SPELLING BEE COORDINATORS’ INFORMATION
2013-2014
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Welcome to an exciting academic challenge---the District Spelling Bee!
Each school having students in grades 5-8 in Minneapolis Public Schools is invited to
participate in this exciting event. The following is the sequence of events leading up to the
District Spelling Bee:
1. Classroom Spell Down
2. School Spelling Bee
3. District Spelling Bee
CLASSROOM SPELL DOWN:
Each teacher may conduct a classroom spell down. The contest may be written, oral, or a
combination of the two. The teacher selects the words. What is most important is that
there is a classroom representative(s) to send to the school spelling bee.
SCHOOL SPELLING BEE:
The school spelling bee coordinator directs the school spelling bee. This bee may be held
during school hours, after school, or in the evening. The contest may be written, oral, or a
combination of the two. An area with a stage and good lighting is best, although the school
library or media center may also work well for the school bee. You may want to video tape
the event.
If your school has many classes, you may want to hold preliminary spell downs by grade
level. Twenty to twenty-five contestants are a good number for a spelling bee lasting about
one hour.
DISTRICT SPELLING BEE:
The identical steps for the school spelling bee are followed for the district spelling bee,
except that the bee is only an oral bee. The district coordinator creates a word list.
CONTEST RULES TO BE READ ALOUD
PRIOR TO THE SPELLING BEE
(These rules will also be used at the District Spelling Bee)
1. The pronouncer says the word, uses it in a sentence, and says the word again. The
contestant may request the pronouncer to re-pronounce the word, use it in another
sentence, or define it. The contestant has 30 seconds in which to write the word on a
notepad and to begin orally spelling the word. Only the oral spelling of the word will
count. The contestant should pronounce the word before and after spelling it, but will
not be disqualified for failing to do so. (Each contestant receives a new word;
contestants are not given words previously misspelled by others).
2. Having started to spell a word, a contestant shall not be permitted to change letters
already pronounced. He or she may retrace from the beginning of the word, providing
letters and their sequence are not changed in the retracing.
3. The Spelling Bee shall be conducted in rounds. Each contestant remaining in the Bee at
the start of a round shall spell one word in the round, except as provided in rule #6.
4. Upon missing the spelling of a word, a contestant is out of the contest, except as
provided in rules #5 and #6.
5. If none of the contestants remaining in the Bee at the start of a round spells a word
correctly during the round, all shall remain in the competition.
6. If only one of the contestants remaining in the Bee at the start of a round spells a word
correctly during that round, the contestant shall be given the opportunity to spell the
next word on the list. If the contestant succeeds in correctly spelling the new word, the
contestant shall be declared the champion. If the contestant misses the spelling of the
new word, all of the contestants remaining in the Bee at the start of the round shall
remain in the competition. A new round will begin, with all of the contestants spelling in
their original order.
7. Members of the audience may appeal the judges’ decision of the correct or incorrect
spelling of a word. The individual may raise his or her hand and say, “I appeal.” This
must take place before the speller would have received his or her next word if having
remained in the contest. In such a case, the judges will refer to Webster’s Third New
International Dictionary as the final authority. The judges are in complete control of the
Bee. Their decision shall be final on all questions or appeals.
INFORMATION FOR BEE OFFICIALS:
PRONOUNCER’S INFORMATION:
1. Carefully read the contest rules.
2. Carefully read the Judges’, Recorder’s, Spellers’ and Audience information.
3. Familiarize yourself with all words on the word list. Pronunciation is so important. The
pronouncer may delete words, change the word order, or write new sentences. The
judges, recorder, and correction writer should be informed if the pronouncer has deleted
any words or changed the word order on the official word list. The pronouncer and the
judges will meet prior to the beginning of the bee to insure uniform understanding of the
rules and procedures. At this time the pronouncer may ask the judges for advice on the
correct pronunciation of words on the official list.
It is best if any words are deleted from the official word list that it is done before the bee
begins and not after a word has been given to a contestant. Once the bee begins, if the
pronouncer mispronounces a word in saying it for the contestant, the pronouncer
should tell the contestant, “Please wait,” and confer with the judges as to the correct
pronunciation. After the correct pronunciation is determined, the word should be repronounced for the contestant. The pronouncer and the judges should take all the time
they need to determine the correct pronunciation of the word in question.
4. Speak clearly for contestants, judges, and the audience. Grant all requests to repeat
a word until the judges agree that the word has been made reasonably clear to the
contestant. The pronouncer may request the contestant to speak more clearly or louder.
5. Wait for the Head Judge to say “correct” or “incorrect” after the contestant’s oral
spelling of the word before pronouncing the next word.
6. The pronouncer controls the “pace” of the bee. It is important for the pronouncer to
take time to focus on the correct pronunciation of each new word and the judges need a
few moments between words to complete their scoring tasks.
7. The pronouncer also controls the atmosphere of the bee. Since spelling bees can get
tense for the contestants, as well as for the officials, the pronouncer can help relieve the
tension by slowing the pace of the bee, using humor when appropriate, reassuring
contestants, and helping contestants take their mistakes in stride.
8. At the end of each round, unless rule #5 is in effect, the pronouncer will say, “Please
give a round of applause for the fine effort(s) of the speller(s).
RECORDER’S INFORMATION:
1. An audio tape recording of the spelling bee needs to be made. The recorder should
arrive early to make sure the recording equipment is working properly before the bee
begins.
2. As words are pronounced, the number on the recorder dial should be noted beside the
word on the recorder’s spelling list. In case there is a request by the Head Judge to
rewind the tape in order to listen to a word in question, the recorder will be able to
quickly locate the word by reversing the tape to the appropriate number.
3. If there is a malfunction in the recording equipment or the tape needs replacing, the
recorder should inform the Head Judge immediately, so that a delay can be requested
before another word is pronounced for the next contestant.
CORRECTION WRITER’S INFORMATION:
1. The correction writer will be seated on or in front of the stage next to an overhead
projector.*
2. When a contestant misspells a word, the Head Judge will say “incorrect” and the
correction writer will write the correct spelling on the transparency so that the
contestants and the audience will be able to see it.
3. The correct spelling should be left on long enough for the speller and audience to read it,
but the overhead light should be turned off before the next speller’s turn so that the
light will not distract the spellers.
*Note: Another option to use if it is not feasible to have an overhead projector on stage, is
to ask the Head Judge or the Dictionary Judge to orally spell the missed word correctly for
the audience and the contestants.
JUDGES’ INFORMATION
1. Read carefully the contest rules with special attention to rules 5 and 6.
2. Read the Pronouncer’s, Recorder’s, Speller’s, and Audience information.
3. Specific duties of the three judges are as follows:
JUDGE # 1 will act as the Head Judge. The Head Judge will read the contest rules aloud to
the audience before the start of the bee and will make the final decision as to the correct or
incorrect spelling of a word or any procedure in question. The Head Judge will say “correct”
or “incorrect” after the contestant spells a word. However, if any judge questions the
decision, an immediate delay should be called. If the pronouncer requests help determining
the correct pronunciation of a word, the Head Judge will request a “delay” to allow the
judges to confer.
At the end of the contest the Head Judge will announce the winners to the audience.
JUDGE # 2 will act as the Dictionary Judge. The Dictionary Judge will read a word’s
dictionary definition if a contestant requests it. The Dictionary Judge may be asked by the
pronouncer to look up a word to help determine the correct pronunciation of the word.
JUDGE # 3 will act as the official Scoring Judge. The Scoring Judge will use the special tally
sheets to identify the beginning and the ending of each round. Before the bee begins, the
Scoring Judge will verify each contestant’s name and number. During the contest, the
Scoring Judge keeps an account of which word each contestant is given to spell by writing
the word’s number in the correct column on a tally sheet. (This may be whatever design you
decide to use).
4. All judges are responsible for listening carefully to each word’s spelling. If a judge cannot
hear the spelling clearly, the judge should tell the pronouncer who will then request all
contestants to speak louder and more distinctly.
5. If any judge believes a contestant has misspelled a word, that judge will say “Delay” to
the pronouncer. The pronouncer will tell the speller, “Please wait.” The judges will then
discuss the accuracy of the spelling and come to a decision. If two or three judges concur
with a misspelling, the judge who requested the delay will tell the pronouncer “The word
was spelled incorrectly.” The Head Judge will state “correct” or “incorrect” to the
contestant.
6. All three judges will help keep score and help keep track of rounds.
7. The Head Judge, after consultation with the other judges, may disqualify a contestant
who ignores a request to start spelling.
AUDIENCE INFORMATION:
1. Members of the audience may appeal the judges’ decision. Procedures in the rules must
be followed. The appeal process pertains only to the contestant's spelling of the word.
It does not apply to the pronouncer’s pronunciation of the word. The decision of the
judges is final.
2. Audience members are asked to watch for unconscious tendencies to give non-verbal
clues to the participants. (Head nods, raised eyebrows, silently mouthing the spelling,
etc.)
3. Once the contest has started, members of the audience need to remain quietly in their
seats. Unnecessary sounds or movements may distract the judges’ ability to hear or the
pronouncer’s concentration.
SPELLERS’ INFORMATION:
1. Contestants need to focus on the pronouncer to aid their hearing of the word and their
understanding of the context in which the word is used.
2. Contestants may write their words on the pad of paper provided for them before
attempting to orally spell the word. Only the oral spelling of the word will count. The
speller will be given 30 seconds to begin orally spelling the word.
3. Each contestant should pronounce the word before and after spelling it. If the speller
fails to pronounce the word after spelling it, the pronouncer may ask the speller if he or
she is finished. If the speller says, “yes,” the pronouncer may remind the speller to
pronounce the word next time. (No contestant will be eliminated for failing to
pronounce the word before and/or after spelling it.)
4. When a contestant is at the podium spelling, the next contestant should be standing at
the marked location ready to proceed to the microphone or podium.
5. If a contestant does not cooperate with the rules and procedures of the Spelling Bee, the
Head Judge has the authority to eliminate the contestant from the contest.