Dear Spelling Bee Coordinator:

The spelling bee committee of the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) has been planning for another
successful spelling bee program for the 2018-2019 school year. GAE is again proud to offer Georgia
students an opportunity to exhibit their proficiency in the art of spelling and, just as importantly,
vocabulary. If a contestant is successful at the school system level, then he/she will have the opportunity to
advance to the region competition. The region winners and runners-up compete in the state spelling bee
with the state winner advancing to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

This school year, 2018-2019, the Scripps National Spelling Bee enrollment period is August 22, 2018 -
December 14, 2018. For students to be eligible to compete in the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee,
their schools/home schools must be enrolled and they must have paid the Scripps’ enrollment fee by
the deadline of December 14, 2018. Early Bird School Enrollment Fee is $160/$110
(Schools/Homeschools) from August 22 to October 17, 2018. The Regular School Enrollment Fee is
$235/$185 from October 18, 2018 to December 14, 2018. You can enroll online with Scripps at
www.spellingbee.com. All enrolled schools will receive a free one-year subscription to Britannica Online
for Kids for use as a prize in the school's spelling bee program. No registrations will be taken after
December 14, 2018.

To ensure a successful local spelling bee, it is important for you to utilize the products and resources
described in the Procedures, Rules, and Regulations (PRR) on pages 34-37 and to follow the GAE official
procedures, rules, and regulations for spelling bees, which are listed on pages 7-12 To access Georgia’s
State Spelling Bee (PRR) go to www.gae.org/spellingbee. NOTE: According to Scripps, their spelling bee
rules apply only to the competition at the national level; therefore, please refer to Georgia’s rules in
this PRR.

Please note that we are continuing to emphasize the need to implement a minimum of one vocabulary
round at both your school and county bees and spell-offs. Vocabulary has now become an equal
factor in how far state representatives advance at nationals. Remember, schools can access
vocabulary and spelling resources via their Scripps’ registration that can then be shared with participating
contestants. GAE is also providing resource links at www.gae.org/spellingbee. GAE will be implementing
vocabulary rounds at both the region and state levels. We feel our students must begin to learn their
vocabulary as well as the actual dynamics of spelling (rather than just simple rote word memorization).
The spelling bee consultants/committee and I hope you have a great year planning and implementing your
bee!

HAPPY S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G!

Charlotte Booker, President
Georgia Association of Educators

Bee Study Resources

The GAE Spelling Bee Committee does not furnish any practice list of words to use for your speller. The ultimate recommended guide is using Webster’s 3^rd New Unabridged Online International Dictionary as a study reference (http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/).  Also, study information such as Scripps’ Spell It! study guide is available for download by your school at www.spellingbee.com.  Your school can access it and other material once they have enrolled with Scripps and have the receipt of the enrollment fee.  Those materials may be downloaded and printed for the school winner for ongoing study.

Below are some popular study sites:

• www.hexco.com
• www.nationalgeographic.org/bee
• www.khanacademy.org (SAT vocabulary words)
• www.vocabulary.com
• www.phonicsestore.com
• www.myspellit.com
• www.geospell.com

In addition, there is additional study information available for purchase from various websites and through apps available from Apple and Android over the Internet.

Kyu-Carlo's final score did not advance him to the finals, but GAE sends it's congratulations on putting his best foot forward as he represented Georgia in the Scripps Bee Championships.

Related Links:
GAE Bee Information

2018-19 GAE Procedures, Rules and Regulations for Georgia Bee (PRR)

Quick Links:
2018-19 Deadlines and Dates
Scripps Website (Registration)
Region Consultants
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Products and Resources
Region Qualifier Forms
Region Bee Sites
GISA Member Schools
Local Bee Planning Guide
Merriam-Webster Online
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