GREENPORT, N.Y. -- April 1, 2003 -- Kids from around the country are ready to shake their tile bags, rattle their brains and roll through five rounds of SCRABBLE(R) competition at the first-ever National School SCRABBLE(R) Championship. The tournament takes place Saturday, April 26 at the Marriott Copley Hotel in Boston, Mass. Over 200 5th - 8th graders representing more than 20 states from as far away as Washington, Florida and California are competing for the title and the top prize of $5,000 (team).
Developed in 1991, the School SCRABBLE(R) Program has earned praise from educators who cite improved vocabulary, spelling, dictionary skills, traditional and non-traditional math, creativity, critical thinking and cooperative learning among its benefits. Currently, over a million students play in more than 20,000 schools nationwide, and kids have been competing in local, state and regional championships since the mid-1990s.
"Teachers tell us that students have so much fun they don't even know they're learning." Says National SCRABBLE(R) Association Executive Director John D. Williams. School SCRABBLE(R) Program Director Yvonne Lieblein agrees. "We can't wait to bring these young SCRABBLE(R) experts together to begin the tradition of an annual School SCRABBLE(R) Championship."
Live Internet coverage of the tournament will be featured on http://school-scrabble-assoc.com.
SCRABBLE(R) is a trademark of Hasbro in the United States and Canada. (C)Hasbro 2002. All rights reserved.
