How to run a spelling bee — the no-stress version.

Two formats cover 95% of spelling bees:

• Elimination (classic) — every speller takes turns. Miss a word, you're out. Last one standing wins. Best for live, in-person events.
• Scored rounds (Blitz-style) — every speller gets the same words; points for each correct spelling, bigger points for harder words. Good when you want everyone playing the whole time.

Match the list to your spellers' grade level. As a rough guide:

• K–2: short phonetic words — cat, jump, house.
• 3–5: two-syllable words and common vowel teams — because, weather, friend.
• 6–8: multi-syllable, silent letters, common Latin/Greek roots — conscience, rhythm, mischievous.
• Competition: championship-level — chrysanthemum, onomatopoeia, worcestershire.

Our spelling bee word lists are pre-tiered by spelling difficulty — you can use them straight off the page.

Standard spelling bee rules borrowed from Scripps:

• Word is read once. Speller may request: repeat, definition, sentence, language of origin, alternate pronunciation.
• Speller may restart their spelling once before the bell, but cannot change letters already said.
• Mispronouncing the word doesn't count as a miss — only the spelling.
• If a round eliminates everyone, the last eliminated speller stays in.

Read clearly, give the speller a beat to think, and accept letter-by-letter. Most rounds take 30–60 seconds per speller. Plan ~25 minutes for a 12-person classroom bee, ~45 minutes for a grade-level finals.

Print certificates. Photograph the winner with their words. If you're using Spelling Bee Blitz to host the bee, scores are tracked automatically.

Spelling Bee Blitz handles word selection, audio, timing, scoring, and elimination for you. Open a private lobby, share the code, and your spellers join from any browser. Teachers and parents can join the pilot for custom word lists and progress reports.