THE 2024 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED! READ ALL ABOUT IT AT KIDSNEWS.COM.AU
Key information to register your class
+ Registration is FREE for all students in Years 3-8 at Australian schools, including registered homeschools.
+ Online competition only. Entrants answer 30 random spelling words per round.
+ Three reading levels for Years 3-4, Years 5-6 and Years 7-8.
+ Teachers required to sign-up students. Students must not have turned 15 before February 1, 2024 to enter.
+ Go to REGISTER MY CLASS on the top navigation bar to create a Teacher Account and register your students when registrations open.
+ Teachers must use an education email address such as edu.au / edumail / education.nt.gov.au etc to create an Account. If you do not have an education email, please email contactus@spelling-bee.com.au and we’ll help set up your account.
+ Each teacher must obtain a signed Consent Form from parents/guardian to be eligible.
+ Entrants have from July 22 to August 23, 2024, to sit the School Round.
+ Entrants must complete each round of the Spelling Bee in accordance with the competition rules. It is assumed entrants and teachers have met all competition rules unless the teacher opts out of the integrity check.
+ See more information under HOW IT WORKS.
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IMPROVE YOUR STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY
Students taking part in the Spelling Bee will be given 30 random words from their reading level word list. They have 25 seconds to spell each word.
Students may not be familiar with all the words they are asked to spell. However, exposing students to new words and their definitions will help expand their vocabularies and encourage them to continue reading. -
LEARNING TO SPELL IN A FUN ENVIRONMENT
Learning through play is always a winning formula. The Spelling Bee allows students to complete 30 spelling words in a fun format where they have to aim for accuracy, to beat the clock and finish ahead of their fellow students right across Australia.
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WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO TAKE PART
+ Headphones are recommended to hear the audio.
+ Computer, laptop or tablet.
+ Using a preferred browser (see How it Works section for list of browsers).
+ Access code (to be provided by the teacher once competition opens).
+ Students must be able to compete as an individual entrant without the assistance of another person.
+ Must be able to listen to the delivery of words via audio on their own.
+ Must be able to read, type and submit responses on their own into the Competition website.
SPELLING BEE LEVELS
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For students in Years 3-4
If your student is an exceptional speller, you could consider enrolling them in the Orange level. Student may go up a reading level, but not down a level.
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For students in Years 5-6
If your student is an exceptional speller, you could consider enrolling them in the Red level. Student may go up a reading level, but not down a level.
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For students in Years 7-8
The Red reading level is aimed at improving the vocabulary of high schools students. Students in this reading level cannot go down to lower levels.
COMPETITION DATES
SCHOOL ROUND
July 22 – August 23, 2024Opens: July 22 at 9am AEST
Closes: August 23 at 5pm AEST
All entries must be completed by 5pm AEST on August 23, 2024, when the School Round closes.
State finalists will be announced in an email to the teacher who registered them as soon as all results are verified nationwide.
STATE/TERRITORY FINALS
September 2 – September 6, 2024Opens: September 2 at 9am AEST
Closes: September 6 at 5pm AEST
All entries must be completed by 5pm AEST on September 6, 2024, when the State/Territory Finals close.
National finalists will be announced on September 9 in an email to the teacher who registered them.
The registering teacher must then log in and confirm their student finalist’s participation, via the teacher dashboard, by 2pm on September 10.
NATIONAL FINAL
September 11 – September 12, 2024Opens: September 11 at 9am AEST
Closes: September 12 at 5pm AEST
The registering teacher must confirm their student finalist’s participation, via the teacher dashboard, by 2pm on September 10.
All entries must be completed by 5pm AEST on September 12, 2024, when the National Final closes.
If a tiebreak is required it will commence at 11.30am AEST on September 13, 2024, and close at 1.30pm AEST on September 13, 2024.
National winners will be announced by September 20 in an email to the teacher who registered them.
RULES AND PRIZES
SPELLING RULES
The Collins English Dictionary (13th Edition) is the final authority and sole source for the spelling of words.
We have adopted some specific Spelling Rules for certain types of words. It is important your students are aware of these:
–ise instead of ize (as in ORGANISE).
–our instead of or (as in COLOUR)
Hyphen in words including double letters (eg, o-o for CO-OPERATE)
single m and no e (as in PROGRAM instead of programme / GRAM instead of gramme).
WHEN TYPING ANSWERS IN THE BEE:
Upper case and lower case letters are both accepted.
Entrants must not use emojis, special characters or punctuation, such as full stops or commas, in their answers as this will register as an error.
PRIZES
Every student who competes will receive a Participation Certificate.
National winners (3 in total, one in each category) will win:
A return flight to Canberra to meet the Prime Minister for each category winner (and their parent/guardian)
One night’s accommodation in Canberra for each category winner (and their parent/guardian)
1 x iPad
1 x $250 HarperCollins book pack
1 x national winner certificate
School prizes (3 in total, one in each category):
The school of each national winner will 1 x $1000 voucher to spend on books, technology or other equipment and supplies
National runners-up (6 in total, two in each category) will win:
1 X $50 HarperCollins book pack
1 x National runners-up certificate
National finalists will receive:
1 x National finalist certificate
State finalists:
1 x State finalist certificate
School entrants:
1 x School champion certificate for each school winner
1 x Class champion certificate for each class winner
1 x participation certificate for all entrants
