“You’re not competing against each other. You’re competing against the dictionary.”
This was the mantra repeated by former Scripps National Spelling Bee pronouncer Alex Cameron at the start of every Bee Week for 23 years. It’s an important thing for a speller to remember, and an idea that allows them to connect better with their peers and form meaningful relationships rather than pitting themselves against their fellow logophiles.
However, when you think about it, competing against the dictionary isn’t easy at all. There are thousands of words in the dictionary, and – especially for younger spellers – the thought of tackling them can be overwhelming. That’s why I’ve put together some tips and tricks for managing your time better to minimize stress and maintain your passion for language.
The goal of any speller is to be as efficient as possible with their studying – or in other words, to get as much done in as little time as possible. But I think there are better ways to approach this that will allow a deeper understanding of concepts and reduce anxiety surrounding daily deadlines.
The first step is to be conscious with goal-setting. I use the words ‘goal-setting’ to refer to long-term checkpoints for success. For example, mastering a certain word list, or gaining a measurable level of confidence in certain language patterns. Being aware of what you hope to get out of your spelling experience throughout certain intervals – especially when you don’t measure it by placements – can allow you to get the maximum fulfillment out of your spelling bee experience. It will also allow you to be more intentional with every day, rather than falling into a trap of constant and endless memorization. Additionally, it keeps you from measuring your self-worth by scores in competition, instead of by your hard work and passion for language.
The next piece is to organize a study schedule. Studying nonstop for hours on end can get tiring, and can significantly reduce your overall productivity. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t study, but it does mean that there are better ways to go about this. One common method is the Pomodoro Technique, where you study for 25 minutes and then pause for 5 minutes. You can adjust the intervals to whatever works best for you, but adding in short pauses allows you to find a sense of accomplishment in every step you take, increase your discipline, and create a workflow that can last for consistent stretches of time. This can in turn boost your motivation as well, and can help prevent you from getting burned out or bored.
Finally, there’s prioritizing. This may sound similar to goal-setting, but they aren’t quite the same thing. As a speller, there are plenty of approaches you can take to your studying. After all, there are so many elements: language patterns, roots and stems, or just rote memorization (which isn’t always a bad thing – there are plenty of cases where rules and roots can’t cover everything). Setting realistic goals for shorter time frames (which is where prioritizing and goal-setting differ) based on your ability and what specific skill you want to use your time for is incredibly important, not only to maximize your time, but to set reasonable expectations for yourself.
With that, I wish you the best of luck, and happy spelling!