Public School --A vent
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Public School--A vent
I am unhappy! My dd told me this morning that her teacher told them last Friday that she (the teacher) would not be teaching spelling for the rest of the year because she had too much other stuff to teach them in preparation for the standardized testing in the spring. My dd is in the 6th grade and spelling is her weakest subject so she is thrilled. We, her parents, are not!!! We believe that the children NEED spelling, among other subjects for a well-rounded education. Our dd is an honor student (one of the top in her class), but no matter how smart she is, if she can't spell correctly, then she won't be perceived as intelligent in her adult life. I think that our public school is doing our children an injustice! It's not fair for the teachers either. They are forced to teach only the material that is going to be on the standardized tests so that the schools can look good and get their funding. They can't teach in a manner they choose because there is just so much material to cover.
This isn't the first time this has happened to one of my dks. We just wish we could afford private school, but we just don't have the extra $20K a year and that is for the least expensive school in our area. We tried private school for one semester last year and while we felt the children got a better education and we would have loved to keep them there, it really stretched us to the limit financially.
So, since my personal motto is "If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem", I have decided that we are going to teach our dd spelling at home for the rest of this school year. She's going to hate it, but we feel she needs it and if the school won't teach it then we will have to pick up the slack.
Thanks for letting me rant. I feel a little better now that I have complained.
I love the A Beka spelling.
Ugh...it's the whole "No Child Left Behind" act and it is one of the worst things to happen to public schools. They spend more time studying for tests and taking them than actually learning. It's so very sad.
I do hope this teacher changes her mind. I would write an email and ask her if it's true and, if so, explain that taking spelling tests and studying for them is just as important as a standardized test. If the standardized test had a place for spelling, would she make the time for it? I would also explain that the new college placement exams have a *written* essay part now and that, your daughter might pass the tests for this year, but what about the ones down the road that are a direct reflection of HER and not the SCHOOL???
If she still does not do spelling at school, I think it's great you do it at home. I used to hire kids at a day camp all the time and have them fill out information right there on the spot. If they couldn't spell, I would throw out their application because I had so many applicants. It shows attention to detail and that you really care about how you present yourself.
So, kudos to you and I wish every parent did this...even if it's because our public system is not.
I would talk to the teacher. I know here, in our school system, the teachers work together to prepare lesson plans, etc. One teacher can not just drop a subject because they want to. There are also requirements that are set by the district.
I know last year, my youngest didn't have the best teacher. Unfortunately, she was going through a lot of personal problems, that I think effected her work. We have a huge school supply store, I went in and got some material to help my ds with his writing, his weak area. The ladies in there were a big help. And, like Yvonne mentioned, A-Beka is a great program.
I've never heard of a teacher who is "dropping" a subject - that honestly doesn't make that much sense. I would definitely speak with the teacher to confirm that is what is going to happen in her classroom. Teachers can't just drop subjects quite honestly.
Ditto Heidi's first paragraph - absolutely agreed! I understand the pressure of teaching to the test, because most administrations now demand it because THEIR butts are on the line when those test scores aren't met. It's absurd but unfortunately the way of public schools.
As a former teacher myself, I don't see how she can get away with dropping a subject. When I was teaching, spelling was part of the curriculum, and couldn't be dropped, as with any other subject.
At the school district where I teach, by sixth grade spelling is not taught as a separate subject, but integrated in the language arts curriculum. As such, there are no weekly spelling lists or tests. (As a side note, this is one of the top public schools in Ohio.)
Ditto Heidi, and unfortunately this is crunch time as far as preparing for the state tests, and 6th grade is a big year. I think doing spelling at home is a great idea for you.
I'm sorry you're not happy with your school district. I'm a big supporter of public schools, and it's discouraging when a school is not doing well. Your kids will be fine, because they have caring and supportive parents who are willing to go the extra mile.
This is my biggest fear about my children's education.
To ditto Trina and Reds, there is a major problem with a teacher not following the curriculum.
What's interesting is that there is more on the curriculum than on the tests, which doesn't make sense. If anything, they should include spelling on the standardized tests.
It's sad when schools are all about funding and not the students, huh???
Just so you know, private schools aren't immune to this "teaching to the test" business. My boys both went to a private school for the past 7 years and they spent weeks doing practice tests and reviewing standardized test material. Now it wasn't the state mandated test because they didn't have to take those, but they did have to take the Stanford Achievement Test EVERY year (public school usually only test during certain grades). The school's "reputation," marketing, parent approval, etc. depended dearly on those test scores so it was a big fat hairy deal every single year. Now that we are in Wisconsin where the public schools are actually good, as opposed to SE Louisiana, I am thrilled beyond belief that my kids can go to public school again. They are learning so much more, have more opportunities for classes and extracurriculars (and they went to a large private school), and there are normal non-pseudo-rich-kids-with-attitudes there.
However, I do agree with you about the spelling. The teacher just shouldn't be able to drop a subject, esp. if testing is the rationale. I would definitely talk to her and/or the principal about it and follow-up at home.
Spelling lists here quit in 5th grade. Maybe she was initially adding to the curriculm, but it wasn't really required.
I am not a proponent of doing spelling lists. In reality, if they don't learn it in elementary school, they will either not learn it, or they will pick it through reading. But those weekly kill and drill things just don't really stay with most children. We are lucky to have spell check in our worlds!
Check it out. It may be something the school has to do grade-wide. If something is part of the curriculum, then an individual teacher should not be able to eliminate it.
Ditto those who said that at this grade level spelling is part of language arts. You write and you learn to correctly spell the words you use in your writing.
As far as I recall, spelling was not counted in the written portion of the ELA (not sure with other states and other standardized tests).
Now here's where I say something wild: I agree with the teacher (if she's cleared this with the administration). There really are only so many hours in the day and she needs to spend valuable classroom time on teaching students to be good learners and good test takers. Rote memorization of spelling words is not part of making a good learner. It does not teach or reinforce critical thinking skills. Learning spelling rules and applying them is a different matter. Using a rule to figure out how to spell a word does involve critical thinking.
The prevalence of the computer has changed what we really need to know and what skills we need in order to be perceived as intelligent. Spell check has replaced the need to be a perfect speller. I wonder if teachers even have to teach dictionary skills anymore? Are there even dictionaries in the classrooms?
In our school district all the kids from 8th grade through 12th grade borrow laptops for the year. All homework is done on laptops - no need for paper anymore ...
So, sad as it may be, spelling may be going the way of elocution, extemporaneous speech and memorizing the classics.
Ame
I believe spelling is important.
I have received letters (from adults) with spelling errors. I think it is sad. Funny, it usually is from people with higher education.
My children learn spelling words and definitions. I think it is important to improve their vocabulary. When it no longer is part of their curriculum, I will continue with another curriculum.
LOL, Yvonne. I scan things so quickly when I read that I never even notice spelling - unless I have to because I'm marking a paper or it's just such a glaring error.
Now, spelling is different from vocabulary. In my opinion the most important thing one can do at any age is improve his or her vocabulary. However, one does not need to be able to perfectly spell a word in order to use it in conversation or use it in written work.
The purpose of language is to communicate. As long as one's message is clear, do the mechanics (grammar, spelling, etc.) really matter?
I don't know, myself.
Ame
I feel that way about handwriting - practicing handwriting is such a COMPLETE waste of time IMO. If it can be read, it's fine (to me). In addition, I always found it frustrating for my students who *didn't* have this "perfect" handwriting. They had a lot to get down on paper but had a handwriting barrier because they didn't think it was good enough. (And rightly so, since many teachers correct handwriting like crazy, which I've never understood.)
I tend to agree with you Ame reagarding the teaching of spelling. Learning the mechanics makes a good speller, but rote memory of most things IMO is really getting you nowhere. It's applying what you have learned about the mechanics of how letters form a word and spelling correctly from there. I also think that some people just can't spell very well, and most likely it was due to the rote learning of words that all of us had as children.
I just wonder if the teacher is reorganizing due to time constraints? Lord knows anyone who has taught elementary knows there is and will never be enough time in the day for all that is expected to be taught in addition to everything else that has to be dealt with during the day. If this is the case, the teacher should have notified the parents regarding any curriculum changes for her particular classroom. (Such as "We will no longer be doing a spelling test each week, but I'm sending a weekly list home for you to practice on your own", etc. Something along those lines.)
Grammar is much more important IMO, and to me personally with regard to how I feel when I encounter someone with poor grammar vs reading a note/letter with poor spelling.
The thing with spelling errors, most of them for adults are due to typos. I do hate to see the wrong form of words used (knew, new), but I also know that I KNOW the words, but sometimes in my haste I make a mistake. And there are other times the right words just don't come to me. I will admit people who have no spelling skills do stress me a bit. And I do think when I read message boards I judge peoples (or should that be people's or peoples') intelligence by that ability. However I am willing to bet that those posters who can't spell to save their lives, were taught in school through lists and rote memorization. My most useful spelling lesson was done via reading, I was taught when the words didn't look right, we had to circle them, and then go look up the correct spelling.
I will be checking with the teacher, but I believe my dd. She usually has her facts straight. Now that I've had time to chill out and think about it rationally, I'm guessing that the teacher is doing away with spelling tests and direct instruction of the subject, but I'm sure she will still count off for spelling errors in papers. I do not think it's the teacher's fault, it's our school district and the No Child Left Behind program. All we hear about is testing, testing, testing. I get papers home weekly about having the dks practice for these tests at home. At the elementary school level, teachers are encouraged to have the children skip recess in order to get a little extra class time. I am involved in the schools and, sadly, I have seen many changes over the last few years that I don't think is in the best interest of the children.
My dd spells phonetically (ironically, I'm not sure of the spelling of that word). That is how she was taught early on and her teachers told us not to correct her and said that by second grade her spelling would be ok. Well, that's not what happened. She still spells many words the way she did in kindergarten and first grade.
I guess I should look on the bright side--dd's LA grade should be an upper A rather than an A- without a spelling grade.
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