Man, that was a long time ago. I remember I have been in spelling bees, I don’t know which year(s) though I know it was in elementary school, I know they were only small-scale affairs (the school district at most), and I know I did well. I’m pretty sure I won at least one, but I’m not sure I won all I participated in.
I was always a good speller due to the fact I was reading all the time from an extremely young age. My ability to pronounce things correctly, on the other hand…
I was always an excellent speller (until recently, that is). I was the school champ for a few years in elementary/middle school. They didn’t have any wider competitions back then.
Once, there was a mother/son spelling competition on tv. We got into the finals, until I messed up on the word “envoy”. Back then, it was pronounced “on-voy”.
I can’t remember if I won or came in second, but I know I did very well in the 6th grade Bee I participated in.
I can’t believe you guys can remember so many details!
I placed 2nd in my elementary school spelling bee in 5th grade, because I spelled too quickly and left out the “i” in “juicily.”
I won the next year, on the word “equilateral.” Then I won the city/county bee, when it was down to two, and the other girl missed on “tapir.” Obviously, she assumed the word was “taper,” as opposed to the name of a smallish jungle animal. I spelled “rhombus” for the win.
I missed going to the National Bee by screwing up the word “intermezzo.” It’s a musical term, and I had never heard of it in my life.
So yeah, these words can haunt you/stick in your mind for years.
First place in the preliminary bee, where no one was watching, but failed on an easy word once I was up in front of everyone–literally my first word. I didn’t feel nervous, but I could not think straight when on the spot in front of everyone. I actually lost because I couldn’t remember the normal “double letter” rules in English.
I still have my trophy for the first place preliminary finish, though. They apparently took it seriously. I do not have my “participant ribbon” though. I didn’t lose it on purpose, but it’s just the way things go.
3rd grade. Tied for first place.
It was elementary school, classroom spelling B, 25 kids max. The first word they asked me to spell was “relief”:rolleyes:
They asked “How do you spell relief?”:eek::D:D R.O.L.A.I.D.S:p
Never feed me a line like that and expect me not to go for the laugh.
Yes. Around 7th or 8th grade or so I actually went to state in the Spelling Bee and didn’t do too badly there. I remember making it a few rounds but getting out on the word potpourri. I believe I said only one r instead of two. It didn’t matter though because once they got to the harder rounds I would’ve been out anyway. I do remember competing against a kid who eventually (not that year but maybe the next year) won the national bee though.
Came in second in my school’s 5th grade spelling bee. Lost on “grammar”.