1) This site is designed to teach children in grades 1-8 how to be able to improve their spelling.

2) A parent who wishes to register his/her child(ren) in a local spelling bee may print a copy of our "Spelling Bee Application and Instruction Sheet." Before filling out the application, it is necessary to read all the instructions on how to complete the application. Any information left blank might invalidate your child(ren)'s application(s). If submitting an application for more than one child, it is necessary to complete as many applications as there are children competing. The registration fee covers the cost of providing the spelling bee booklets and the prizes.

3) In order for a child to compete, a group must be willing to sponsor the bee. All the technical assistance that a sponsoring group needs will be provided free of charge as are all the materials provided to conduct a bee. The group must select a member to submit a "Spelling Bee Site Application." The group may only want to conduct a bee for only 10 contestants for a bee. The contestants in any one bee must be from the same grade. In a bee which has between 10 and 19 contestants, top five finishers receive a trophy. In groups which have at least 20 contestants and no more than 30, the winner receives a U.S. Savings Bond as follows: grades 1-3, $75 Bond; 4-5 $100 Bond; 6-8 $200 Bond. The top five in this 20-30 group will also receive trophies. All active contestants are awarded certificates. Contestants in any grade's bee can be a student at one school or any other student which is in 50 miles of the site.

4) There is a "Spelling Bee Flyer" Page. We suggest you copy this page and make as many copies that you think that you will need for families of students who don't have access to the internet. They can then request an application/applications for their child(ren). Since there are five flyers to a page, it will be necessary to separate the flyers before distributing them.

5) Any group which sponsors a bee this year is eligible to conduct a state-wide bee next year.

5) The American Spelling Bee will be under the direction of Mr. Michael Ricci. Clicking on the history of the bee will familiarize all to his qualifications to direct the bees. Anyone needing information can contact Mr. Ricci at 25 Capitol Street, Auburn, NY 13021-2831, by phone at (315) 252-4561 or e-mail: [email protected].

6) The Adobe Acrobat Reader plugin is required to view and print the documents on this site. Install Acrobat Reader if you haven't already.