Spell check is a wonderful thing, but what did we do before computers? Before spell check and (Damn You) Auto Correct? The classroom SPELLING BEE of course.
My daughter, my prolific reader, Annelise participated in the school district spelling bee again this year. In the 6th grade, she participated and spit out her word so quickly she stumbled and was eliminated. Last year, she was sick and had to miss the whole thing. So all week I reminded her to slow down before starting her spelling.
To my surprise, this year's spelling bee had a guest pronouncer, the Queen Bee. The Queen Bee won the school district spelling bee from 4th grade all the way through 8th grade when she went on to win the Tazewell County Spelling Bee and participated in the Journal Star Spelling Bee which was televised. Of course, we had to watch the televised spelling bee because the Queen Bee is also Annelise's BFF.
As the guest pronouncer, Queen Bee provided the words to the participants for the practice round. On Annelise's turn, she said "kick".
"Cake C-A-K-E Cake," said Annelise.
"No, KICK"......ohhhhh.
For another participant, "Two".
"To? Like what kind?"
Queen Bee holds up the peace sign, "Two"...ohhhh.
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| Spelling LABORIOUS |
The words began to increase in difficulty. LABORIOUS. (When we got home that night discussing the spelling bee, Annelise tells me LABORIOUS was an inside joke between her and the Queen Bee. Who has jokes like that? Oh wait...yah, two brainy kids. That's who. Love those girls!) HYDROGEN. After correctly spelling HARMONIOUS in the 6th round, Annelise returned to her seat to fist pump Nathan, the boy sitting next to her. Yes! On to the next round.
The number of participants are dwindling. Sunshine is now among the last 15 standing. REFERENDUM. GENESIS. SIMULCAST.
Simulcast. Wait? What? Definition please? Productions or programs which were broadcast over multiple mediums. Now we are down to the Final 3!!
Troy correctly spells his word to start the new round.
"Annelise, your word is ANNOTATE." A-N-N-E-T-A-T-E. (ding)
"That is not correct." Ahhh.....Zoe, the 3rd participant steps up and misses. In order clinch his victory, Troy needs to spell one more word correctly which he easily achieves and leaves Annelise and Zoe to battle it out for 2nd place.
Annelise spells EXPRESSIONISM correctly. Zoe misses.
"Annelise, in order to win 2nd place you must correctly spell one more word. SLANTINDICULAR."
The crowd responds, "Whaaa???"
"Definition please?", asks Annelise. The answer was much longer, but it means somewhat oblique. Let's just say we struggled through a few rounds. Annelise would miss, Zoe would spell correctly and miss her additional word, or vice versa. Back & Forth.
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| Zoe, Annelise & Troy All Spelling Bee Champions! |
Annelise steps up to the microphone and says to the judges & crowd, "Are we boring you yet?" I don't know where she gets her self confidence, but she is totally comfortable up there on the stage. Annelise missed REMINISCENT. Zoe missed. Back to Annelise who was correct on POLYGLOT (Who has ever heard of that word before the spelling bee? Really.) Missed CLEMENCY, SPHINX. Correctly spelled DIMINUTIVE. Zoe misses her word. Oh please let her get this next word right!
"Annelise, your word is CENSUS.", the pronouncer states. I am sitting on the edge of my seat. As a genealogist, I am sure that I will jump up on the stage and pounce on her if she misses this one.
"I actually think I know this one. Just in case...definition please?", asked Annelise. OK, she's got it.
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| Queen Bee & Annelise |
24 rounds of spelling and my daughter, the incredible young woman that she is, can now claim the title of the 2nd place finisher in the district spelling bee. I am so proud of this little lady. She is my little Sunshine.
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