My kid's reading teacher is a bad speller - what would you do?

[1moreroad]

I was reviewing my son's weekly vocabulary list.  There are two misspelled words and one really bad sentence fragment (whittle - to cut shave off chips of wood).  I sent her an e-mail alerting her to the errors.  This is the second time I have done this.  The first time she actually misspelled some of his spelling words!  She didn't acknowledge the first e-mail.

My son said that she also has in-class materials with errors like these.  She will usually alert the kids if there is an error, apologize for it, tell them that she was really busy, and move on.

I understand that everyone makes mistakes.  I realize that in this day and age of spell checkers, some mistakes (she wrote "devise" when she meant "device") are actually easier to make.  But she's a 3rd grade reading teacher!!

What's the next step?  A one-on-one conference with the teacher?  When should this be elevated to the administration?  We are in a very diverse school system, and I'm sure that some parents don't have the time to look over their kids' work.

[Justin]

Boy, that's a tough one. I'd say when you escalate the issue is based on how receptive she is to your concerns when you talk to her; and if she actually tries to improve. Even if her spelling really does suck, there are tools she can use to prevent these simple errors.

But it is rather concerning she does not know the same words she is supposed to be teaching to 3rd graders.

[CLAY]

I would simply talk to her and explain while you are *sure* she is busy (as most teachers are during the day), her writing is her "face" to the parents, and while she is an excellent teacher, you'd hate for other parents to see these misspellings and think poorly of her.  It's like a car lot having dirty cars for sale.  You want to put your best foot forward, and for her that is the communication.  

If she gets pissed it's time for a chat with her principal.  There's no excuse for a teacher to regularly misspell words in parent communications or assignments.  She'd never accept the "I was busy" excuse from her students.  Teachers need to model the behavior they expect.

Good luck.

BTW- I'm a science teacher, so my spelling doesn't count.    (I keed, I keed)  

[gradus]

This seems like a classic case of, 'those who can't do, teach!'

[Dan K]

Definitely talk to her before escalating.  Let her reaction determine whether you have to go over her head. I'd be kind of pissed myself if my kid's teacher couldn't spell the words on the spelling list...

- Dan

[st2sam]

BTW- I'm a science teacher, so my spelling doesn't count.    (I keed, I keed)  

Science rocks, it was my favorite subject and I had the good grades to prove it!
My daughter is a teacher and my wife was a teacher. (Administrator now)
Great advice Clay.

[phoenix]

Dude, what do you expect in Mississippi?

[Flyer]

I'm almost a sceered to reply tho this tread.  
My Mum was a teacher.

If language skills are important to you, for your child, you must seek out a specialist teacher, instructor or tutor.
A quiet inquiry to the principal as to a recommendation in that regard will probably be all you'll need to do.
We simply do not value our teachers highly enough to support the best ones so we get what we get.
And he'll tell you that too.

[Blunder]

Man, if shah were still around we could have 'em hook up.

[black hills]

Man, if shah were still around we could have 'em hook up.

what if shes a tank ass?

[radman]

No way is that acceptable.  Bad for anyone, inexcusable for a teacher in any class, much less English.  That's like Clay pouring methyl alcohol while enjoying a Cohiba.

[KenH]

Be thankful your kid has a teacher that does more than make copies of worksheets out of some antiquated workbooks that cover material not specified by the state's guidelines on what will be on the standardized test your child will have to take at year's end.

[bomber]

I would go the tutor route . . . . I would not speak to the teacher directly until the end of the school year, at which time I would contact the teacher AND the principal at the same time.

There is a great deal of the school year left -- while most teachers take their responsibility seriously, there can be some petty folks in the district, and she might be one -- your child could have a very long year indeed, should you approach her directly.

[Johnny Monsoon]

It is absolutely unacceptable.  Does she let the kids off and get a better grade when they misspell things they turn in to her (though how would she know...)?  Escalate it. How many kids get to get a poor education because she's careless and 'busy'?  This is why teachers earn zero respect.

[1moreroad]

She apologized in her e-mail response.  Not sure if she exactly gets it yet or not.  I'll keep watching the material that comes home.  I'll schedule a face to face meeting with her if I see more errors.  I just want the material better edited before it gets to the kids, not necessarily punishment (unless that is what it takes).

I would go the tutor route . . .

 This is the benefit of having the time to go over my son's homework and assist as needed (after he has tried first).

This is why teachers earn zero respect.

 We've been very happy with all of his teachers up until this year.  They've generally instilled a love of learning and an interest in knowledge, particularly in core subjects like math.  They've also forced him to deal with authority figures with different personalities.  There's a lot of social learning going on at school, too.

Even this teacher - the assignments are good ones that challenge my son even if her spelling is poor.

Dude, what do you expect in Mississippi?

   Don't you have some corn to shuck?  

[darkstarmoto]

My son said that she also has in-class materials with errors like these.  She will usually alert the kids if there is an error, apologize for it, tell them that she was really busy, and move on.

Yikes...maybe she should busy herself with the material she is being paid to teach.  

I wonder if my boss would take "I was busy" as an excuse if our company lost a couple million dollar account because I missed something in my engineering reviews?  

[zer0netgain]

Looks like the government run public schools have come full circle.  

[Fourstring]

BHITAWTF






There.  Someone went there.

[jadziadax8]

BHITAWTF






There.  Someone went there.

Advice to the OP - teach your son not to get drunk and post on STN.

[mxvet57]

BHITAWTF

Translation please. I don't know how to spell text lingo.

[coho]

Translation please. I don't know how to spell text lingo.

It's either

B = Bang
H = Her
I = In
T = The
A = A$$
W = What
T = The
F= F&^%

Properly there should be a comma after the 'A' and a '?' at the end, but who is trying to be proper with a statement like that?

And so as not to discriminate, the 'H' could also mean 'Him'  



ken

OR

Big Hairy Italian Toasting A White Tortellini Fresco

You must choose...but choose wisely.  

[jadziadax8]

Translation please. I don't know how to spell text lingo.

Surprising no one?

[Formerly Known as Bigfoot]

what if shes a tank ass?

She's.  

[Mac]

It's either



OR



You must choose...but choose wisely.  

Brought to by Misanthrope

[clyde]

I'd talk to someone at the school district before she gets tenure; if not, your community will be stuck with a crappy teacher forever.

[Formerly Known as Bigfoot]

I'd talk to someone at the school district before she gets tenure; if not, your community will be stuck with a crappy teacher forever.

Why does this make her a crappy teacher?  She may be the best thing ever for your child, minus her spelling skills of course.  She may actually care about her kids and goes out of her way to see they receive the best education possible.  Some of you are just basically way too perfect and it must be nice.  

[CLAY]

I'd talk to someone at the school district before she gets tenure; if not, your community will be stuck with a crappy teacher forever.

Yeah, that's a bit of a leap...  

[clyde]

Why does this make her a crappy teacher?  She may be the best thing ever for your child, minus her spelling skills of course.  She may actually care about her kids and goes out of her way to see they receive the best education possible.  Some of you are just basically way too perfect and it must be nice.  

Well, hip hip hooray, let's hear it for mediocrity. And that, my friend, is spelled correctly thanks to a teacher who could spell.

[cbsnbiker]

I'm pretty picky about things like spelling and grammar.

But I also recognize that there are capable people out there who may have some real strengths that outweigh something like poor spelling, or who are competent but have disabilities such as dyslexia.

I'd want to know more about this teacher before rushing to judgment.

[bubba zanetti]

Thanks for that.

I would also weigh the child's relationship with their teacher, and the value of maintaining same given age and development. Are you inadvertently undermining the teacher in your child's eyes by discussing this ?  .. etc. What grade is this? I am assuming about grade 2. Is your child only with the teacher for this subject or a range of subjects?

Have you met the teacher?  It is late in the year if you answer no. Why not? Perhaps if you did you might be able to form your own opinions and or offer some feedback based on a relationship instead of just a second hand report? Does your school have a PAC ?  Parent advisory council or PTA, I guess in the US ... invite yourself. Participate. You cannot leave your child's education blindly to anyone. If you have not asked the same questions to other parents that you asked here ... then I would have more questions about you, than the teacher whose spelling you have such issue with.

Just sayin .... easy to make assumptions when one doesn't know the person. Kinda like I just did.

[Formerly Known as Bigfoot]

Well, hip hip hooray, let's hear it for mediocrity. And that, my friend, is spelled correctly thanks to a teacher who could spell.

Again.  You know nothing else about this teacher other than what the OP has posted.  She might be an excellent teacher even if she cannot spell.  Are you maintaining that you can only be viewed as a good teacher if you're an excellent speller?  I too can't stand bad spellers and I would hope a teacher would be able to find her mistakes before handing out assignments and such but this certainly does not mean she is a mediocre teacher.  

[Fourstring]

BF, I'm generally in agreement with you on this, since I don't know the teacher at all.  But two issues-

-it's third grade

-according to the OP, she's a reading teacher.

I'm all for benefit of doubt, but four years of college should prep you enough to spell at an eight-year-old's level.  'Too busy' is not an excuse she would accept from a student, so it has no place coming from her.

[Dan K]

BF, I'm generally in agreement with you on this, since I don't know the teacher at all.  But two issues-

-it's third grade

-according to the OP, she's a reading teacher.

I'm all for benefit of doubt, but four years of college should prep you enough to spell at an eight-year-old's level.  'Too busy' is not an excuse she would accept from a student, so it has no place coming from her.

Hear hear.  (Here?)  

- Dan

[Papa Lazarou]

what I'd do-buy me a plane ticket and get me to come over and sort things.

[jadziadax8]

There is definitely a problem here.  If she is teaching reading and spelling, then her spelling should be superior to her students' abilities.  As a teacher, I always prefer to have people deal with me directly instead of going over my head if there is a problem.  If the mistakes continue to happen and she continues to push it off as being "too busy" to correct them, I would suggest scheduling a meeting with her and her immediate supervisor.

As others have pointed out, it is not a good idea to discuss these issues any more with your son, as it may undermine her classroom authority.  Monitor his homework discreetly.  Keep any assignments that show her poor spelling as evidence if or when a meeting is necessary.

[Papa Lazarou]

She might need a new belt....