CANSPELL
EASY GUIDE
TO SPELLING BEES
Getting Started
What are Canspell
Study Lists?
2010 CANSPELL STUDY LISTS
Students should be given the 2010 Canspell Study Lists in preparation for Classroom and
School Bees.
What are the Canspell Study Lists?
They are grade-specific lists of 50 words – half of the words are the student’s grade level and the
other half are at one grade level higher.
i.e. Grade four students will study 25 words at the Grade 4 level and 25 words at the Grade 5
level. Once students have mastered the 50 words for their grade, they can further prepare
themselves for spelling competition by learning the study words for all other grade levels (grades
1-8).
When and how should the Canspell Study Lists be used?
The 2010 Canspell Study Lists are the primary study materials for students to use in preparation
for the school and classroom spelling bees.
Where can I find the Canspell Study Lists?
- they are included in the back of the Teacher’s kit
- they are available at www.canspell.com
How to determine your top speller?
If multiple classroom are participating:
Classroom Written bees and
School-wide Verbal Bee:
If only ONE classroom at your school is
participating:
Classroom Verbal Bee:
If only ONE classroom at your school
Is participating:
Classroom Written Bee:
• Have each participating classroom
hold a Classroom Written Bee at the
same time (similar to a spelling test)
• Hold a Classroom Verbal Spelling Bee
• Hold a Classroom Written Bee
(similar to a written spelling test)
• The winner of each Classroom written
Bee advances to a school-wide Verbal
Bee
• Stage a school-wide Verbal bee with
your Classroom Bee winners
• The winner of the school-wide Bee is
your school’s Top Speller
• The winner of the Classroom Verbal
Bee is your school’s Top Speller
• The winner of the Classroom Written
Bee is your school’s Top Speller
Lists, lists, & lists…
Study Lists are at
the back of the
Teacher’s Kit
Study Lists vs. Bee Lists
Canspell Study Lists
– for students to study for Classroom and School Bee preparation.
Canspell Bee Lists (Written and Verbal) Do not distribute any of these lists to students.
- for teachers to use for bees.
Written Bee
Classroom Written Bee Word List – for Classroom Written Bees
Classroom Bee
Word List
250 words
Classroom Verbal Bee Word List – for Classroom Verbal Bees
School Bee Verbal Word List – for School Verbal Bees
Word List
60 words
School Bee
Word List
275 words
What happens after the bee?
Once your classroom and school-wide spelling bees have taken place, you will
need to provide me with your school champion’s information.
Your school champion will then write a Written Qualifier Bee. A Written Bee CD
will be sent to you in January. You will administer the Written Bee by playing
the CD and overseeing as the student writes the bee. Teachers will need to
send the completed written bee back to me by fax by January 22nd for grading.
The top 50 spellers with the highest grades will be selected to participate in the
Canspell Regional Spelling Bee on February 21st, 2010. A letter will be mailed
to the students and their parents with all the details on the event and study
material.
All teachers will be informed of the finalists and their names will be posted on
the Canspell website.
Communications
You will be getting detailed communications throughout the program to ensure
thorough understanding and that deadlines are met. Some communications might
seem repetitive, but many teachers find the reminders helpful.
We have quite a few new schools participating in the program this year and want
everyone taking part to have a thorough understanding of the program.
I am here to answer any questions you may have, so please feel free to get in touch
if you have any questions or concerns. My contact information is included at the
end of this presentation.
Important dates
Deadline for school registrations:
October 16, 2009
Deadline to hold school bees:
January 15, 2010
Deadline for Top Speller Submission form:
(Written Qualifier Bee CD’s will be sent shortly after form is received.)
January 19, 2010
Deadline for return of Written Qualifier Bees:
January 22, 2010
Regional Finalists announced on Canspell website:
January 28, 2010
The Gazette Regional Spelling Bee:
February 21, 2010
McGill University, Moyse Hall
853 Sherbrooke St. West
Canwest Canspell National Spelling Bee:
Ottawa (dates & venue TBC)
March 24-30, 2010
The Gazette
Regional Spelling Bee
Contact sheet
Sandra Amar
514-987-2355
514-987-2398
[email protected]
www.canspell.com