Fun Twist!

This week I changed the format slightly, and it was a lot of fun.

I drew two words out of my beer pitcher, and let the spellers choose which one to spell.

For example, you might be offered the options:

EMMELEIA

noun, Greek. a solemn and stately dance used in ancient Greek tragedy. "The dancers performed the emmeleia with grave mournful gestures."

or

ALISON

noun, English. a plant of a genus of European and Asiatic herbs having small usually yellow flowers. "Bernice added an alison to her bouquet."

I think I'll keep this up for a few weeks at least.

Fun Link: Spelling Test

Can you pass the spelling test? Well, at least you'll learn something if not!

Click here to check your knowledge of Fifty Commonly Misspelled Words.

I missed 7 (ouch).

12/31: 2007 Championship

New Year's Eve falls conveniently on a Monday this year, and we are taking full advantage of this opportunity to make the 2007 Championship Bee even more of an event.

I will either be in sequins or a tux - and I encourage all of you to make the most of the evening as well!

We will have cash for the champion and prizes for audience members. And drink specials, of course.

We'll still start at 7 (the Bee usually runs til 8:15 or so) so you can make the event the kick-off of your celebration.

Quarterly Finals: Science Teachers

Two science teachers (and friends) faced off at the end of an exciting bee for the championship.

October 8: Quarterly Finals

$100 cash prize!

All of our champions from July, August, and September are eligible for the competition (show up in your t-shirts, please - and your cover is waived if you do, too), and there will likely be plenty of "Wild Card" spots for audacious spellers who want an extra challenge and a shot at the cash.

Back to School Night!

Back to School Night was great fun, and we raised $80 and collected school supplies that will eventually end up in Portland Public School classrooms, via Schoolhouse Supplies.

Professor Banjo entertained and educated us (we can all spell C-H-I-C-K-E-N now, I hope!); his day job is teaching at the Village Free School.

We had a lot of teachers there, from preschool through university level - and Bill Long (who has taught at several colleges around the region) was our winner.

Professor Banjo

In keeping with the Back to School theme, on September 17 Professor Banjo will regale us with old-timey tunes.

Also, there will be some sort of drink special.

See you there!