Spelling Bee and GeoBee Update

Many details are still to come but I wanted to update you all about the Spelling and GeoBee that will be starting in January.

Spelling
It looks like we will be doing the spelling bee the week we return from break. There will be a classroom competition, date to be determined. One person from each class with quality for school competitions, all runners up from each class will compete with me in a tie-breaker round to create a fourth spot (four classes in MS which is why 4 from each grade).

Final round will be sometime late January.  TBD

Geo Bee 
It looks like will do this after the first week in January, date to be determined. The final will be the first week in February or last week in January.  

Resources

Scripps Spelling Words...all 450 words. (Students should focus on the 100 4th grade words first. A handout is available from Ms. Chris. When the 100 4th grade words are mastered, students can move on to the school wide 450 words)

Mr. Ari recommend's the book, Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman (I have a copy if you would like to borrow). At it’s core, this book explores the difference between Maladaptive and Adaptive Competition. Maldaptive: “I have to win, every time!” If the mindset is it’s a forgone conclusion then I can be dismissive of opponents and of the rules – “If you just understood my greatness you would just give me the award” (not respecting the competition itself). Adaptive: I understand that it takes a long time to be good at something, “I may win today, lose tomorrow, but I can't take the win for granted, I will push myself harder, be inspired by others.”