Post by Charity on Apr 5, 2005 9:07:49 GMT -5
Gilbert boy takes state spelling title with 'jurimetrician'
Anne Ryman
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 4, 2005 03:20 PM
Hours of study paid off for 12-year-old Jonathan Horton, who won the Arizona Spelling Bee over the weekend.
The Gilbert boy earned the title of state's best speller for 2005 with the word "jurimetrician," which means to be a specialist in the application of scientific methods to legal problems.
The sixth-grader will represent the state this summer at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. advertisement
"He worked so hard for this. This is just amazing," said his mother, Michelle, who is his teacher and coach. He is home schooled.
He was one of 25 students from around Arizona who competed in the bee Saturday at Arizona State University.
Jonathan has been spelling since he was less than a year old. His mother recalls he would spit his pacifier out of his mouth and spell the word "E-X-I-T" as she pushed his stroller through Home Depot.
When he was 2, he began pulling encyclopedias from the shelves and reading the words.
Jonathan placed second in last year's state bee and coming so close to the top honor made him determined to win this year.
"I love competing," he said.
His strategy is to spell slowly and carefully. He asks for the pronunciation and the definition so as not to make a mistake because he heard a word incorrectly.
One other trait sets him apart. Before he spells a word aloud, he turns his head, cups his hand and speaks the word into his hand. This helps prevent inserting a wrong letter when he spells for real.
Spelling is not the only subject at which Jonathan excels. He recently took part in the state geography bee and a state math competition. He will compete in a national math competition in Detroit in a few weeks.
Besides spelling, Jonathan likes watching The Three Stooges and Laurel & Hardy, and he's reading The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas. He loves basketball, board games and video games.
"Anything that's competitive," said his mom.
He doesn't spend all his time studying spelling. National spelling bee rules prohibit homeschoolers from putting aside their daily studies so they can study spelling words. Michelle Horton said her son studies spelling at night and Saturdays. On Sunday, he takes the day off.
Saturday's bee brought back memories for Jonathan's dad, Jeff. He competed in the state bee in 1978 and placed sixth.
"He's way better than I was," Jeff said with pride.
www.azcentral.com/news/articles/040...lling04-ON.html
Anne Ryman
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 4, 2005 03:20 PM
Hours of study paid off for 12-year-old Jonathan Horton, who won the Arizona Spelling Bee over the weekend.
The Gilbert boy earned the title of state's best speller for 2005 with the word "jurimetrician," which means to be a specialist in the application of scientific methods to legal problems.
The sixth-grader will represent the state this summer at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. advertisement
"He worked so hard for this. This is just amazing," said his mother, Michelle, who is his teacher and coach. He is home schooled.
He was one of 25 students from around Arizona who competed in the bee Saturday at Arizona State University.
Jonathan has been spelling since he was less than a year old. His mother recalls he would spit his pacifier out of his mouth and spell the word "E-X-I-T" as she pushed his stroller through Home Depot.
When he was 2, he began pulling encyclopedias from the shelves and reading the words.
Jonathan placed second in last year's state bee and coming so close to the top honor made him determined to win this year.
"I love competing," he said.
His strategy is to spell slowly and carefully. He asks for the pronunciation and the definition so as not to make a mistake because he heard a word incorrectly.
One other trait sets him apart. Before he spells a word aloud, he turns his head, cups his hand and speaks the word into his hand. This helps prevent inserting a wrong letter when he spells for real.
Spelling is not the only subject at which Jonathan excels. He recently took part in the state geography bee and a state math competition. He will compete in a national math competition in Detroit in a few weeks.
Besides spelling, Jonathan likes watching The Three Stooges and Laurel & Hardy, and he's reading The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas. He loves basketball, board games and video games.
"Anything that's competitive," said his mom.
He doesn't spend all his time studying spelling. National spelling bee rules prohibit homeschoolers from putting aside their daily studies so they can study spelling words. Michelle Horton said her son studies spelling at night and Saturdays. On Sunday, he takes the day off.
Saturday's bee brought back memories for Jonathan's dad, Jeff. He competed in the state bee in 1978 and placed sixth.
"He's way better than I was," Jeff said with pride.
www.azcentral.com/news/articles/040...lling04-ON.html