Carson Walker-South Dakota Newswatch
On Saturday at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, 30 elementary and middle students from schools around the state will have the same shot at such an experience when they compete in the South Dakota State Spelling Bee.
The winner will advance to the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington where they will vie for the Scripps Cup during the 100th anniversary year of America’s longest-running educational competition.
Spelling no longer required at many schools
South Dakota News Watch, Dakota Wesleyan University and the South Dakota Humanities Council are sponsoring this year’s state bee at a time when many schools no longer require spelling tests as part of the curriculum.
That’s unfortunate, said Tressa Wede, assistant professor of education at DWU, who teaches two courses related to reading and writing.
“Spelling is more than just memorizing words,” she said. “It helps students understand that words are made up of distinct sounds that can be blended, segmented and manipulated.
“It is a key component of reading instruction that helps students decode words by applying spelling patterns and letter-sound correspondences. Through phonics, learners develop the ability to read and spell unfamiliar words, leading to greater reading fluency and comprehension.”
Spelling bees support those skills by helping students recognize spelling patterns and understand etymology and morphology, which helps them understand word structure and meaning, Wede said.
While school curriculums change, the Scripps National Spelling Bee reaches millions of students globally with the classroom materials it provides to schools enrolled in the yearlong program.
Participation in regional bees also provides an opportunity for students to gain experience in public speaking, develop confidence and inspire a love of learning and connection with their peers.
Schools sending a student to the state bee:
Black Hills Christian Academy, Spearfish
Brandon Valley Intermediate School, Brandon
Calvary Christian School, Rapid City
Challenge Center Elementary School, Sioux Falls
Cornerstone School, Sioux Falls
Deuel School, Clear Lake
Estelline Junior High
Ethan School
Florence School
Garretson School
George S. Mickelson Middle School, Brookings
Good Shepherd Lutheran School, Sioux Falls
Holgate Middle School, Aberdeen
Hot Springs Elementary School
Hot Springs Middle School
Milbank Middle School
Piedmont Valley Elementary School
Platte-Geddes Elementary School
Robert Bennis Elementary School, Brandon
Saint Elizabeth Seton Central School, Rapid City
Saint Martin Lutheran School, Watertown
Saint Thomas More Middle School, Rapid City
Saints in the Making Homeschool, Rapid City
Scotland Middle Senior High School
Sharon F. Delzer Elementary School, Estelline
Stagebarn Middle School, Summerset
Sturgis Elementary School
Vermillion Middle School
Waverly South Shore School
Webster Elementary School, Yankton