WHEN children develop a love for reading and writing English, they become good at spelling too.
This is why Spelling Bee competitions encourage pupils to read so they can excel in class.
Speaking at a Spelling Bee competition held at Nkholi Primary School in Pimville, Soweto, Touch Africa’s corporate social investment project manager, Morne Scholtz said: “Once that love develops, so does their vocabulary. This makes learning easier and exciting because teachers don’t have to spend time explaining to pupils what the word means or how it is spelt.”
The competition promotes reading and writing among grade 5 and 6 pupils from 37 public and private schools around Mzansi.
Those who do well in the Spelling Bee competitions will take part in the department of education’s Spelling Bee competition in April.
Pupils were asked to spell words to win trophies and medals.
Katlego Kamela (11), a grade 6 pupil from Nkholi Primary, won the tough competition.
She said: “I am happy that I won. Last year I came third and told myself that this year I want to do better.”
Katlego said she practises how to pronounce and spell words every day after school and also before she goes to bed, as well as in the morning when pupils gather at assembly.
The other three finalists were Rorisang Moerane (11) Thakgalo Somo (10), both from Nkholi Primary, and Angelique Patmore (11) from Hurlyvale Primary in Edenvale.
Some of the pupils who lost in the semifinals said they were not disheartened as there is always a second time. They said they are very proud of themselves even though they didn’t win.
Spelling words correctly is a important part of learning and develops key thinking skills pupils need throughout their lives.
