There was a buzz at our Little Green House centres recently as we engaged our little word maestros with a Spelling Bee contest. Loud cheers were heard when the children spelt their words right and much encouragement were given when they got it wrong. Overall, it was indeed a fun and exciting affair for the children from N2 to K2 from each Little Green House centre.

The Spelling Bee is a contest in which the children are asked to spell a broad selection of words with varying degrees of difficulty. Its purpose is to help students improve their spelling capabilities, to increase their vocabulary, and to learn the correct usage of English words, all in-line with our Literacy SMART™ programme.

Here are 5 benefits a child gains by participating in a Spelling Bee contest:

1) Builds on Knowledge, Vocabulary and Grammar

While training for a spelling bee, students learn about phonics, word roots and origins. They delve deeper into understanding the meaning and grammatical function of words.

Did you know that a champion speller can spell a word they have never seen before just by making an educated guess about the usage, meaning and history of the word components, such as affixes?

2) Boosts Memory

They say a healthy and good mind thrives on exercise. Spelling bees often require a child to learn and remember a string of words at a time, which is certainly a good memory boosting exercise.

3) Boosts Confidence

There’s nothing like standing in front of an audience to show you how confident you really are. Children learn how to present themselves, accept correction when wrong and applause when correct. By participating in a Spelling Bee, the child gains public speaking skills which gives their confidence a lift-up.

4) Creates a Healthy Competitive Spirit

Spelling bees are a great way to learn from each other, even when someone is ‘losing’. There was certainly a healthy dose of competitive spirit at Little Green House’s Spelling Bee as the children excitedly cheered their friends on.

5) Helps to Enhance Cognitive Skills

Some of the cognitive skills learned through spelling bees include learning how to cope with pressure and be self-disciplined. Students who target their spelling study not only increase their vocabulary but also develop cognitive abilities and learning strategies which can be applied to any field later in life.

Spellers equip themselves with the tools to reach a higher writing level and the ability to manipulate language. Their knowledge generally helps them to become great readers as well. It helps them enjoy a wide range of literature and reading material often beyond their years.