Lots Of News!

I've been studying very hard. There only 23 days left until the Bee officially starts! I'm working on the CWL out loud with my dad, and I'm also studying words from languages that have uncommon spelling patterns, such as Hindi, Gaelic, and Russian. I've pretty much memorized Spell-It and the Study Guide for rounds 2 and 3, but I'll go over those one last time right before we leave. I got through the entire list of roots once, and I'm going through them again. They definitely help, especially in spelling words that come from Greek and Latin. I can hardly wait for the bee. I'm eager to see the friends that will be returning, and also to compete again. I'm hoping to make the cut to Semifinals this year. Exciting news! The Today Show contacted Scripps and told them that they would like to do a segment on the spelling bee, following one speller through preparation and competition. Scripps decided I'd be a good fit! The reporter will be flying out to Minnesota next week. I don't know precisely when the segment will air, but it won't be until after the spelling bee. Wishing luck to all the spellers out there, ~Anja Beth

Update

Studying has been going well! I received a copy of the Study Guide for rounds 2 and 3 from Scripps and have mastered that with help from my dad. Today, I finished the Moderately Used section of the Consolidated Word List, a compilation of all the words used in Scripps National Spelling Bees up to 2004. It totals more than 23,000 words!

Our Spring Break trip to Colorado was a lot of fun. I had never skied Copper Mountain before, and they have some really great runs. The view from the top is spectacular. We also had a fun surprise- we ran into a friend of mine and her family! We got to ski with them for a while.

I'm so excited. Only 55 days until the Bee officially starts! This will be my 3rd trip to Washington D.C. in just over 2 years. We're looking at possible things to do while we're there, so suggestions in the comments are welcome.

Anja Beth

Spring Break and Studying

It's Spring Break!!! I'll be leaving for Colorado tomorrow.

Studying is going well. I'm working on word roots and the Consolidated Word List, and I'm going over all the words they used in the later rounds last year. I'm so excited to be going back! We'll leave on May 31st.

On another note, there was an article about the spelling bee in the Edina SunCurrent yesterday, if you haven't seen it.

Regional Spelling Bee

I won my Regional Spelling Bee yesterday for the 2nd year in a row! I get to go back to Washington D.C. to compete in the National Spelling Bee, thanks to Lockridge Grindal Nauen, the law firm that's sponsoring me. I won on the word "sumo" after the second place boy, Paul, misspelled "fervorous". I'm already studying for Nationals, and one of my friends from last year, Sonia, will be returning as well! Congratulations to all who participated in my Regional bee and good luck to any aspiring spellers out there!

Anja Beth

District Spelling Bee

I had the district spelling bee on Thursday and won! I'm very excited, and my friends did well too. I'll be participating in the Regional Bee again this year on March 13th. Thanks to Lockridge Grindal Nauen for sponsoring the bee again!

I've been studying a lot. I'm going back through the CWL and studying word roots and Spell-It, as well as a few other lists.

Bee season has started or will start very soon for most spellers. Good luck!

Anja Beth

Bee Season has started!

I haven't posted in a long time. Sorry about that! Life has been busy.

Bee season has started! I had my class bee in early November, and then won my school bee on December 2nd. I'll be going to the district bee on January 21st along with 8 other top spellers from my school. I've been studying quite a bit. After finishing the Consolidated Word List last year, I'm going over my circled (difficult) words again, and I've also been studying word roots and going over Spell-It with my dad, my spelling coach. Thanks so much to him. I would never have gotten as far as I did without his help.

I hope to return to Nationals this year. It was an incredible experience last time. Good luck to any aspiring spellers out there!

In other news, we're going to Texas tomorrow and we'll be staying there for Christmas to be with family. I'm excited because it will be warm, compared to the usual 10F here. Brrr!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Anja Beth

Radio Interview

I'm being interviewed live on KS95 today at 8:40 am Eastern! If you're in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, try to listen!