The competition years for the Scripps National Spelling Bee are over. I am still coaching my sister and she is excited! Today, I began high school and in my Honors English class, we will be learning Greek and Latin roots. I guess I will have background knowledge of that. I am also taking French, which will be very helpful for my sister in the Bee, who cannot take a language class yet. I will teach her the word patterns that I learn!
I am so excited for everything that will happen this year. High school is very different from Elementary and Junior High, but I know I can do it. If last year was your last year in the Bee, do not stop learning new words or spelling. There is still the AARP National Spelling Bee, and there are other Bees out there as well. I heard that someone is planning a High School National Spelling Bee, but it is online.
For you spellers who are still eligible, remember that every speller has to stop competing at Scripps one day. If you are a third grader and went to nationals, you still have five years remaining, but you will be finished competing at Scripps. Do not take any spelling bee moment for granted, because you never know if you will make it back to the National Spelling Bee.
Word of the Day
catafalque - /kad-uh-falk/ [Latin to Italian] structure used in churches in funerals
If I get too busy, I may be only posting Word of the Week. Good luck spellers!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Portuguese Rules
Did you know that Portuguese has passed through non-European languages, such as Sanskrit, Arabic, and several African languages? Portuguese and Spanish are closely related, with a few exceptions.
The long "a" sound is spelled ei. (examples: pareira, capoeira, seringueiro)
The long "i" sound is spelled ai. (examples: coaita, saimiri, pirai)
The long "u" sound can be spelled u, o, or ou. (examples: murumuru, chocalho, chibigouazou)
The "sh" sound is spelled with an x. (examples: abacaxi, xarque, caixinha)
The "sh" sound at the beginning of the word is spelled with a ch. (examples: chamade, chamiso, chavante)
The "k" sound is spelled with a c or qu. (examples: candiru, callimico, jequitiba, macaque)
The "zh" sound is spelled with a j. (examples: feijoada, teju, acajou)
Portuguese is a rare language used at the National Spelling Bee. There will be one appearing up every now and then. If you know the rules, you will probably get the word right.
Tomorrow or whenever I can, I will post rules from Persian, Sanskrit, and Hindi.
The long "a" sound is spelled ei. (examples: pareira, capoeira, seringueiro)
The long "i" sound is spelled ai. (examples: coaita, saimiri, pirai)
The long "u" sound can be spelled u, o, or ou. (examples: murumuru, chocalho, chibigouazou)
The "sh" sound is spelled with an x. (examples: abacaxi, xarque, caixinha)
The "sh" sound at the beginning of the word is spelled with a ch. (examples: chamade, chamiso, chavante)
The "k" sound is spelled with a c or qu. (examples: candiru, callimico, jequitiba, macaque)
The "zh" sound is spelled with a j. (examples: feijoada, teju, acajou)
Portuguese is a rare language used at the National Spelling Bee. There will be one appearing up every now and then. If you know the rules, you will probably get the word right.
Tomorrow or whenever I can, I will post rules from Persian, Sanskrit, and Hindi.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Spelling Bee Studies for My Sister
Wow! My sister is getting better at spelling all the time. Just three days ago on the DS, she got a streak of 67 correctly spelled words! She even correctly spelled guilloche and she did not watch the 2006 National Spelling Bee with me.
Her favorite word is still Abib (aveev). I know she will do well in the spelling bee, not just because she is a good speller. When she reads, she writes down obscure words. She recently learned the word kibbutz in Left Behind.
Her goal this year is to make it the the championship finals. That was not my goal during my first year when I was eligible to compete. My goal was to make it to just make it to nationals. When I learned that I could have passed the test if I had made it to nationals, I wanted to advance to the quarterfinals or even semifinals the next year. I quizzed my sister on the test and she only missed two words: Bewusstseinslage and malocclusion. We both took the test at the same time the next year, but at home. She missed three words and I do not remember which ones she missed. I missed galimatias as galamatias. My sister did well with the test in 2009, 2010, and 2011, missing only one word in 2009 and 2010 (2009 - onychorrhexis ; 2010 - bouleversement). In 2011, she passed it.
We have been making a schedule for her now that she has started school. Are you spellers ready for school and the spelling bee? Good luck everyone!
Her favorite word is still Abib (aveev). I know she will do well in the spelling bee, not just because she is a good speller. When she reads, she writes down obscure words. She recently learned the word kibbutz in Left Behind.
Her goal this year is to make it the the championship finals. That was not my goal during my first year when I was eligible to compete. My goal was to make it to just make it to nationals. When I learned that I could have passed the test if I had made it to nationals, I wanted to advance to the quarterfinals or even semifinals the next year. I quizzed my sister on the test and she only missed two words: Bewusstseinslage and malocclusion. We both took the test at the same time the next year, but at home. She missed three words and I do not remember which ones she missed. I missed galimatias as galamatias. My sister did well with the test in 2009, 2010, and 2011, missing only one word in 2009 and 2010 (2009 - onychorrhexis ; 2010 - bouleversement). In 2011, she passed it.
We have been making a schedule for her now that she has started school. Are you spellers ready for school and the spelling bee? Good luck everyone!
Spanish Rules - Part 2
I have not posted anything for quite a while, because I have been getting ready for high school. Next Monday, I will continue the Word of the Day posts.
The long "e" followed by "yuh"/yoh" sound is spelled with an illa/illo. (examples: mantilla, banderilla, blanquillo, piloncillo)
The long "o" sound is spelled with an o. (examples: concho, zocalo, diablo)
The "h" sound is spelled with a j. (examples: jicama, zanja, aparejo)
The "k" sound can be spelled with a c or qu. (examples: cacao, cantina, quiaquia, quinta)
The "kay" sound is spelled que. (examples: quesadilla, quebrada*, quebracho)
The schwa at the end of the word is spelled with an a. (examples: bodega, junta, hacienda)
The letters ch and ll are considered single letters in Spanish.
A "th" sound will be spelled with a d if it is surrounded by vowels (examples: cogida, rejoneador, toreador)
*If any of you spellers have heard of the song Sambalele in Portuguese, they use the word quebrada. If you have taken Spanish or studied this word, do you wonder why it was used in the song? Portuguese and Spanish have a very close relationship, because they have many similarities in spelling, but Portuguese has some spellings that make it unique from Spanish. I will be writing about Portuguese rules starting tomorrow or whenever I can.
The long "e" followed by "yuh"/yoh" sound is spelled with an illa/illo. (examples: mantilla, banderilla, blanquillo, piloncillo)
The long "o" sound is spelled with an o. (examples: concho, zocalo, diablo)
The "h" sound is spelled with a j. (examples: jicama, zanja, aparejo)
The "k" sound can be spelled with a c or qu. (examples: cacao, cantina, quiaquia, quinta)
The "kay" sound is spelled que. (examples: quesadilla, quebrada*, quebracho)
The schwa at the end of the word is spelled with an a. (examples: bodega, junta, hacienda)
The letters ch and ll are considered single letters in Spanish.
A "th" sound will be spelled with a d if it is surrounded by vowels (examples: cogida, rejoneador, toreador)
*If any of you spellers have heard of the song Sambalele in Portuguese, they use the word quebrada. If you have taken Spanish or studied this word, do you wonder why it was used in the song? Portuguese and Spanish have a very close relationship, because they have many similarities in spelling, but Portuguese has some spellings that make it unique from Spanish. I will be writing about Portuguese rules starting tomorrow or whenever I can.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Registration Begins
On the spelling bee website (spellingbee.com), it says that school registration for the Scripps National Spelling Bee has begun. The price is higher this year, $109, unlike prior years when it was just $99. Make sure your school is enrolled before the deadline: October 17, 2011.
Since The Valley Journals started sponsoring spellers for the spelling bee, my sister's school has been enrolling since then. Her studies are going well and she is doing amazing! I do not know how she figured out bremsstrahlung so quickly, but I guess she's been reading How to Spell Like a Champ or one of my etymology dictionaries.
Good luck to all the spellers competing this year!
Good luck to all the spellers competing this year!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Spanish Rules - Part 1
Spanish is an important language to learn in our lives. I took Spanish from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, but it was not for a grade. In fourth and fifth grade, we learned conversational Spanish and I still remember most of the phrases.
It is best to spell Spanish words as they sound with the exception for a few consonants: ll, which is usually pronounced "y" and j, which is pronounced "h".
The Spanish alphabet does not have a k, although k is found in English words from Spanish only when Spanish has borrowed those words from some other language. Latin also has an influence on French.
Do not use a ph spelling for the "f" sound in Spanish-derived words.
The long "a" sound is spelled e. (examples: zarzuela, capeador, coleta)
The "g" + long "a" sound is spelled gue. (examples: vargueno, malaguena)
The long "a" sound at the end of the word is spelled e. (examples: suerte, bombre, guanche)
The long "e" sound at the end of the word is spelled with an i or e. (examples: bonaci, caji, zacate, timbe)
I will post more rules tomorrow or when I have time!
It is best to spell Spanish words as they sound with the exception for a few consonants: ll, which is usually pronounced "y" and j, which is pronounced "h".
The Spanish alphabet does not have a k, although k is found in English words from Spanish only when Spanish has borrowed those words from some other language. Latin also has an influence on French.
Do not use a ph spelling for the "f" sound in Spanish-derived words.
The long "a" sound is spelled e. (examples: zarzuela, capeador, coleta)
The "g" + long "a" sound is spelled gue. (examples: vargueno, malaguena)
The long "a" sound at the end of the word is spelled e. (examples: suerte, bombre, guanche)
The long "e" sound at the end of the word is spelled with an i or e. (examples: bonaci, caji, zacate, timbe)
I will post more rules tomorrow or when I have time!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Registration
Registration for the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee begins on August 16th, which is twelve days from now! My friends, sister, and cousin are very excited to compete. If the Bee was extended throughout high school I would be competing. At least I am very excited for every single speller at all levels. Who knows who will win the entire Bee?
On the first day of school last year, I mentioned the spelling bee in English class and my school enrolled immediately. I had been studying for such a long time that I had to make sure my school was enrolled. Before 2010 and 2011, I went to a school that did not sign up for Scripps, and from 2007-2009, I had to compete in the Association of Christian Schools International Spelling Bee. The first - fourth graders could only go through class, school, then district, but I was sick the day of the school bee. Remember that there was no sponsor from my area 2002-2008.
The Bee will be very exciting this year and I cannot wait for all of activities! Good luck to everyone!
On the first day of school last year, I mentioned the spelling bee in English class and my school enrolled immediately. I had been studying for such a long time that I had to make sure my school was enrolled. Before 2010 and 2011, I went to a school that did not sign up for Scripps, and from 2007-2009, I had to compete in the Association of Christian Schools International Spelling Bee. The first - fourth graders could only go through class, school, then district, but I was sick the day of the school bee. Remember that there was no sponsor from my area 2002-2008.
The Bee will be very exciting this year and I cannot wait for all of activities! Good luck to everyone!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Japanese Rules
After losing Internet connection for several days, I finally get to start posting Japanese Rules. There were a lot of Japanese words used at the National Spelling Bee this year, such as teppanyaki, haori, urushiye, and gagaku.
The long "a" sound is spelled ei or e. (examples: geisha, yosenabe, reiki)
The long "e" sound at the end of the word is spelled with an i or e. (examples: chorogi, gi, koji, Meiji, yakitori, momme, mume)
The long "i" sound is spelled ai. (examples: bonsai, kaiseki, yamamai)
The long "o" sound is spelled o. (examples: gyokuro, zendo, gingko)
The "oo" sound is spelled u. (examples: chanoyu, zaibatsu, shiatsu)
The "k" sound is spelled k. (examples: kakemono, bugaku, soba)
The schwa sound at the end of the word is spelled a. (examples: ikebana, kana, katana)
Words that have double consonants: hokku, issei, momme, seppuku, shikken, tenno, teppanyaki
Unfortunately, I do not know any songs in Japanese. Whenever I can, I will post more rules for the next origins. Continue studying and good luck!
The long "a" sound is spelled ei or e. (examples: geisha, yosenabe, reiki)
The long "e" sound at the end of the word is spelled with an i or e. (examples: chorogi, gi, koji, Meiji, yakitori, momme, mume)
The long "i" sound is spelled ai. (examples: bonsai, kaiseki, yamamai)
The long "o" sound is spelled o. (examples: gyokuro, zendo, gingko)
The "oo" sound is spelled u. (examples: chanoyu, zaibatsu, shiatsu)
The "k" sound is spelled k. (examples: kakemono, bugaku, soba)
The schwa sound at the end of the word is spelled a. (examples: ikebana, kana, katana)
Words that have double consonants: hokku, issei, momme, seppuku, shikken, tenno, teppanyaki
Unfortunately, I do not know any songs in Japanese. Whenever I can, I will post more rules for the next origins. Continue studying and good luck!
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