Re: Rep Retirement Lodge #181: Holidaze
Have him ask Twitch for advice.
*sigh*
I'm assuming this doesn't have any relationship with Scripps (the National Spelling Bee folks) since he's only first grade.
Best thing for him to learn this early is BE CAREFUL.
Probably the most dangerous factor in a spelling bee: once you have uttered a letter, it cannot be taken back. Period. Full stop. End of discussion. You can stop and start the word over if you have a brain fart, but if you change a letter in doing so you're still done. All the finger writing on the placard, air keyboarding, 10 minutes of asking questions, whispering into your hands, etc. behaviors you see on ESPN? That right there is the reason for them. One slip-up and you're history. You have to be perfect, and being a precocious kid running on pure nerves just complicates that even further.
Always say the word/spell the word/say the word again. The reason that is done is 1) to notify the judges that "I will begin spelling now" and "I have ceased spelling" and 2) to confirm you've heard the word correctly so the judges can stop you if you misheard something or aren't pronouncing it back quite right. That's actually a habit that's carried over to my personal and professional life - I will repeat back the point of what someone says to confirm it has been properly conveyed.
Get into a routine. You'll notice everyone always asks for the definition, sentence, origin, etc. even if they know the word already. That's to calm the nerves. Again, one misspeak or stutter and you're dunzo.
If he starts air keyboarding, sign writing, whispering into his hands, whatever, don't stop him. He'll look like a doofus, but more than anything you need to be comfortable up there and able to visualize the word. The last chick who whispered every letter into her hands won the whole **** thing. (Story for another time.)
If heaven forbid you go after the big one, find a local sponsor for the Scripps National Spelling Bee and see if you can get him some study materials. See if you can get him learning Greek and Latin roots. I can help where I can, but it's a waaaaaaaaay different animal now compared to when I was in.
