SpellBee.org

Type of Resource: Small Learning Object, Online Activities
Free or Fee: Free
Computer Needs: Acrobat PDF, Java Script
Link: Visit the Site!

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Recommendation:

This interactive site encourages a little competition, but students also have some anonymity about their spelling skills. There can be a little wait time as slower typists or thinkers enter their answers. The site is developing a component for teachers to utilize their own spelling lists with this game. For additional interactive, multiplayer Internet games visit www.BeeWeb.org.

Description:

From ESN 'Site of the Week' Review: "Spellbee.org, the first-ever online, multiplayer spelling bee, was launched to coincide with last spring's National Spelling Bee by the Dynamical & Evolutionary Machine Organization (DEMO) laboratory at Brandeis University. Using the same philosophy of competition that drives corporations in an open economy, Spellbee encourages students to compete against one another in the hope that their skills will improve out of an inherent desire to succeed. Each player isn't simply spelling, but is using a variety of skills. Players are first shown a set of words ranging in difficulty. Based on this list of words, they then pick the challenge for their partner. Next, they listen to an audio presentation of a sentence while reading the sentence on their computer screen with one word missing. Finally, they have to spell that missing word--the one picked by their partner. To play Spellbee, children log on using only a nickname. No personal information, such as name or e-mail address, is collected and, for safety's sake, no 'chat' or eMail contact is allowed between players on the site--they communicate only through the choices they make in a game."

Possible uses:

After setting up student user names and passwords, students can challenge each other to a spelling bee. Teachers can set up a class for grade appropriate words and monitor student progress. Students then work independently at spelling challenges presented, listening to a word used in a sentence and reading the sentence.

Related Resources:

K-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-12+

Language Arts : Vocabulary & Mechanics

Small Learning Object, Online Activities

Acrobat PDF, Java Script