Someone, named Alison Armentrout, does digital public affairs at Edelman, a communications firm in Washington D.C., where one of her clients is with National History Day (NHD), told me to share a video about former speller, Tony Incorvati of Ohio. NHD is a year-long academic program focused on grades 6-12 that works with both students and teachers to improve the teaching and learning of history. Tony competed in the 2008, 2009, and 2011 National Spelling Bees.
Tony said the national competitions, such as the National History Day competition, have widened his horizons. "These have gotten me accustomed to a wider level of competition and helped me make friends outside my school," Tony said.
To learn more about this contest, click on the link:
http://nationalhistoryday.org/
To view the video interview with Tony Incorvati, please click on the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN1bEEivMwI
Tony is also one of the spellers who encouraged me to continue on in the Bee. Thank you so much to you and Nicholas Rushlow!
http://www.visualthesaurus.com/cm/wunderkind/2151/
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Utah at the National Spelling Bee
There were four Utahns who made it to the National Spelling Bee. They all did well, and this is the best Utah has done, ever. I do not count 2001, because there was no written test then. Anna-Marie Sprenger of Provo, Utah, advanced to semifinals, but was unfortunately eliminated in Round 5 after misspelling privatim as privatum. All the Utahns impressed me this year, even if Matthew Perry misspelled keest as kiest. Even if I knew the word, I thought Matthew took a pretty good guess.
I was upset that Vismaya Kharkar did not make it to semifinals. This year, she did amazing at the Salt Lake Valley Spelling Bee, but it was hard to make it to semifinals this year. Spellers had to get a minimum of 29 points, unlike last year when spellers could have a minimum of 27 or 28 points. Nine more could have made it to semifinals if the minimum was lowered. In 2007, spellers needed to spell at least 18 words, correctly on the written test.
I though Jared Ward did amazing, too. He would take his time to think about the word, while he was up at the microphone. I had a feeling that he knew Ulyssean and echolalia, but he wanted to make sure that he had the right letters. When he was at the microphone, he reminded me of Veronica Penny. Veronica really takes all the time she needs at the microphone.
Back to Vismaya. When I heard maillot, I knew she had it! That word is in How to Spell Like a Champ, and she told me that she has the book.
Anna-Marie was one of the spellers who was impressive to watch. When she heard persillade and zucchini, she knew the etymologies right away. She did not hesitate on any word at all. During semifinals, she would ask for all the information, then say, "I think I got this!". She was a quick thinker, and never had the clock run low on her. If she was thrown a lot French, German, Romanian, and Spanish words, she would have probably won. Anna-Marie, you really showed what Utah can do at the National Spelling Bee! I wish you had a few more years of eligibility!
I was not just proud of Utah this year, but all the spellers. They were really focused this year, unlike last year, when a lot of words from Spell It! were misspelled. To me, the words seem to get easier every year. This year, no speller seemed nervous. Perhaps there were some, but it did not show.
I am proud of all the millions of spellers every year, who try to aim for the Scripps National Spelling Bee title. This is the longest-running educational program! I hope the Bee is extended throughout high school, because I want more students to compete. It hurts that the Bee is only until eighth grade. Good to every speller to every speller who will be competing in the future. Treasure every moment of the Bee!
I was upset that Vismaya Kharkar did not make it to semifinals. This year, she did amazing at the Salt Lake Valley Spelling Bee, but it was hard to make it to semifinals this year. Spellers had to get a minimum of 29 points, unlike last year when spellers could have a minimum of 27 or 28 points. Nine more could have made it to semifinals if the minimum was lowered. In 2007, spellers needed to spell at least 18 words, correctly on the written test.
I though Jared Ward did amazing, too. He would take his time to think about the word, while he was up at the microphone. I had a feeling that he knew Ulyssean and echolalia, but he wanted to make sure that he had the right letters. When he was at the microphone, he reminded me of Veronica Penny. Veronica really takes all the time she needs at the microphone.
Back to Vismaya. When I heard maillot, I knew she had it! That word is in How to Spell Like a Champ, and she told me that she has the book.
Anna-Marie was one of the spellers who was impressive to watch. When she heard persillade and zucchini, she knew the etymologies right away. She did not hesitate on any word at all. During semifinals, she would ask for all the information, then say, "I think I got this!". She was a quick thinker, and never had the clock run low on her. If she was thrown a lot French, German, Romanian, and Spanish words, she would have probably won. Anna-Marie, you really showed what Utah can do at the National Spelling Bee! I wish you had a few more years of eligibility!
I was not just proud of Utah this year, but all the spellers. They were really focused this year, unlike last year, when a lot of words from Spell It! were misspelled. To me, the words seem to get easier every year. This year, no speller seemed nervous. Perhaps there were some, but it did not show.
I am proud of all the millions of spellers every year, who try to aim for the Scripps National Spelling Bee title. This is the longest-running educational program! I hope the Bee is extended throughout high school, because I want more students to compete. It hurts that the Bee is only until eighth grade. Good to every speller to every speller who will be competing in the future. Treasure every moment of the Bee!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Spelling Bee Studies
Spelling Bee studies are going great! I am still studying no matter what, because I love words and they will stay with me my whole life. I do not know how life would be like if I had never become interested in the spelling bee. My sister has been studying, too, and whenever she studies the Scripps Bee DS Game, she is hooked for hours. She said that by the end of the summer she hopes to be on the Ultimate level, which is the level with words at nationals. Right now she is on the Champion level.
If you win the National Spelling Bee, all the time you used to study was worth it all. It does not matter how long you have studied, even if you studied for six straight years. If you do not win ever, think of everything you did every year at the Bee. When I misspelled my final word at the spelling bee, I saw memories of the Bee and all my friends who would be disappointed. If the spelling bee gets extended throughout high school, I will continue studying. If I had made it to nationals from 2007-2011, leaving friends would probably be the hardest part of the Bee.
I am grateful that the Bee is open to the public now. So much has changed this year, that I thought it was magical. I badly want my sister to make it to nationals next year! I have seen so many photos of the Gaylord National Hotel, and they are all gorgeous.
Good luck to all the spellers, in advance! I will really miss the Bee, even if I have said this over a hundred times. I spent so many years of my life preparing for the spelling bee.
If you win the National Spelling Bee, all the time you used to study was worth it all. It does not matter how long you have studied, even if you studied for six straight years. If you do not win ever, think of everything you did every year at the Bee. When I misspelled my final word at the spelling bee, I saw memories of the Bee and all my friends who would be disappointed. If the spelling bee gets extended throughout high school, I will continue studying. If I had made it to nationals from 2007-2011, leaving friends would probably be the hardest part of the Bee.
I am grateful that the Bee is open to the public now. So much has changed this year, that I thought it was magical. I badly want my sister to make it to nationals next year! I have seen so many photos of the Gaylord National Hotel, and they are all gorgeous.
Good luck to all the spellers, in advance! I will really miss the Bee, even if I have said this over a hundred times. I spent so many years of my life preparing for the spelling bee.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Busy Life
I guess I underestimated how busy summer will be. Today, I began Geometry for high school credit. Yesterday, I continued my planning for the spelling bee club. Right now, it is going well, so if you want to help, please email me. spellingchamp135@gmail.com.
I also have the Bible Bee to work with, which is way difficult, because you have to recite the verses word for word. During the semifinals and finals, you are not allowed to restart, but during preliminaries, you are allowed to. In my opinion, the National Bible Bee is stricter than the National Spelling Bee. I have found the National Geographic Bee and the National Bible Bee harder than the National Spelling Bee and Mathcounts.
A new activity was added to my schedule after I learned that I was promoted to the touring level of choir. On Saturday, my choir had to do a recording. It was so much fun, and very tiring after a while. Whenever we had a break I studied some spelling.
I hope to put up a few spelling lists up soon!
I also have the Bible Bee to work with, which is way difficult, because you have to recite the verses word for word. During the semifinals and finals, you are not allowed to restart, but during preliminaries, you are allowed to. In my opinion, the National Bible Bee is stricter than the National Spelling Bee. I have found the National Geographic Bee and the National Bible Bee harder than the National Spelling Bee and Mathcounts.
A new activity was added to my schedule after I learned that I was promoted to the touring level of choir. On Saturday, my choir had to do a recording. It was so much fun, and very tiring after a while. Whenever we had a break I studied some spelling.
I hope to put up a few spelling lists up soon!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Spelling Bee Poems
I wrote a few spelling bee poems, and I am planning to write more.
Figuring out the Word
I hear a very obscure word.
I ask for the definition, language of origin,
alternate pronunciations, and other information.
I started to think about this esoteric word.
It is not in the Consolidated Word List.
It is not in my Hexco products.
It is not on my wall of words.
There is nothing I can
recall from my note cards.
It is not in any books I have read.
It is not in any of my twenty-five binders.
The clock continued winding down.
I asked for information again.
The clock was soon at thirty seconds.
It was all on me now.
I slowly spelled the word,
Judge Mary Brooks rang the bell.
Dr. Jacques Bailly gave me the correct spelling.
I said, "Thanks!", walked off the stage, and
was led to the Comfort Room.
The Defining Moment
A fellow speller just walked backed to his seat
after misspelling his word.
I have two more words to spell.
If I spell them both correctly,
I will be the champion.
I began walking to the microphone,
and listened to my word.
I then asked for the information,
and I knew it.
My hand and finger are trembling
while spelling the word.
Now I am moving onto the final round.
I received my word.
This cannot be the word
I learned in History!
When I heard the definition and origin,
my heart began to pump quickly,
that I almost started to jump, and scream
the letters out, like the 1997 champion,
Rebecca Sealfon.
I smiled and slowly spelled the word.
When Judge Mary Brooks said,
"You are the champion!"
tears came out of my eyes,
and the audience stood up, clapped,
screamed, and cried.
My family embraced me, then I was
given the trophy.
This is a moment I will never forget.
I have never shared these poems to anyone outside my family (this includes relatives). These poems show how I would feel in the spelling bee. I wrote these poems before the 2010-2011 spelling bee season began. If you can give me more ideas, I would love to write about them, too.
By the way, I will be posting Word of the Day again, when the 2011-2012 school year begins. Continue spelling this summer. If you want to win, study when you have time. If you find yourself distracted by the television, computer, Ipod, and other electronics, turn them off and study! It is okay if you are studying from the computer, Ipod, or other electronics. Good luck to everyone competing next year and the next years!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Ecrire avec Votre Rêve! Ecrire avec Votre Coeur! Ecrire avec Votre Amour!
If you do not get what the title means, it says, "Spell with your dream! Spell with your heart! Spell with your love!" I do not know if my French is accurate, but it is the best I can do. I hope you continue doing that, and never give up. As long as you persevere, you will do amazing!
Now that the 2011 National Spelling Bee is over, it is time to continue studying for the 2012 National Spelling Bee. I have not taken a break since 2005. I thought my consecutive studying led back only to 2009, but I checked old calendars, which had marks for each day I studied. My streak is still going! April 12, 2005 to whenever a day when the spelling bee will pass. I do not think spelling will pass for me, because I still want to study with other spellers.
I also count choir as studying for the spelling bee as well, because we learn a lot of word patterns, along with their etymology as well.
Always do your best. Do not misspell a word, because you do not really care if you win. Then again, I do not think any competitive speller wants to misspell. Think of the word patterns in your head.
Do not compete against each other. As 2009 National Spelling Bee Champion, Kavya Shivashankar once said, "Instead of competing against each other, I compete against the dictionary." When I competed, I never cared about my competition. I cared about them, because I wanted them to spell their words correctly. We were never like, "I'm against you, so I have to hate you." It was more of, "Good luck, and do your best, no matter what the outcome is."
I focus on my motto always. I say it before, during, and after every competition.
Remember to make a schedule for your studying. I doesn't matter how long you study, or how many words you know. What matters is figuring out words when you are in the contest.
Always be glad with your placement. Always set goals and dreams.
Now that the 2011 National Spelling Bee is over, it is time to continue studying for the 2012 National Spelling Bee. I have not taken a break since 2005. I thought my consecutive studying led back only to 2009, but I checked old calendars, which had marks for each day I studied. My streak is still going! April 12, 2005 to whenever a day when the spelling bee will pass. I do not think spelling will pass for me, because I still want to study with other spellers.
I also count choir as studying for the spelling bee as well, because we learn a lot of word patterns, along with their etymology as well.
Always do your best. Do not misspell a word, because you do not really care if you win. Then again, I do not think any competitive speller wants to misspell. Think of the word patterns in your head.
Do not compete against each other. As 2009 National Spelling Bee Champion, Kavya Shivashankar once said, "Instead of competing against each other, I compete against the dictionary." When I competed, I never cared about my competition. I cared about them, because I wanted them to spell their words correctly. We were never like, "I'm against you, so I have to hate you." It was more of, "Good luck, and do your best, no matter what the outcome is."
I focus on my motto always. I say it before, during, and after every competition.
Remember to make a schedule for your studying. I doesn't matter how long you study, or how many words you know. What matters is figuring out words when you are in the contest.
Always be glad with your placement. Always set goals and dreams.
Spelling Bee Club/Choir Summer Camp/Find all the Words in the Song which are in Webster's Third
As many people may ask me, you're still studying? Of course! There is no reason to stop learning about words! In fact, I still need it for the spelling bee club I'm planning! By the way, if you are not from Salt Lake, Davis, Juab, Utah, or Wasatch Counties in Utah, each session will be filmed, and you can study from them. Spellers from Utah in the counties mentioned, you can watch the videos, too if you cannot make it to a session. Other spellers around the nation and world are welcome as well. Email me at spellingchamp135@gmail.com.
Who is starting the studying now for the 2012 National Spelling Bee in my family? My cousin, who lives in Denver, Colorado and my sister! They are both outstanding spellers! They are the first official members of my club. Just last night, my sister just started to study with the Scripps Bee Game on the Nintendo D.S. She was hooked onto it for nearly two hours.
I am ready to begin my spelling bee club whenever it is ready. I am going to be slow with updates at first, but I will pick up the pace. I will try to make a website, but I confess that I am not good with computers. I will post the videos on the blog, if I cannot make a website. If you want to know about how to do something, post a comment, and I will make a non-session video.
Tips will not just be about spelling, but what to do, and what not to do when you are on stage. Here are some:
Who is starting the studying now for the 2012 National Spelling Bee in my family? My cousin, who lives in Denver, Colorado and my sister! They are both outstanding spellers! They are the first official members of my club. Just last night, my sister just started to study with the Scripps Bee Game on the Nintendo D.S. She was hooked onto it for nearly two hours.
I am ready to begin my spelling bee club whenever it is ready. I am going to be slow with updates at first, but I will pick up the pace. I will try to make a website, but I confess that I am not good with computers. I will post the videos on the blog, if I cannot make a website. If you want to know about how to do something, post a comment, and I will make a non-session video.
Tips will not just be about spelling, but what to do, and what not to do when you are on stage. Here are some:
- Do not freak out! Stay relaxed.
- When you are waiting for your word, make sure you are not messing around, biting your nails, or any other bad habit.
- While you are spelling, ask for the information you need. Do not ask for unnecessary information, or the audience will smell your show-off behavior, and find it annoying. Plus, you will waste your precious time. Two minutes and thirty seconds is plenty of time.
Sometimes I like to go somewhat off subject. You know how there are Suzuki Music camps all over the world? The camp I am talking to you about is a choir camp. This year was very special, because we had a day with the Drakensberg Boys Choir from South Africa. We learned Zulu songs, which made me think, has there ever been a Zulu word used at the National Spelling Bee? Some of the songs the boys sang were Afrikaans, and I am pretty sure those words have been used at the Bee. Here are some:
- muishond
- blouwildebeesoog
- wildebeest
- hartebeest
I enjoy trying to relate the National Spelling Bee to other things. I closely relate it to choir, except my choir is not a contest, until we go to the World Choir Games or another contest.
Find all the words in the song which are in Webster's Third. I will help with the first words, and they will be bolded.
Le Ciel a Visite la Terre
Le ciel a visité la terre,
Mon bien-aimé repose en moi
Du saint amour c'est le mystère!
Ô mon âme adore et tais-toi!
Amour que je ne puis comprendre,
Jésus habite dans mon coeur!
Jusques là vous pouvez descendre,
Humilité de mon sauveur!
Le ciel a visité la terre,
Mon bien-aimé repose en moi
Du saint amour c'est le mystère!
Ô mon âme adore et tais-toi!
Vous savez bien que je vous aime,
Moi, qui par vous fut tant aimé!
Que tout autre amour que vous même
Par votre feu soit consumé!
Le ciel a visité la terre,
Mon bien-aimé repose en moi
Du saint amour c'est le mystère!
Ô mon âme adore et tais-toi!
À votre chair mon âme unie
De vos élus ressent la paix
Divin Jésus, sainte harmonie,
Venez en mon coeur à jamais!
Le ciel a visité la terre,
Mon bien-aimé repose en moi
Du saint amour c'est le mystère!
Ô mon âme adore et tais-toi!
Good luck, and continue spelling! Email me if you have a question, or want a post about any spelling bee topic! spellingchamp135@gmail.com.
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