Spelling Bee 2020!
After half term, we will be launching our Spelling Bee 2020!
To promote high standards of spelling across the school, we will once again be holding our annual spelling competition, giving every child the chance to learn a list of spellings and earn house points in the process. We have found this to be a fun and motivating way to encourage learning spellings and to celebrate the achievement of the children, and we hope that this year will be no exception.
How will it work this year?
In previous years, the semi-final and final rounds of the Spelling Bee have involved the school gathering in the hall to watch the finalists and semi-finalists compete together. This will not be possible this year due to COVID-19 so we will instead be meeting virtually over Zoom. We have used this method successfully thus far for assemblies and believe this to be a simple modification that will allow the competition to continue otherwise unchanged.
Competition timeline
Week beginning 2nd November - We return to school after half term. The children will have two weeks to make sure that they know their spelling lists well. We recommend that all children start learning them over the half term break.
Week beginning 16th November - Preliminary round! Class teachers from Years 1 - 6 will test their classes a sample of words from the word list for their year group. Each word will be read aloud for the children to spell on paper. The children will be able to win house points for words spelt correctly. Each year group will then enter their top speller from each house, four spellers in total, into the semi-final.
Week beginning 23rd November - virtual semi-final! All semi-finalists will be able to earn house points for correctly spelt words. They will spell words from their year group lists. Words will be spelt out loud - a whiteboard and pen will be provided.
Week beginning 30th November - Second preliminary round! Class teachers will once again test their class in the same away as the previous preliminary round, using different words from the list. This will be another chance for all children to earn house points and, as before, the top spellers will be entered into the next round. The finalists will be chosen from this second preliminary round and so these may be different children from the semi-final!
Week beginning 7th December - Virtual final will take place in the same way as the semi-final round and the winners will be announced!
What words should my child be learning?
Please see below for the downloadable spelling bee word lists. These words have been taken from the National Curriculum statutory word lists.
How can I help my child?
Spellings can be learnt in limitless ways, although traditionally spellings are learnt by memorising them using a "Look, Cover, Say, Write and Check" approach. While this is effective, it isn't always the best or the most fun way to learn. So we encourage you to also think creatively - the more fun it is, the more spellings your child is likely to learn. Here are a few suggestions for ways that you could make learning spellings fun, engaging and memorable:
To promote high standards of spelling across the school, we will once again be holding our annual spelling competition, giving every child the chance to learn a list of spellings and earn house points in the process. We have found this to be a fun and motivating way to encourage learning spellings and to celebrate the achievement of the children, and we hope that this year will be no exception.
How will it work this year?
In previous years, the semi-final and final rounds of the Spelling Bee have involved the school gathering in the hall to watch the finalists and semi-finalists compete together. This will not be possible this year due to COVID-19 so we will instead be meeting virtually over Zoom. We have used this method successfully thus far for assemblies and believe this to be a simple modification that will allow the competition to continue otherwise unchanged.
Competition timeline
Week beginning 2nd November - We return to school after half term. The children will have two weeks to make sure that they know their spelling lists well. We recommend that all children start learning them over the half term break.
Week beginning 16th November - Preliminary round! Class teachers from Years 1 - 6 will test their classes a sample of words from the word list for their year group. Each word will be read aloud for the children to spell on paper. The children will be able to win house points for words spelt correctly. Each year group will then enter their top speller from each house, four spellers in total, into the semi-final.
Week beginning 23rd November - virtual semi-final! All semi-finalists will be able to earn house points for correctly spelt words. They will spell words from their year group lists. Words will be spelt out loud - a whiteboard and pen will be provided.
Week beginning 30th November - Second preliminary round! Class teachers will once again test their class in the same away as the previous preliminary round, using different words from the list. This will be another chance for all children to earn house points and, as before, the top spellers will be entered into the next round. The finalists will be chosen from this second preliminary round and so these may be different children from the semi-final!
Week beginning 7th December - Virtual final will take place in the same way as the semi-final round and the winners will be announced!
What words should my child be learning?
Please see below for the downloadable spelling bee word lists. These words have been taken from the National Curriculum statutory word lists.
How can I help my child?
Spellings can be learnt in limitless ways, although traditionally spellings are learnt by memorising them using a "Look, Cover, Say, Write and Check" approach. While this is effective, it isn't always the best or the most fun way to learn. So we encourage you to also think creatively - the more fun it is, the more spellings your child is likely to learn. Here are a few suggestions for ways that you could make learning spellings fun, engaging and memorable:
- First, help your child to practise reading the words. It is very hard to spell a word you can't read confidently.
- Use the words on the list to write a rhyme, song, poem or rap
- Assign letters or word chunks to sound, music or rhythm
- Write tricky words on post-it notes and display them in visible places around your home: on the fridge, on the bathroom mirror, next to light switches, on TV remotes, on laptops/tables, PlayStation controllers - wherever your child is most likely to see them! Your child will have fun choosing where to display them
- Draw the words in bubble writing or in colourful patterns
- Write out each word and then trace over it again and again. This will help with muscle memory when writing the spellings down.
- Make posters or pictures of your word for display
- Don't forget to practise spelling the words out loud!
- This is not an exhaustive list so do come up with your own fun ways to learn them, too!
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Spelling Bee 2019
Statutory Spelling Lists:
Foundation and Key Stage 1 ( Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2)
Lower Key Stage 2 ( Year 3 & Year 4)
Upper Key Stage 2 ( Year 5 & Year 6)
If you fancy an extra challenge, try one of the crosswords below:
Foundation and Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2)
Lower Key Stage 2 (Year 3 & Year 4)
Upper Key Stage 2 (Year 5 and Year 6)
Foundation and Key Stage 1 ( Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2)
Lower Key Stage 2 ( Year 3 & Year 4)
Upper Key Stage 2 ( Year 5 & Year 6)
If you fancy an extra challenge, try one of the crosswords below:
Foundation and Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2)
Lower Key Stage 2 (Year 3 & Year 4)
Upper Key Stage 2 (Year 5 and Year 6)
