How to Become an Amazing Speller:

Post It! Write your words on post-it notes and put them

everywhere so you can study while you brush your teeth, before you shut the door, open the fridge…

Write your words on flashcards and practice, practice, practice.

Play Spelling Bee: Quiz your parents, grandparents, older

siblings and challenge them to see who is the best speller.

Read great books! Your spelling will improve with the more

words you read.

See it, hear it, say it! Engage all your senses.

Come to the study sessions! Meet other spellers, learn

other spelling tips, and practice your words.

Sleep with a dictionary under your pillow (just kidding).

Study Tip: It is recommended that participants study the words from the word list of the grade they are currently in PLUS the word lists of the two grades higher than the grade they are currently in.

Parents: Please be aware that the Spelling Bees have no specific end time. Each Spelling Bee goes until a Spelling Champion is declared!

Participants: Wear comfortable clothes and do NOT wear high heels to your Spelling Bee event.

Please note: This study guide is for BOTH Spelling Bees: 1) Spelling Mini Bee for Grade 1 — 3 students

to be held on October 26, 2:00 p.m. Theatre Gallery (Main Branch).

2) Spelling Bee for Grade 4 — 6 students to be held on November 2, 2:00 p.m. Theatre Gallery (Main Branch).

www.lethlib.ca

Main Branch 810 5th Avenue South Lethbridge AB T1J 4C4

The Crossings Branch 255 Britannia Blvd. West Lethbridge AB T1J 4A3

Mark your calendar! The Spelling Bees will be held:

1) Saturday, October 26 Spelling Mini Bee For Grade 1, 2, 3 students 2:00 p.m. Theatre Gallery (Main Branch) Please note: This is a registered program. Prior to October 26, you must register online at lethlib.ca On October 26, you must attend your orientation in the Community Meeting Room no later than 1:30 p.m.

2) Saturday, November 2 Spelling Bee For Grade 4, 5, 6 students 2:00 p.m. Theatre Gallery (Main Branch) Please note: This is a registered program. Prior to November 2, you must register online at lethlib.ca On November 2, you must attend your orientation in the Community Meeting Room no later than 1:30 p.m.

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!

My Challenge Words!

Grade 9

aerosol apportion bankruptcy belligerent bibliomania boomerang cavalcade coalesced delicatessen epizootic erstwhile expeditious extemporaneous

franchise gerontology grenadier

hullabaloo

imprimatur irrevocable juxtaposition

martyr middleweight

palatable parenthetical

pendulous percentile pituitary podiatry polymath pompadour portmanteau

querulous reiterate scaffold

scintillating seismograph

stalactite steeplechase subcutaneous

tarantula

tortoiseshell

tourniquet trigonometry tyrannosaurus

variegated wallaby winsome xylophone yesteryear

FAQ:

1. Can I correct a letter during the Bee? Once a speller says a letter, they cannot take it back. For example, let’s say your word is “spell” and you start with “S-P-I.” Even if you go back and correct yourself, you cannot take letters back and it will be deemed a misspell by the judge.

TAKE YOUR TIME! You have two minutes to spell your word.

2. Will they only use words from the Speller’s Guide? The Spelling Bee will start with words from the Speller’s Guide and then progress to words that are not in the guide. Remember, a Spelling Bee is not about memorization but about being a strong speller!

3. If I win the Bee, do I move on to Nationals? No. The CanSpell Canadian Spelling Bee was cancelled due to lack of sponsors so there is no National or Provincial Spelling Bee. Lethbridge Public Library is hosting this Bee independently so that spellers in our area stay in superb spelling shape and have the opportunity to continue to experience the fun of participating in a Spelling Bee.

4. Do I have to compete against children that are in the Spelling Mini Bee (Grade 1, 2, 3 students)? Yes. Just like in the CanSpell and National Bees, those in the Spelling Mini Bee (Grade 1—3 students) will be competing against each other for the trophy.

5. Do I have to compete against children that are in the Spelling Bee (Grade 4—6 students)? Yes. Just like in the CanSpell and National Bees, those in the Spelling Bee (Grade 4—6 students) will be competing against each other for the trophy.

How the Bee Works:

The Pronouncer reads the word.

The Speller has two minutes to spell the word. They may ask the Pronouncer questions about their word.

The Head Judge will say “That is correct.”

The speller sits down and proceeds to the next round.

If another speller in the round spells their word correctly, the speller is eliminated from the bee.

If all the spellers in the round spell their word incorrectly, the speller rejoins the bee and a new round begins.

The bee is won when only one speller in a round correctly spells their word and

spells the championship word correctly.

Speller spells the word correctly.

Speller spells the word incorrectly.

A judge will ring the bell. The speller must wait at the

edge of the stage for the round to end.

Grade 8

aerobics ambidextrous antihistamine artifact barter belittle bewilderment

carnivorous chaotic chartreuse coeducational commendation

conscience desensitize disgruntled disposable elude

eminent encroach inaudible incognito ingenious intrigue irrevocable maneuver manifesto melancholy memento mutation narrate Newfoundland

overrated paralyzed perspire

popularity prescribe provocative pulverize recourse rhinoceros scapegoat sequins subterranean supersede susceptible tempestuous translation vengeance volatile

Grade 7

adaptation agrimony analogous anarchist anterior austere beguiled betrothed bilateral catatonic chivalry cognizant colonized crucible defamatory delineate dignitary

disdained dyslexia impossible incandescent inductive interpreter interview invincible knotty magazine manifested mayhem meddlesome merriment nurtured obfuscate obtruded

odorous operatic piquant precedent premature prominent quotation resistance saltation seceded sonorous travertine unabashed vexation whetstone

1. Take your time! You have two whole minutes to spell your word. 2. Repeat the word before you begin. By repeating the word, the pronouncer and judges can make sure that you are spelling the right word. 3. Ask your questions! You can ask the Pronouncer: To repeat the word To define the word What part of speech is the word To use the word in a sentence 4. No going back—Once you have said a letter, you cannot take it back! 5. Have fun!

Tips and Tricks for Spellers:

Grade One

add ants axe bad bark bat bee boy can drop eel end eye far fox got ham hat

hen hill how jam jet kids kit left leg let lid lips lit map off pen pig poor

pot put rain red rug sad shy snow star taco tag tip try very web why wig

Grade 6

acreage anomaly anxious apiary apology asphalt autonomy bombastic brunette cabinetry calamity caribou charioteer chemical cordoned corduroy derivative

diplomats equinox evasion festered fortitude grieved historian holistic hominy hooligan humidity impinge inquiry introduction lucrative mammalian manacled

messenger obsidian palette paradox pursued quagmire reputable saleable scrounge spaghetti tangible threadbare tolerate traditions vivacious wheedle

Grade 5

acceptance actress attendance censure cheapskate chlorine clueless consonant correct cursive cyclist depicted detective dynamite embedded emotional enjoyment

eternity faltered forager headache insanity introverted journalist landslide laundry metaphor middling minority motion mountain perplex publish quaver

quirky raggedy scathed sculpture sketch spectacles surround swagger tapestry theatre transform Tuesday tutored undertow unwound wheezy

Grade Two

bacon bake burn candy charm cloth dance dime final flute fruit gift girl grade grass green hero hope

hour July lace lake luck main mint mitten most mouse nest only pair paper party prove rank road

robot sail seven silly snore spoon stay super time tires treat under wash wrap yard yellow

Grade Three

always babies behind between blackboard bonfire bridge catch circus clever climate cloudy costume count cucumber culture cushion dashing

deposit director dispute duty falter family fasting garbage groove handle happiest harness house income itself ivory loophole magnet

manual moose morning never notebook presume product quick report sleep slight smudge student thank thousand understand without

Grade Four

abject affirm animals arrest assemble babyish beliefs blunder conclude condone continue contrary curiosity dedicate default defiant deputy dispatch

dispute distinctive disturbed faulty flavor freeze grace honeybee humility inclusion innermost instant limited mandate merit multiply needled outlier

overboard pastel plundered preserve primitive provoke register reliable reproach scheme selfish slower underneath wavelength weakness whiplash wordiness