How can you improve your spelling?
The best thing you can do to improve your spelling is to read a lot and look up words that you don’t know in the Oxford dictionary. But here are some more focused suggestions for studying to do well in spelling bees;
- Learn as many words as you can.
- Study the most common words first.
- Focus on the words that are tough.
- Write the words somewhere. Just writing the words will help you remember them
- Get a copy of the OXFORD Dictionary if you can. It’s the official dictionary for the Kenya National Spelling Bee Championship.
- Have a teacher, friend or family member help you by pronouncing the words.
- Learn more about prefixes, suffixes and other combining forms, as well as word origins (etymology).
- Increase your vocabulary by reading books, journals & newspapers…
- Study in groups.
- Play word games.
- Step forward (to the microphone, if there is one).
- Face the judges.
- Speak clearly and loudly enough so that they can hear you.
- Use the English alphabet only.
- Many languages use the Roman alphabet. Do not use the names or sounds of the letters in French or any other language. Doing so will be considered an error.
- Repeat the word to make sure that you have heard it accurately.
- Rehearse the word in your mind before you begin spelling.
- Once you say a letter you are not allowed to take it back, even if you have not finished the word and know it is wrong.
- When you’ve finished spelling the word, repeat it. That way the judges know you are finished.
- Take your time.
- Asking questions is a good stalling tactic if you need more time to think about the spelling.
- If you spell your word correctly, be humble about it.