Can You Use That In A Sentence?

Yes, that was an option, asking the chick to use the word in a sentence. Kids did that when there was probably no homonym even in an unabridged OED. Which is fine, gives them a chance to collect themselves, but they have to remember to ask.

Are spelling bees ridiculous? On many levels I'd say yes. Em mentioned in her distress about finishing third, that she didn't want to be in it, but honestly that was sour grapes. She wanted to win it all, and nothing else was acceptable to her. Part of growing up is she'll have to learn that even when you're awfully good at something, others will have better luck or success that may or may not be 'earned.' And remember Nancy Kerrigan? She had the world at her feet to endorse and then had a fit over only winning a Silver in '94? You have to learn to get beaten with a bit of class.

On the other hand, if Em thinks only first place is acceptable, I don't have to worry about her underachieving. Since many people never give their best to anything, that's half the battle, the other half is teaching a kid that sometimes your best isn't good enough, but you can't let that make you miserable.