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AIBU?

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To correct the teacher's spelling?

377 replies

Dany0909 · 10/09/2024 22:35

I'm a year 4 TA in a primary school. This year I have a new class and a new teacher.
She's an ok teacher in general, I've definitely worked with better.

Yesterday, she handed out the spelling list and had spelt one of the words wrong. I pointed it out to her privately as I didn't want parents to notice and she got in a huff. She didn't believe me and checked the spelling online before changing it.

Just today, she misspelt three subject-specific words that I'm sure she has been teaching for years so I was surprised she didn't know them. The kids copied them off the board incorrectly but I felt too uncomfortable to say anything.
I'm not going to specify the words so this post doesn't give me away just in case.

Anyway, I'm not really sure what to do. It's annoying because obviously the kids are learning incorrect spellings from her, but at the same time I don't really want to annoy the teacher. I'm not sure if she's dyslexic but surely if you knew you were then you would double check the information you're asking children to copy down. She's not overly nice or welcoming towards me so not sure how to approach it. Should I just leave it???

OP posts:
semideponent · 10/09/2024 22:54

Definitely don't leave it. Your own difficult position - what to do? - mirrors the kids' - what to think?

I think you need to let the headteacher know. Hopefully you have a good and supportive one.

ATuinTheGreat · 10/09/2024 22:42

Personally, I’d complain to the head. Incorrect spelling in eg a letter home to parents is one thing (and bad enough), but actively teaching the children incorrect spellings and testing them on them, presumably marking it wrong if they get it right, is totally unacceptable.

Yes, they’d probably think I was a bit of a dick, but that wouldn’t bother me!

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