Created: 1/15/2009 6:12:29 AM 
High Point, NC - More Americans rely on their computer's spell-check feature to correct their words than they do their own ability. A study shows 60% of Americans cannot spell words learned in elementary school correctly and the hardest words to remember use the "I before E accept after C" rule. Words that have silent letters are also mistakenly misspelled. There are 10 Triad schools competing to spell those words and a host of others correctly. It's all in an effort to become a spelling bee champ. We wanted to see what it takes to be the best speller in the Triad, so we sent WFMY News 2's Tracey McCain to get answers. Out of all 69 eligible students at the Piedmont School in High Point, it's come down to six spelling bee whiz kids. Sure... they all have words they struggle with....
But it's nothing they can't handle.
"For a lot of them, spelling is not their favorite subject or their best subject but it's really just an awesome thing for them to have this honor and just do really well with it and go to the next level," said teacher Emilie Crosby.
Students have a hard time spelling English words, but then try adding words in Spanish, Arabic and Latin to the mix. These students have a lot ahead of them.
"I've already got spanish down," said Greeson.
"You see all those big words in the book and we're doing the word language and temperature and I don't even know how to spell hardly any of the words in there," adds Fogleman.
Students will study countless hours to drum phonics into their heads.
"I study my spelling words almost everyday in the morning going to school. Basically everywhere I go I study my words," said Greeson.
In February, students from 10 other independent schools in the Piedmont will compete to earn the title spelling bee champ. From the Triad it's onto the state competition and then on to Washington D.C. in the spring.
Though some don't expect to get too far others are just happy to get the chance to go.
"They tell me to say positive answers and I'm positively sure that I'm probably not going to go on," said Fogleman.
"I want to win very badly. But I'm still the alternate and if Jack doesn't make it then I still go in," said Greeson. "I secretly want him to lose," he said jokingly.
The Independent Schools of the Piedmont hosts its spelling bee on February 10th at the Piedmont School in High Point. And Guilford county schools has theirs on February 13th at Smith High School.
Do you have a word you always misspell or what word do you hate to see spelled incorrectly? Post your thoughts in this story.
WFMY News 2
