A Fine Sense of Spell

Amanda Lueck Grell, a language arts teacher at Trevista at Horace Mann, has seen her share of spelling bees. And one day, as she was describing her middle school’s most recent bee for fellow boardmembers at Metro Denver Promotion of Letters, a nonprofit writing and tutoring center for kids ages...

By Susan Froyd

November 18, 2010

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Amanda Lueck Grell, a language arts teacher at Trevista at Horace Mann, has seen her share of spelling bees. And one day, as she was describing her middle school’s most recent bee for fellow boardmembers at Metro Denver Promotion of Letters, a nonprofit writing and tutoring center for kids ages five through eighteen, an idea started bouncing around the room: Why not have a monthly spelling bee for adults? Fast-forward to tonight, when MDPL presents a Spelling Bee for Grown-Ups, to be run completely in accordance with the rules and regulations of the junior edition, at the British Bulldog, 2052 Stout Street. After all, explains MDPL, “The first three letters of ‘beer’ are ‘b-e-e.’” Are you tough enough to untether yourself from spellcheck and take on Mr. Webster? Grell insists it will be worth the effort, especially after a few ales or lagers. “And if you think you missed a word because of some stupid reason,” she promises, “you can purchase a bye that will allow you to continue on to the next round.”

Join in for a measly $5 entry fee; all proceeds benefit MDPL’s free classes and summer camps. The bees continue on the third Thursday of every month, and two gift certificates to the Bulldog will be given out to each edition’s champ and runner-up. The f-u-n starts at 7 p.m.; registration is at 6:30. Find out more at www.promotionofletters.org, then stand up and start spelling.
Third Thursday of every month, 7 p.m., 2010

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Susan Froyd started writing for Westword as the "Thrills" editor in 1992 and never quite left the fold. These days she still freelances for the paper in addition to walking her dogs, enjoying cheap ethnic food and reading voraciously. Sometimes she writes poetry.

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