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All About the CFS Spelling Bee Program – Rules, etc. The Local Spelling Bees/The County Bee
Eligibility CFS Support Group member students in grades 1st – 6th. Associate CFS members may participate in a CFS Support Group local Bee. [Special note: An additional/optional Bee may be held for Kindergarten children at the local level using the first grade list; there is no provision for Kindergarten spellers at the County event]. Pronouncers Provision should be made for 1 Pronouncer and 2 Word Judges and 1 Awards Monitor per grade. The Pronouncer’s job is solely to enunciate the words and sentences. The Judges’ job is to write each child’s name on the round sheet and write—letter for letter—the exact spelling of the words the competitors spell. This is for the purpose of keeping a record verifying exactly what was spoken by the speller. The Awards Monitor lists each grade’s winners in the order they placed. Pronouncers and Judges shall not prounounce or Judge for the grade in which their child is competing. Spelling Format The pronouncer will pick a word, in order, from the word box of that grade. 1. Say the word, 2. Use it in a sentence, and 3. Repeat the word. The speller will then 1. Say the word, 2. Spell the word, and 3. Say the word again. Example: Pronouncer: Robert, your word is “house.” I live in this house. House. Speller: House…. H-O-U-S-E……house. It is the Pronouncer’s job to ascertain that the speller has correctly heard the word. If the Pronouncer feels that the speller has not heard the word clearly, then the Pronouncer will repeat the word until it is reasonably clear that the speller understands the word he/she is being asked to spell. Example: Pronouncer: John, your word is “peripheral.” My doctor says that I have bad peripheral vision. Peripheral. Speller: Preferral? Pronouncer: Listen again, John. “Peripheral.” Speller: Peripheral? Pronouncer: Yes. Speller: O.K. Peripheral….P-E-R-I-F-… Corrections Each speller will have two opportunities at their LOCAL spelling bee to make a correction and one at the COUNTY. If the speller realizes, before closing the turn by saying the word again, that a mistake has been made in the spelling, then the speller may signal by saying, “No,” or “May I start over?” Then the speller may start the turn over (only one correction within a word). Example: Speller: House…H-A-U…No, H-O-U-S-E…. house. Or Speller: House….H-A-U-…Oops! May I start over? House….H-O-U-S-E… house. Spelling Lists Each speller is expected to have studied the regular word list for their grade. Tie breaker words are taken from the next grade up. In fairness to all, we request the speller does NOT study beyond his grade level. Sequence of Spelling Rounds Practice Round Qtr 1 – 4 rounds Qtr 2 – 4 rounds Qtr 3 – 4 rounds Qtr 4 – 4 rounds Next grade Qtr 1 – 4 rounds Next grade Qtr 2 – 4 rounds Etc.... Advancing to the Next Round A speller will advance to the next round after correctly spelling the word, if there are other spellers who also correctly spelled in the same round. If all spellers misspell in a given round, they all advance to the next round. If a student misspells a word, they will be told that it is incorrect and will be given the correct spelling. They must wait to be seated until the end of the round for directions to either be seated with their family or continue to the next round (in the event that all contestants misspell that round’s word). Special Words The student must spell the words exactly with capitals, hyphens, saying space/separate word. (Example: The word is "French fries." The student must say, "French fries, capital F-r-e-n-c-h space [or separate word], f-r-i-e-s, French fries." If the student fails to say "capital," "space," or "hyphen" where needed, the word is incorrect. Days of the week and months of the year should be spelled with capital letters. Declaring Champion At the end of a round, if there remains only one speller who spelled their word correctly, that speller is the champion for that grade, thus receiving 1st place. Determining Runner Ups If multiple spellers are eliminated prior to the champion being determined, those spellers return for tie breaker rounds to determine 2nd and 3rd places (unless the tied spellers are from different support groups then they would simply take their places accordingly). Especially on the local level, this process is important to determine who represents the group in the County Spelling Bee in the event the champion is unable to participate. In the event a first place winner from a Support Group is unable to participate in the County Bee, the second place winner from that grade may be designated as the group’s representative. Tie breaker rounds will utilize words from unstudied, next grade’s list starting with Qtr 1 words 4 rounds, Qtr 2 words 4 rounds and so on (see “Unstudied Words” below). Unstudied Words – allowed questions All spellers are expected to have studied the words in their grade level list. However, since no speller is expected to have studied words from the more advanced grade levels, in the event such words are presented to the speller, the speller is allowed to ask the following questions to aid the determination of the spelling:
Declaring Dual Winners In the local and County Spelling Bees there will be no dual winners. Rounds continue until there is a clear winner for 1st, 2nd, 3rd places in each grade, as applicable. One-person participation If there is only one speller in a grade they will spell until they miss. As long as they spell one word correctly they will be awarded 1st place and able to advance to the County competition to represent their Support Group for their grade. Thus they are not penalized for being the only speller in their grade. Same rules apply to the County Bee. Combined Local Bees One Support Group may combine with another for its Spelling Bee, but each Support Group will have its own members represented at the County Bee. [Example: Poway and Carlsbad hold their Bee together. In the 3rd grade, Poway has one student and Carlsbad has two. The winner from Poway and the winner from Carlsbad advance to the County Bee]. Each speller will get a certificate showing their place within the Support Group they represent not the local Bee they joined, if they differ. So, in looking at the example above, the speller from Poway, if they place, will get a certificate stating Poway Spelling Bee and the spellers from Carlsbad will get certificates stating Carlsbad Spelling Bee, with their places. As with all spellers (single spellers or otherwise) they must spell at least one word correctly in order to qualify to place or advance to the County. Awards County Bee – CFS will provide trophies that will be awarded to the clear winners for each place (1st, 2nd, 3rd) for each grade. Local Bees – CFS Support Groups may take care of participant awards locally (i.e. certificates) Entry Fee Winners from the local Bees will submit their entry form and payment by the designated deadline to CFS in order participate in the County Bee. These entry forms will be provided by the Spelling Bee Coordinator. Date, time, place and fees for the County Bee will be determined yearly by the Coordinator. Current Deadlines To be announced. Decorum and Presentation Contestants must dress appropriately. No baseball caps, minimal exposure of skin (no strapless shirts/dresses or tank shirts; no midriff baring articles of clothing). No gum chewing, etc. Questions? Contact CFS of San Diego at [email protected]. |
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