I have never competed but I've always dreamed of going to a spelling bee. They sound really fun!

I did a spelling bee last year and the year before. It was for private schools in Oakville I think. I came in third two years ago, but last year... To explain simply, I now think that all you need to win spelling bees (not major ones, just some) is a good memory and luck. (please don't take offense, I'm just being a conceited grouch :-P) However, Mockingjay, that county bee sounds good. Good luck!

I've never done a spelling bee, but my cousin who is a HORRIBLE speller has won two in a row for his school!  Once he asked me how to spell a few and then he 'remembered' and spelled it afu...  Anyway we're proud that he won, but to our family it's still a mystery...

Yes, I'm competing! I love spelling bees! I already won my school bee (for the 3rd time in a row, like you, though, also like you, it was harder than before in that there was actually a word I would have missed had I not studied; I think the people at this virtual school are smarter than the ones at my former public schools) and my district bee is the day after tomorrow (on Galileo's and Ernest Shackleton's birthday, which I hope is good luck as I'm bound to be the only one there who knows that), so I'm really excited! Actually, I think I'm using the same list of words as you, Mockingjay, which is cool. Luckily, I don't think they give out challenge words very often, though, at least where I live, which is good because those are hard, especially the ones you mentioned. I think I've memorized them for the most part, though. I've been practicing a lot. I really think I can do well. I hope so, anyway. I'm in a different district than before (I didn't move, but with virtual schooling, your school doesn't have to be in your area as you don't actually go anywhere except for field trips and spelling bees like this), and this one's larger, but the top 3 participants get to go to regional rather than just one like my old one, so that's good.

@ Olive: I'm not offended! I think there are other factors, but those are major ones, yes. It also really helps to spend most of your time reading; I didn't even study for my school bee at all this year until the day before, and I still won, so that says something. For more major bees, though, you need to learn about languages of origin, use logic, and practice.

Also, does anyone know whether or not it's necessary to mention punctuation in bees? There are words on my list with squiggles and things, and I don't know if I should mention them or not.

Does anyone know why February seems to universally be considered Unofficial Spelling Bee month? It seems like if anything to do with spelling bees is going to happen, other than real bees (though those exist as well), it'll be in February--there was even a Cricket article about a spelling bee this time last year! I've always found it strange. Come to think of it, I should reread that article tomorrow, to help me get in the mood...

YAY! I WON! I GET TO GO REGIONALS, AND IT'LL BE ON LOCAL TELEVISION, AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS BUT COMPLETELY ECSTATIC BECAUSE I WON THE DISTRICT AND IT'S AWESOME AND YAY!

Actually, 2 of us are going to regionals because there were so many competing. There wasn't a tiebreaker or anything, so we're standing equally. We both won, basically.

@ ZNZ: Maybe the way your memory works affects whether reading helps with spelling. I know that I very often only know words because I've read them and can easily envision them, but my memory is completely visual (not photographic--it's actually very blurry, but with little things like individual words it's close enough), so if I read a word and don't forget it--and luckily I have a relatively good memory for that sort of thing--I can usually envision it written down quite easily when I want, so that helps in spelling bees. My thinking process is uncommon, though, so maybe it's just me... or maybe not; I don't really know; maybe thinking processes have nothing to do with it. Anyway, I know that reading helps me.

I forgot to memorize the names (which is really too bad as I have a book with all of them in it), but I asked before the bee begun whether we had to say them, and apparently we don't. Capital letters don't matter, either.

WOW! Congratulations, Ima! Way to go!

A-D-M-I-N

@Ima and Mockingjay: Congratsis, guys!!!!!! :D

Thanks, everyone!

@ Brynne: That's interesting. When I type or write (or read or speak or listen to someone else speak), I envision the meaning of the words. I can't do it any other way if I try, or else it's just sounds and not meaning (I also automatically hear the things I read/type/write; it's like watching a movie or play with a narrator). In spelling bees, though, it doesn't matter whether things make sense to me, and anyway, I can envision 2 things at once if I try.

Aetc says ubbo. I don't know what that could mean, but it's an interesting sound.