Spelling Bee Study List, s/he is ready to learn the words and do the activities in Words of the Champions. Words of the Champions consists of approximately 4,000 words grouped by bee level (bee level 1 – early elementary, bee level 2 – later elementary, bee level 3 – middle school) that will be widely used by Regional Spelling Bees. Words of the Champions also includes words from the 2023/24 School Spelling Bee Study List in each bee level.
• Step Three: When your school spelling champion masters the 4,000 words in Words of the Champions 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.

F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Does my child have to be a resident of Tennessee to participate?
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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. Students may only participate in one Spelling Bee.
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Q:  For what grade should I register my child?
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A:  Register at the same K-8 grade level that your child is currently enrolled in with the above organization.
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Q:  How do I log on to the Scripps www.spellingbee.com website as a teacher?
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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.
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Q:  My child is not yet in 4th grade but is an excellent speller.  Can s/he participate in this Bee?
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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.  
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Q:  What time will be the bee finish?
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A:  We have no way of knowing how well the spellers will spell, but generally the Spelling Bee is completed within a few hours.


Q:  Which words on the “School Spelling Bee Study List” will be asked of the students during the homeschool spelling bee?
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A:   The “School Spelling Bee Study List” provided by Scripps has words appropriate for 1st – 8th graders 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.
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Q:  What is the best way to study for the Spelling Bee?  
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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 4,000 “Words of the Champions” words would be the next to tackle. Some books that contain words from the study list for this year are listed on the “Great Words Great Works” Book List for each bee level and reading naturally enhances knowledge of spelling and vocabulary. Two movies typically enjoyed by spelling enthusiasts are "Akeelah and the Bee" and "Spellbound.”
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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 Home Education Association Spelling Bee this year?
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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 2023 and April 2024, the speller remains disqualified for the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee program through another sponsor and/or enrollment in another school."
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Q:  I have a question not answered on this page or elsewhere on this website. Who can I contact?
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A:  Please email MTHEA at [email protected] with your questions.
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* 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.