Busy Bees

Posts:

For Whom the Bell Tolls

3/27/26

Dear Speller,

As the New Mexico State Spelling Bee was held just this weekend, and I have been watching online, I have been thinking about how difficult it can be to get eliminated in a spelling bee. I thought that as regional competitions approach, and begin coming to a close, it may be helpful to focus on the bell today. Let’s face it: elimination is a speller’s biggest fear, but today, it’s time for all of us to face our fears. Each year, millions of students compete in spelling bees, and almost each year, only one speller walks out of the Scripps National Spelling Bee with the Scripps Cup (with the exception of Co-champs and the Octochamps). Odds are, you are going to spell a word wrong.

When you first hear the bell, it may come as a shock. You may feel disappointed; this is all normal. Just know that you did your best; you worked hard, and you learned some new words. In the grand scheme of things, that is far more valuable than some chunk of metal. In time, all bad feelings will dissolve.

At this point, in order to do even better in the spelling bee next year, it is time to begin studying again. You may be thinking, Wait, you want me to start studying for next year, before this year is over?, but trust me; when next year does come around, you will feel much more prepared and at ease. You don’t have to jump into full gear immediately, but do a few rounds of word club each day, make some flashcards, and get in the mindset for next year. Focusing on what is to come will help you get over any remaining disappointment from this year.

Eighth graders, I am not entirely sure what to say to you. Your time in the spelling bee has come to an end. Perhaps, like me, you are lonely, sad, and not quite sure who you are without the spelling bee in your life. I am the same. I wish I had a recipe for finding a new passion, but the truth is, I do not. I am still trying to find myself after my time in the competition came to an end. Just know that I am here for you. In time, I suppose we will all realize who we are outside of the world of spelling.

As Ever Yours,

Juliette Anderson

P.S. Strategy of the week:

Identify twenty words that give you trouble, and make a flashcard for each of them.

Me drinking a milkshake shortly after being eliminated at the National Spelling Bee

This is me one month later, pretending to be happy, while very sadly contemplating what to do with my life post-spelling bee. I wasn’t pretending very well, was I?

Finishing Strong

3/25/26

Dear Speller,

I know that in most of my posts, I sound like your stereotypical wise old owl, saying things like, “remember, kids, always be in the moment,” and “remember to never be friends with kids who don’t support you in your spelling bee endeavour” but today, I am showing my true colors; as you probably know, judging by the fact that I am a 2024 National Spelling Bee quarterfinalist, I am a proud word nerd. Today’s advice is very specific, only applying to a few words, but knowing this simple rule could make or break a competition for you.

The rule is this: in a spelling bee, when confronted with a word that ends in a us sound, ALWAYS ask for the part of speech. If the word is a noun, like “guarnerius,” then the word will almost always end in “us.” If the word is an adjective, such as “commodious,” it will almost always end in “ous.”

Even if you are certain you know the part of speech of one of these words, it can never hurt to ask, just to guarantee that you can finish strong.

As Ever Yours,

Juliette Anderson,
P.S. Strategy of the week: Try to identify all the words on your study list ending in a us sound, and remind yourself of their parts of speech.

Literally Life Changing

3/14/26

Dear Speller,

Happy Pi Day! Can you believe it is already March? In New Mexico, the State Spelling Bee is coming up in just a week! I remember when I was studying for the State Spelling Bee for 8-10 hours a day leading up to the state spelling, this time two years ago. Back then, Word Club was one of my go-to resources.

Do you ever wish that you had a resource that you could use to study in any place at any time? If so, I highly recommend checking out the free Word Club app. I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say that this app is life changing!

Word Club has all the words on the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s study lists, as well as many tools for studying them. When it comes to spelling, Word Club allows you to study using flashcards, fill in the blank letters, multiple choice spelling, typing out the word, and matching vowels. Personally, I use the “Type Full Word” quiz most frequently. When it comes to vocabulary, you can study word meanings through flashcards, matching words, and multiple choice definitions, with the exact definitions that will appear in Round 2 of the Scripps National Spelling Bee (for 2B Words of the Champions Words).

When you are sitting in the car on the way to school in the morning, this is a perfect way to study. When you wake up at seven in the morning on a Saturday, barely conscious and worried out of your mind because you may have forgotten which vowel comes after the “e” in “hordeolum,” as I did two years ago, that is the perfect opportunity to do Word Club!

With Word Club, you can go at whatever pace you want, and even make flashcards for the words you misspell with just a click of a button!

Even in high school, I still use Word Club from time to time, making sure I maintain my spelling skills, and staying au courant with the latest study words of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

As Ever Yours,

Juliette Anderson

P.S. Strategy of the week: If you have not already, check out Word Club. Try a quiz or two, and see what you think!

Late-Night Word Club

The Language of the Bee

3/6/26

Dear Speller,

I am sure it does not come as a surprise to you that the spelling bee pulls words from many different languages of origin. This means even more roots of origin, and how on earth do you keep track of all of this information?

This is where learning different languages can come in handy. Personally, I have been studying Latin since seventh grade. When I was competing in the spelling bee, I loved those moments when my mom would give me a word, and I would think, that must come from the Latin word __. I vividly remember spelling the word “oppidan,” meaning related to a town, and realizing that it must be a derivative of the Latin word “oppidum,” meaning town or village. Now, I am also studying Spanish, and I imagine that if I were still studying for the spelling bee, I would have the same experience with Spanish as I did with Latin.

Above all, having knowledge of other languages will help when the time comes for you to stand up at the mic. Being able to connect the dots and understand a word’s origin story can make or break a spelling bee for you. As you continue to go about studying for the spelling bee, remember to be curious about languages that you may not know.

As Ever Yours,

Juliette Anderson

P.S. Strategy of the week: Identify at least ten study words and research them to find out their roots of origin.

My beloved Oxford Latin Dictionary

The Comfort of Tradition

3/1/26

Dear Speller,

Do you have any special traditions in your life? Personally, my mom takes a picture of me with my backpack before I leave the house on the first day of school each year.

You most likely spend a lot of time studying for the spelling bee and attending competitions. Don’t you think it makes sense that you would also have some bee-related traditions? I think so.

Ever since third grade, when I started competing in spelling bees, when my mom picked me up from school to take me to a competition, she brought me dumplings. I also always wore the same sweater (my lucky sweater) when I competed. Although I didn’t necessarily believe that these traditions brought me luck in the spelling bee, they provided me with a sense of comfort, reminding me that no matter the outcome, things would be okay. I had done this before. Above all, these little traditions gave me stories and memories, things that I will never forget.

Whenever I put my lucky sweater on, nowadays, I think of my moments in the spelling bee. Whenever I eat dumplings, I think of those moments I spent driving to spelling bees, nerves flooding my mind.

Although you don’t need to have any traditions in the spelling bee, it can help give you comfort. Maybe when going into competitions, this will allow you to realize that while you do not yet know the outcome, this nervous feeling is not new. Try it out. You never know, this could create some great memories!

As Ever Yours,

Juliette Anderson

P.S. Strategy of the week: Write a short catchy song that helps you remember the spellings of five words that you are having trouble remembering.