Spelling Bee Checklist for a Smooth Competition

If you've been tasked with organizing a SpellingBee, you already know there's a lot to do! But the job can be low-stress (notice we didn't say stress-free) when you plan ahead and when use our organizational list.

6-12 Months Before the SpellingBee

• Decide who will compete in your spelling bee. (one classroom, one grade, several grades, several schools, etc.) This should be done at the beginning of the school year.
• Reserve the facilities and set a date for the spelling bee.
• Publicize the date and eligibility rules for students. Notify teachers, students, parents, administrators.
• Contact local businesses, if necessary, to help sponsor your event.

3-6 Months In Advance

• Decide what word lists you will use. Let spellers know in advance. The well-known Scripps National Spelling Bee uses only Webster's  Third New International Dictionary of the English Language. 
• You may want to use your school's spelling workbook word lists, some of the word lists on this site, or make your own list. Whatever you decide, be sure that students have this information in advance, as early as possible.  Keep in touch with sponsors throughout the process.

• Choose your Spelling Bee pronouncers and judges. Double-check their availability for your date.
•  If your bee will be held at a location other than your own school, arrange to have someone attend your event who is familiar with the building. Be sure you have someone to run the sound system. 
• Decide on your spelling bee rules. Send written copies to students, parents, teachers, judges and pronouncers.

1-2 Months In Advance

See our collection of bee mugs, t-shirts and buttons!

• Decide on prizes. Order medals, trophies and certificates at least 6 weeks in advance. Or print your own from online sources. Print or make name tags.
• Check back with all participants frequently. One month before the spelling bee, send a note to all classrooms, pronouncers and judges reminding them of the date. Tell them what time to be at the competition.  
• Get a list of students who are expected to participate.
• Call local newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations to let them know about the SpellingBee.
• Invite sponsors to attend.
• If you're feeling unprepared, we're here to help! There's still plenty of time to order our Spelling Bee Toolboxes! Each one has all the resources you need for a successful spelling bee. The graded volumes are extremely well-priced and are available for immediate download.

1-2 Weeks In Advance

• If you're using a stage, be sure you have chairs, a podium, microphones, and tables for the judges.
• Make name tags.
• Print out word lists for the pronouncers and judges. Gather dictionaries, pencils, and recording charts for them
• Contact media personnel again and encourage them to cover your big event.

The Day of the SpellingBee

• Arrive 2 hours early. Take with you word lists, dictionaries, recording charts, pencils, awards and name tags.
• Check the sound system.
• Double-check seating.
• Welcome your spellers, staff and audience.
• Publicly thank sponsors, spellers, teachers, parents, staff and media.
• Enjoy the bee!

After the Spelling Bee

• Clean up the facility, if necessary.
• Thank everyone who helped via snail-mail handwritten notes, or at least with a personal email.
• Recover and start planning for next year!

Spelling Bee Related Activities

In order to help your students prepare for spelling bees, be sure to provide them with lots of practice in public spelling and/or oral spelling in the classroom, along with spelling very difficult words. Here are some additional resources to help you in these areas:

A Spelling Bee Quiz - Here's a fun spelling bee quiz that covers some common words. This is a great assortment of spelling words for elementary age students. Students can complete this short quiz independently online and check their own answers.

Step Up! Spelling Bee Game - If your students are preparing for a spelling bee, this is a fun way to give them extra practice in spelling aloud. Even  if your students are not headed into a big competition, it's a great way to add variety to your spelling practice routine anytime of year!

100 Tricky Elementary Spelling Words - Your students will get an extra spelling boost as they master these important words! By mastering key elementary spelling words early, elementary students  can achieve success and build confidence not only for spelling bees, but for daily writing work and lifetime usage. 

200 Difficult English Words to Spell - Everyone has their own list of difficult English words to spell, but we've pulled 200 of the most common together here in one list! Once you've mastered all of these words (and their meanings), you'll be a strong speller in almost any group of people. If you're thinking of competing in a spelling bee, here's a great place to launch your studies! NOTE: This page contains links to other challenging lists and quizzes. 

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Ann Richmond Fisher is a longtime published educational writer, a former classroom teacher and a former homeschool teacher. Ann's spelling bee resources, graded spelling word lists, spelling games, worksheets, and other language arts resources have become respected around the globe since she launched Spelling-Words-Well in 2010.

Ann is also the creator of www.word-game-world.com.