Spellings - would you point this out?

[Toodamnnosy]

BAD PARENT ALERT [Grin]
Dc came home yesterday with this week's spelling, which prompted me to realise that last week's spellings hadn't been looked at, I asked what they had got in the test and they said 12/12.

Would you mention to the teacher that the words are too easy as can get 12/12 without even looking?(my opinion) Or would you leave it, and give the child a break, and let them have something that requires no effor?(my dh's opinion.

[Toodamnnosy]

Why'd my not work?!?!

[Toodamnnosy]

Did that time!!!

[spanieleyes]

If DC got 12/12 in his first test I would be ok with it, presumably this was one of the first spelling tests of the year and the teacher is sorting out the levels. If he continues to get 12/12 without effort I would be pleased he had been taught well!

[WoodBetweenTheWorlds]

Has happened to us umpteen times. At best, I remember to test dd on her spellings the night before the test. At worst almost every week I forget completely. She always gets 12 out of 12.

I have never bothered saying anything. I'm not convinced that spelling tests work anyway, and would rather save any chats with the teacher for things which I really am worried about.

Besides, if the words actually had to be learnt, I'd have to get my arse into gear and remember to help her learn them

[spanieleyes]

Spellings given ( if any!) should follow a pattern that has been taught, rather than be a random list of spellings in an attempt to ensure a child gets them wrong! if the teacher teaches the pattern well the child should be able to recall it and spell any word with that pattern-so getting 12/12. They shouldn't need to learn spellings, just the pattern.
Anyway, spelling tests are only done to give parents something to worry about

[Toodamnnosy]

You all appear to be agreeing with my dh - i.e. not say anything - what happened to sisters sticking together?!?!?

But the point about if I say anything will result in me having to do something about learning spellings on a nightly basis is enough to keep my mouth shut.

[WoodBetweenTheWorlds]

[treas]

My ds and dd have never received a word in a spelling list that they didn't already know how to spell - My ds is now in Yr 7.

I initially tried to get the teachers to extend my dc but have given it up as a lost cause as "they know best" - or at least that's what they keep telling me.

I have decided to pick my battles and instead I'm getting the children to focus on their homework / projects.

To be honest spelling tests are a complete waste of time and effort - now if the schools gave the children comprehension tests that would be a different kettle of fish.

[blackeyedsusan]

personally, although I quite like to think I would like dd stretched with homework, i have a sneaky suspicion that I prreferr to do my own thing with her and follow whatever direction that pops up at the time. we talked about negative numbers last week, and probably wouldn't have done if we were stiill busy trying to cram in the last few spellings because we are so disorganised.

as it is, we whizz through the maths homework set, I extend it in whichever direction dd needs to go next (or not if she is tired) she reads the words she has been given(could do 1 1/2 yrs ago) i check she has not forgotten how to spell them, using them to do handwriting which is a struggle for her and we do our own thing whether that is words she could not do out of her library book or going on a minibeast hunt up the communal stairs that are populated by several types of spider, dead wasps, moths, ladybirds, and daddylonglegs

[iggly2]

Do not see the point of troubling teacher as surely you can find different words yourself.

[carpwidow]

OP - How old is DC? It's ever so early in the term to be worrying - we're still in September and teachers will be carrying out initial assessments. You'd be so much more worried if DC couldn't spell. Also, you don't know what work they have been doing on their spellings in class. chil owt

[notlettingthefearshow]

The words may not be so easy for everyone in the class. The teacher is only working to the average level of the class.

I would give your DC spelling tests myself to build their vocabulary.

[carpwidow]

notlettingthefearshow - any good teacher will differentiate the spellings and personalise the learning for each child, not work to the average. If they don't, in my opinion, they're not doing the job properly.

[WoodBetweenTheWorlds]

Agree with carpwidow, spellings are usually differentiated. But still very easy thank goodness.

[carpwidow]

WoodBetweenTheWorlds - Thanks for agreeing with me . I'm in true grumpy old woman mode tonight and have been upsetting people all over the shop!!!

[WoodBetweenTheWorlds]

Ooh, can I have some wine, please? Have had a few run-ins with people myself tonight!

[razors]

We had a meeting with new teacher - he explained that spellings and homework will be easy to start with just until children are back in routine and used to homework again - maybe the same thing is happening at your dc school?

[RosemaryandThyme]

Like the thought of helping them with spelling patterns - my spelling is very poor - due to random word spelling lists I suspect - could anyone recommend a spelling resource ?

[spanieleyes]

spelling tests don't build vocabulary, reading does! All spelling tests build is memory. Children need to learn spelling patterns rather than random sets of "difficult" words. They also need to know how to use these words in context. what is the point of learning a list of words and not knowing how or where to use them? if you want to extend your childs vocabulary, ensure they are reading books of a good quality and you discuss the words in them, don't test their spellings!

[littleducks]

DD got her first set of spellings last week, she knew how to spell the words without any help (to give her teacher credit they were all words containing the grapheme that had been taught that week so down to good teaching).

So I tested her orally a few times and she wrote them out once in her book....for us to get a note in her book saying she must write each word out ten times at least

I thought that was a bit much, she is only 5 and just started yr 1. This week she knows some of the spellings and not others, it would make more sense to me to concentrate on the ones she doesn't know but we are going to have to get her to write them all out at least ten times.

[sugartongue]

The joy of being bright child is not having to learn spellings - or put much effort into homework generally! Let her enjoy it, it won't hold her back. You can do some harder bits with her if you like, but I'd just let her enjoy it if I were you...

[Mashabell]

Agree with Sugartongue.

Moreover, initial teaching of reading and writing is done with regularly spelt words, to give children the basic idea of the alphabetic principle. It avoids words with tricky spellings. Most children do pretty well with those.


It's only when they start being expected to learn the likes of 'write, done, pretty' as well, that many children stop getting 12/12 in tests and they become a nightmare for them. But the lucky children with good visual memories can learn them without trying too, by simply reading a lot.

[snailoon]

My daugher insists on writing out all spellings 10 times even though she knows the spellings before she starts. She also insists on showing her
"working out" in maths even though she knows the answers before she starts. School has convinced her that this is very important.

[seeker]

Oh, leave the poor little brats alone!

[startail]

Showing working in maths is very important as you get further on. Otherwise it is impossible to see where you have gone wrong or gain marks for using the right method even if you have made a small mistake.
It is a good habit to get into.