Education - witf.org

Abuzz with Spelling

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:41:09 +0000

S-e-r-e-n-d-i-p-i-t-o-u-s.

That's how Joanna Ye, the 2010 and 2011 Champion of witf's Central PA Spelling Bee and two-time Scripps National Spelling Bee contender, sums up her Bee experience.

"It was kind of a happy accident that I was ever even involved in it. In sixth grade I never would have thought I would make it national. In seventh grade I wasn't even really Trying," Ye recalls.

Ye is a freshman at Carlisle High School. She was born in China and her family moved to Iowa when she was 18 months old. In 2005, the family made the move to Carlisle. Ye’s father, Yunshan Ye, is a research librarian at Johns Hopkins University. Her mother, Caiyun Zhao, is a nurse. “I’ve always been pretty good at spelling. I’ve read a lot of books. If it’s something that I’m good at I might as well try to go all the way with it against some of the best spellers around.”

The spellers come from middle schools from 10 surrounding counties. After winning their individual school bees, they’re invited to participate in a 100-word written test at witf. The top spellers from that test become the contenders in witf’s Central PA Spelling Bee, which is broadcast on witf. The stage at this bee is smaller than the one the winner will grace at the national bee, but Ye claims the experience prepared her for what was to come.

“It really helped having a stage and having it televised. That prepared me for standing up in front of a lot of people,” Ye recalls.

Preparing for witf’s Central PA Spelling Bee is not something she took lightly.

“I wanted to try and do my best, but I wasn't sure how far I would actually make it. I stayed at home a lot, studying words instead of going out and hanging out. I knew that if I took it seriously, something was going to come out of it,” says Ye.

The 15-year-old was crowned champion in 2010 at witf’s Central PA Spelling Bee with the correct spelling of “livelihood,” meaning a means of support or subsistence. In 2011, she extended her reign by successfully spelling “scalene,” meaning having three sides of unequal length. After winning two years in a row, Ye noticed a change in the way people treated her.

“A lot of people were reaching out to me and asking questions. Usually a lot of people talked to me, but a lot more talked to me,” she recalls with a chuckle. “I liked that people were asking me questions about the spelling bee, but now that it’s died down I can talk about normal things instead of always the spelling bee.”

It’s a feeling Katie Dudding, the 2012 winner of witf’s Central PA Spelling Bee, can relate to.

“Everyone wants to be my friend now. I think they like it that I spell well,” she says.

Katie, a seventh-grader from St. Joseph’s Middle School in Mechanicsburg, found it weird watching herself on TV. “We watched it at home and when it was on again we watched it at school. I didn't really want to watch it again. I felt like seeing it once was enough.”

But, this 12-year-old’s TV experience had only just begun. She and 277 other spellers would go head to head in front of the cameras at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The National Bee began in 1929 with the collaboration of nine local newspapers. In 1941, Scripps became the sponsor of the bee. Since the beginning, there have been 87 champions. Of the champions, 46 have been girls and 41 have been boys. The bee has been broadcast on TV off and on since 1946, and consecutively since 1994. Currently, the Scripps National Bee is broadcast live in primetime on ESPN.

In 2011, witf followed Joanna Ye through her journey at the Scripps National Spelling Bee held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center near Washington, D.C. It’s like the Super Bowl for spellers. From the moment you walk into the hotel everything is b-i-g, from the Gaylord’s 18-story glass atrium to the words. The place is littered with TV cameras, reporters, security and adoring fans looking for spellers’ autographs. Past champions who are in attendance are regarded as celebrities. It’s enough to make even the most confident of spellers take a deep breath.

“It really depends on the person,” recalls Ye. “I was trying to stay positive and upbeat, but I think it would be easy to sit by yourself and think about words. It’s also pretty crazy. People will want you to sign their bee keeper. I didn’t get back to my hotel until about midnight because of all of the interviews and autographs and photos.”

In preparation for the national bee, many spellers admit to reading the dictionary and its addenda section. Some have a special technique for spelling on stage, like writing out the word with an imaginary pencil on their arm. Others may choose to spell the word out with staccato-like form.

“When I’m up there, I just let my mind go completely blank and I focus on the spelling. I don’t rush at all. I think I try to stay focused. If I’m taking a really long time, I know that I don’t know it. That’s why it kind of frustrates me when people stand up there for like two minutes. I don’t try to milk every second,” Ye says with a laugh.

During the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee, Ye tied for fifth place. She correctly spelled words such as brachygraphy, pinetum, rocaille and hypotrichosis to tie for third in 2011.

Ye’s age will prevent her from qualifying for the spelling bee again. This year she has shifted her focus from spelling to the flute. So far, she has played in the youth symphony, county band, county orchestra and district band. She’s also playing varsity tennis and she’s on the freshman class council.

For those who still have another shot to spell their way to the top like seventh-grader Dudding, Ye suggests taking it all in.

“I would tell her to just enjoy. Enjoy the whole experience for what it is. This is something not a lot of people can experience in their lives. If you do really well, then you deserve it. But even if you don’t, you’re still one of the best spellers in the world,” says Ye.

Dudding spelled “chassis” and “megahertz” correctly on stage in the preliminary round at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, but she didn't capture a high enough score on the written test to advance to the semifinals. Only the top 50 spellers out of 278 contestants advanced to the semifinals after the written test. She plans to try again next year. “I don’t really know. Sometimes I feel like I could make it really far and other times I don’t,” says Dudding. “I just want to keep trying and see how far I can get.”

While Dudding envisions another spelling bee in her future, Ye has her sights set on college. “I actually want to be a dentist now. I want to study evolutionary biology in college. It’s just something I would enjoy doing for the rest of my life,” she says.

One thing’s for sure, while she probably doesn't need it, this spelling bee champ still plans to use spell-checker on her college applications. “I do, just because sometimes my fingers can’t keep up with my brain,” Ye said with a laugh. But, sometimes spell check can be pretty annoying because I use words that it doesn't recognize as words. So I have to just add it to the dictionary.”

IMAGES FROM TOP LEFT:

Joanna Ye, 2010 and 2011 winner of witf's Central Pennsylvania Spelling Bee, onstage at the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Central PA students participate in a 100-word written test at witf in hopes of qualifying for witf’s Central PA Spelling Bee;

Katie Dudding is announced champion of witf’s 2012 Central PA Spelling Bee.

The stage at the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee, held at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center near Washington, D.C.;

Following Their Lead

Debbie_Riek@witf.org (Debbie Riek) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:50:25 +0000

“I tell people it was the perfect storm,” said Yasmin Brown, Jordan Brown’s mother, describing her son’s fundraising efforts to support the Richard D. Winter’s Leadership Monument dedicated June 6, 2012 in Normandy, France. The 13 year old Lebanon County boy had been involved in other fundraising efforts, inspired by hearing stories about children in Haiti, and he’d been successful.

But Jordan’s real passion was WWII. “Like many little boys, Jordan liked to play war and so I spent time talking to him about wars, that they weren’t just games.” Jordan’s grandfather had served in WWII. Jordan and his dad watched Band of Brothers together. All of these experiences and ideas fed Jordan’s passion.

“I had read an article in the newspaper that the statue was going to be built and I cut it out for Jordan to read,” said Yasmin. Jordan was inspired and they spent that weekend brainstorming how Jordan might be able to help. “I figured we would bake some cookies. We would sell some lemonade at the end of the driveway,” but Jordan had other ideas.

Nearly $100,000 later, Jordan has inspired many with his “Hang Tough” wristbands, selling them in parades and at events. He’s also learned a great deal about leadership, starting a business, and how to connect others to a cause that is important to him and the community.

“I think people love this story because it is a sweet story about a little boy who cares and I think it helps us all remember that these kids are going to be just fine,” says Yasmin. “I’m his biggest cheerleader. Beyond their grades, we all really want to raise children who have compassion.”

As Jordan’s mom shared about her son, I couldn’t help but think how to inspire this kind of civic-minded commitment in my own children. Are there ways families can inspire this kind of dedication?

According to Yasmin, first, we need to listen “There is no formula. You need to meet your kid where they are.” Really listening to our kids share about things that are important to them and observing them when they are most excited, animated, and focused, help us to understand them.

Next, support their passion. “Jordan is just your average, ordinary kid who likes to play, swim, watch TV. He is also passionate,” said Yasmin. As families, we need to try to see the things that genuinely inspire our kids, not the things we wish would inspire our kids or the things we think should inspire them.

Finally, let them have control. “We just found a way to let him run with that passion. We told him he could stop at any time. He was driving.” Sometimes we say no to our children so often. What would they accomplish if we said yes?

Scripps National Spelling Bee Champ Announced

Keira_McGuire@witf.org (Keira McGuire, witf Producer and Host) — Thu, 31 May 2012 15:42:16 +0000

Congratulations to the winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Snigdha Nandipati! Snigdha is an 8th grader from San Diego, California. Her winning word was guetapens - which means to ambush, snare, trap.

Here is a link to the words Snigdha spelled. http://go.witf.org/biV7N

Dudding Competes at National Bee

Keira_McGuire@witf.org (Keira McGuire, witf Producer and Host) — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:39:34 +0000

Katie Dudding, the champion of witf's Central PA Spelling Bee, correctly spelled both words she received in the preliminary rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee but did not qualify for the semifinals. Out of 278 spellers, only the top 50 scoring spellers move forward to the semifinals. Spellers receive one point for each word they spell correctly during the Round One Test and then three points for each word they spell correctly during the preliminaries, for a maximum possible score of 31.

Katie is a seventh grader at St. Joseph Middle School in Mechanicsburg. She plans to try again next year.

“I don’t really know. Sometimes I feel like I could make it really far and other times I don’t,” says Katie. “I just want to keep trying and see how far I can get.”

Witf would like to congratulate Katie on her spelling success! We look forward to seeing her and wish her the best of luck during the 2013 witf Central PA Spelling Bee!

A Scripps National Spelling Bee champion will be determined Thursday night when the championship finals air live on ESPN from 8pm until 10pm.

Learn more about the 50 semifinalists!

Learn more about Katie and the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Competition Schedule

Preliminaries
Wednesday, May 30

Round Two: 8:00 – 11:45 a.m. EDT
Watch live on ESPN | Play along

Roun

d Three: 1:15 – 5:15 p.m. EDT
Watch live on ESPN | Play along

The Announcement of Semifinalists will immediately follow the conclusion of Round Three and will be broadcast live on ESPN3.

Semifinals
Thursday, May 31, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EDT
Live on ESPN2
Watch live on ESPN | Play along

Championship Finals
Thursday, May 31, 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. EDT
Live on ESPN
Watch live | Play along

Offering a quality head start

Debbie_Riek@witf.org (Debbie Riek) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:54:41 +0000

There are moments you will always remember as a parent — the first time your child toddled across the room to you, her first haircut, her first bath. I clearly remember waking each of my daughters up on their first day of kindergarten. I remember looking at their sweet, sleeping faces and thinking about the adventure that was ahead of them.

For many of us it seems to happen too soon. The transition from preschool to kindergarten can be exciting as well as a little overwhelming. There are lots of things to learn, people to meet as well as routines and procedures to understand and follow. Think of it as starting a new job in a new town or in a whole new job field. “We all have a responsibility to respect this transition and give our children every opportunity to approach this transition with confidence,” said Dr. Randi Payne, principal of Mount Wolf Elementary School in Northeastern School District in York County. Children need to hear from us that this is an exciting time and that we think it is important and special.”

Five-year-olds are not the only ones experiencing big changes. As families, we are also shifting our schedules and expectations. This can also produce excitement and even a little stress.

In 2011, in an effort to support families and soon-to-be kindergartners, witf launched “Ready, Set, Go — Kindergarten!” The event was designed to be a celebration of the kindergarten transition and a resource for families to connect to good information to support their child. Held at the witf Public Media Center in Swatara Twp., “Ready Set, Go — Kindergarten!” brought together local community groups and businesses who planned fun, engaging activities for the children and distributed important information about literacy, health, science, nutrition and art.

Stephanie Gomez-Wilson’s daughter Rhianna had been talking about going to kindergarten since she was 4: “We were ready. ‘Ready, Set, Go — Kindergarten!’ was just the perfect way to celebrate and maintain her excitement.” Rhianna was one of 146 soon-to-be kindergartners who practiced getting on and off a school bus, created art, conducted experiments and learned how to roll a pretzel at the event. “The variety of activities was really amazing and fun,” said Gomez-Wilson. “She had a great time and so did we.” Rhianna is having a successful year in kindergarten.

“Ready, Set, Go — Kindergarten!” featured activities that were so fun, the children had no idea they were learning so much. From strengthening fine motor skills by rolling pretzels to climbing on a fire truck or writing a postcard to themselves, children played inside the Public Media Center and out. Every member of the Class of 2024 left with a new book about getting ready for kindergarten and a cinch bag courtesy of our sponsors.

Children also had fun playing with PBS characters Curious George and Clifford the Big Red Dog. There were lots of hugs and lots of pictures. All through the event, families could pick up information cards about how to re-create the activity at home. Families could also connect to agencies that might be able to support them and their children on their educational journey.

“I think witf being involved in something like this is phenomenal,” said Gomez-Wilson. “Public media has been part of my life for a long time and to see it promote things I believe in as a mom is wonderful.”

Do you have a child going to kindergarten this fall? Go to witf.org and click on the education page to register your child for this year’s event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Public Media Center, 4801 Lindle Road, Swatara Twp. If you have any questions about the event or if your business might like to be a sponsor, please email debbie_riek@witf.org" or call 717.910.2806. We’ll see you there!

Be sure to RSVP and register your soon-to-be kindergartner for a VIK (Very Important Kindergartner) gift!

You and your 3-7 year old are invited to Ready, Set…Explore!

Debbie_Riek@witf.org (Debbie Riek) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:45:19 +0000

Science is about trying to make sense of the world. The idea of explaining science to young children can feel overwhelming to many adults. But luckily, explanations about science aren’t what young children want at first. They want to play! Curiosity drives children’s interest in science and we can all appreciate curiosity. So where do we start?

witf and Whitaker Center For Science and the Arts invite you and your 3-7 year old to join us for Ready, Set…Explore, a series of Saturday morning science play dates where you and your child can spend time together and play with science. Each event is shaped around a science concept and a well-loved PBS character who will be at the event to explore along with you. All events are held in the beautiful Kunkel Gallery in Whitaker Center in Harrisburg specific Saturdays from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. The events are free for families thanks to some wonderful community partners. Just RSVP by clicking the link below.

Upcoming Ready, Set…Explore dates are:

	April 21, 9-11 AM-- Explore wind and weather with Curious George This Ready, Set…Explore event was really fun and very successful. We had 286 people there and heard nothing but positive comments from families, Whitaker Center, PNC (our sponsor), and our awesome volunteers.
	Curious George event is sponsored by:


	May 19, 9-11 AM—Go on a backyard adventure with Cat In The Hat This Ready, Set…Explore event was another great success. We had a huge turnout of families and had a lot of positive comments from everyone who attended. A big thank you goes out to Whitaker Center, M&T Bank (our sponsor), and our many awesome volunteers.
	Cat In The Hat event is sponsored by:


	June 16, 9-11 AM— Clifford's Favorite Field Trips This Ready, Set…Explore event was a wonderful experience. We had over one hundred people attend and the kids had a blast with the activities. Thank you to Whitaker Center, Susquehanna Bank and Centric Bank (our sponsors), and all our incredible volunteers.
	Clifford's Favorite Field Trips:

	Is your child going to kindergarten in the fall? Celebrate this milestone for you and your child at Ready, Set, Go...Kindergarten! At this free family event designed specifically for you and your soon-to-be kindergartner you can: Create fun arts and crafts, sit on a real school bus, meet PBS characters and community helpers! You'll also be able to ask questions and connect with resources to help your child be successful in school! The next event is Saturday, August 11, 2012! For more information call 717-910-2806. Be sure to RSVP and register your soon-to-be kindergartner for a VIK (Very Important Kindergartner) gift!

Get ready to ask questions and explore science with your child!

Other tips from PBS Parents:

Science is not simply about knowing information—it is equally a way of trying to make sense of the world. Scientists must ask questions, design investigations, try to make sense of the information they have gathered during the investigations, and communicate and defend their thinking to others. They don’t always find the answers to their questions, and they don’t always agree.

Help Children Think Like Scientists

It is much more important for parents to help children develop the skills they need to think like scientists than to help them understand complex scientific concepts. Even the youngest children are quite capable of beginning to build these skills. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind as you enjoy science alongside your child:

You don’t need to have answers for all of your child’s questions! Encourage your child to develop his own science thinking skills.
Listen carefully to your child. Engage her in conversation about what she thinks, and encourage her to explain why she thinks as she does by asking questions such as, “Why do you think the snail is eating that leaf?”
Don’t immediately correct your child. If your child says something scientifically incorrect, help her discover for herself what is correct rather than correcting her. For example, if she says “heavy things sink, you can ask her, “Which heavy things have you seen sink?” Or, “I wonder if we can find something heavy that can float?”
Model curiosity. Wonder aloud: “I wonder what will happen to this pudding mix when we put the water in?”

Every Ready, Set... Explore event at The Whitaker Center is a family favorite! Watch highlights below:

Dudding is Grand Champion Speller!

Keira_McGuire@witf.org (Keira McGuire, witf Producer and Host) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:48:58 +0000

Congratulations to Katie Dudding! She is the winner of the witf Central PA Spelling Bee! She will now move on to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington, DC.

Katie is a seventh grader at St Joseph’s Middle School in Mechanicsburg. Katie loves to read. Her favorite book is The Capture by Kathryn Lasky. When Katie isn’t reading she likes playing the clarinet, skiing and listening to music. Or, you might find her playing with her Lab, Bodie.

Don’t forget to watch Katie when she competes nationally at the Scripps Spelling Bee! Her speller number will be #209.

Photos: Central PA Spelling Bee written test

Keira_McGuire@witf.org (Keira McGuire, witf Producer and Host) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:47:03 +0000

On January 29th, about 150 students from 67 schools took a 100-word written spelling test at the witf Public Media Center. Here are a few snapshots from the day!

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Thirty-four students scored high enough on the test to qualify to participate in the televised bee which will take place at the Public Media Center on February 25th. Good luck spellers!

Ready, Set… Explore!

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:31:00 +0000

Upcoming Ready, Set…Explore dates:

	April 21, 9-11 AM-- Explore wind and weather with Curious George This Ready, Set…Explore event was really fun and very successful. We had 286 people there and heard nothing but positive comments from families, Whitaker Center, PNC (our sponsor), and our awesome volunteers.
	Curious George event is sponsored by:


	May 19, 9-11 AM—Go on a backyard adventure with Cat In The Hat RSVP for the May event - click here Explore spider webs Learn about worms Make some tracks Get your photo taken with the Cat In The Hat (bring a camera!) and much more!
	Cat In The Hat event is sponsored by:

Get ready to ask questions and explore science with your child!

Other tips from PBS Parents:

Help Children Think Like Scientists

You don’t need to have answers for all of your child’s questions! Encourage your child to develop his own science thinking skills.
Listen carefully to your child. Engage her in conversation about what she thinks, and encourage her to explain why she thinks as she does by asking questions such as, “Why do you think the snail is eating that leaf?”
Don’t immediately correct your child. If your child says something scientifically incorrect, help her discover for herself what is correct rather than correcting her. For example, if she says “heavy things sink, you can ask her, “Which heavy things have you seen sink?” Or, “I wonder if we can find something heavy that can float?”
Model curiosity. Wonder aloud: “I wonder what will happen to this pudding mix when we put the water in?”

Local spellers advance to Grand Championship Spelling Bee

Colette_Cope@witf.org (Colette Cope, witf Interactive Producer) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

About 150 spellers representing 67 schools from 10 counties in central Pennsylvania took a 100-word written test at the witf Public Media Center on January 29.

Thirty-four of the top spellers are now advancing to the Grand Championship Spelling Bee on February 25. While competing onstage at the witf Public Media Center, these spellers will rely on their hours of studying and understanding of a word’s origins to avoid the dreaded bell signaling they are wrong and out. Find out who the lucky spellers are below.

Spellers advancing to Grand Championship Spelling Bee:
Parris J.A. Alleyne, West York Area MS/SD
Rebecca Boltz, Northern Lebanon MS/SD
Danielle Buckingham, Central Dauphin MS/SD
Max Cherepinsky, Susquehanna Township MS/SD
Benjamin Chu, Central York MS/SD
Christine Croll, Northern Lebanon MS/SD
Katherine Mary Dash, Good Shepherd School, Camp Hill
Jasmine Renee Deitz, Fredericksburg ES, Northern Lebanon SD
Katie Dudding, St. Joseph's School, Mechanicsburg
Cecilia Fitzgerald, Tuscarora JHS, Juniata County SD
Rachel Anita Gelfand, Red Lion Area JHS/SD
Frankie Haver, Eagle View MS, Cumberland Valley SD
Jack Knowles-Kellett, Gettysburg Area MS/SD
Samantha Kunkel, Allen MS, West Shore SD
Nicole Lang, Harrisburg Area Homeschool Association
Bojan Lazarevic, Allen MS, West Shore SD
Aneesha Maini, Lemoyne MS, West Shore SD
Jennifer McKee, Yellow Breeches MS, South Middleton SD
Krittika Negandhi, Good Hope MS, Cumberland Valley SD
Madeleine Nesbitt, York Suburban MS/SD
Ryan Nguyen, Swatara JHS, Central Dauphin SD
Veronica Ponti, Central Dauphin MS/SD
Olivia Ramsey, Swatara JHS, Central Dauphin SD
Aparajita Rao, St. Joan of Arc. School, Hershey
Noah Ryan, Yellow Breeches MS, South Middleton SD
Caitlin Salomon, South Eastern MS East, South Eastern SD
Harrison Scott, Greencastle-Antrim MS/SD
Tiffany Sterling, Susquehanna Township MS/SD
Gavin Turtu, Tuscarora MS, Juniata County SD
Benjamin Ulrich, Lamberton MS, Carlisle Area SD
Tyler A. Villegas, Infinity Charter School, Harrisburg
Veronica Werner, Mechanicsburg MS/SD
Meghan Williams, Yellow Breeches MS, South Middleton SD
Madeline Wolfe, Palmyra MS/SD

Thank you to all the spellers who participated in the written test and congratulations to all who are advancing!

Competitors continue until only one speller remains. That Grand Champion will then travel to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the Washington, D.C. area in the spring.

You can watch the contest on witf TV at 6 p.m. February 26 with rebroadcasts at 8 p.m. February 29 and 1 p.m. March 2.

witf’s Central PA Spelling Bee is supported by The Hershey Company, Shippensburg University, The Kline Foundation and New Cumberland Federal Credit Union.