MANSFIELD — Spelling bee season is upon us. While most spelling bee contestants in the area are middle school students, one grassroots bee brings the competition to even younger students.
The fourth annual Mansfield 3rd Grade Spelling Bee will take place Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Multiple schools are involved, including various Mansfield City elementaries and Clear Fork’s Butler Elementary.
Linda Burrage organized the first Mansfield 3rd Grade Spelling Bee four years ago while working as a substitute teacher. She continues to organize the bee with financial support from the community.
“I was teaching third grade and I thought we needed to give them something to do,” she said.
According to Burrage, the students love it — even those who don’t compete. During the first bee, student spectators were transfixed.
“What got me was those little angels sitting on the floor. We didn’t have to tell them to sit still or be quiet throughout the whole bee,” she recalled. “They were, like, glued to that stage.”
Burrage stated that the competition teaches more than just spelling — it also helps students learn to identify nouns and verbs. Her hope is that it helps prepare students for fourth grade and improves their standardized test scores.
All 130 contestants will receive a bright yellow commemorative t-shirt and a gift bag with a dictionary. This year’s top 25 finishers will also receive a copy of the 2006 film, “Akeelah and the Bee.”
Families and younger siblings are encouraged to attend the event. A community meal will take place after the contest.
