to write a slightly annoyed note to the teacher?

[PeeringIntoTheWintryVoid]

Firstly, I know this is incredibly trivial, but I feel like writing a bit of a snarky note, and thought I'd get a second opinion first before I piss of the teacher..

DD 8 has home/class spellings to do each week, which she fills out all at once when we remember each night Mon - Thurs, followed by a class test on Fri. The list of words is in a column on the left of the page, then each day is a column across the page. The instruction is to look briefly at the word, then write it in the appropriate box. So that DD doesn't just copy them, I cut the word column off with scissors so I can read them out to her. The first time we did this I just put the two pieces back in her book bag, but the teacher told DD that we shouldn't cut up the sheet. So now every week I sellotape the sheet back together.

This week I forgot to sellotape it, and when DD handed in the two pieces of paper, the teacher said "You're not allowed to do that" and threw the spellings straight in the bin. DD tried to explain but the teacher said "You have no right to do that".

Is it really such a big deal that I've cut the word column off that she would throw DD's homework in the bin in front of her? She can still see what the words are as they're written there four times. Is it that I am desecrating sacred school spelling sheets? I'd have thought she'd be glad that I'm taking enough of an interest to read them out to her rather than her just copy them.

It just seems a bit mean to chuck something straight in the bin that DD's spent time and effort doing. AIBU to write her a note to that effect?

except the mentalist ones.

I'd be furious - I would have a word-io.

I don't think she should have thrown it in the bin infront of your dd either, that was mean of her. She could have waited until later if she didn't want to keep the two pieces of paper.

What's done is done now though, you saying something won't change that. If you do, I'd talk to her and say your dd found it upsetting, but also that you have now realised that it must have been annoying for her when you cut up the page. I definately think it's worth doing as nicely as possible, just to avoid the teacher feeling annoyed towards you.

Yes, massive overreaction from the teacher. She could have marked it but written in the book that she has to not cut it up next week, or had another word with you.

We do read cover write but some of her other homework is rather 'open to interpretation' and I'd be mortified if it was chucked in the bin.

stiflersmom. Does it make any difference that she's not DD's class teacher, but the teacher of the other year 3 class - DD is just in her spelling group. The halo of DD's class teacher remains in place..

I can see that on balance, I should stop cutting the sheet as it's obviously an issue for the teacher, even when they're sellotaped (otherwise I can't see why she would throw the sheet in the bin when I forget to sellotape it on one occasion).

But I still feel I should say/write something about her throwing it in the bin - does anyone else think I'm being U on that?

can't believe you have been sellotaping them all this time tbh. I'd be in there tomorrow with a basket of fucking confetti

but I don't pander to precious snotty teachers.

HIJACK - Can someone explain what I'm supposed to do with these spellings? We have a book sent home each week with 5 columns (I think, the look, cover thing) but I've never understood if you're supposed to do the same ones each week (in each column) or all columns every night?

I am not sure why you are annoyed with the teacher. She asked you not to cut the spelling sheet and you proceeded to cut it! At the risk of being flamed, the teacher should write a sarky note to YOU !

I am not a teacher, but I do seem to consider them to be almost on a par with God for some reason. I don't dare to disobey them!

at the hoodie cutting teacher!!

roadtrain a note to me would have been absolutely fine - sarky or not - I'm the one she should take it up with if I'm doing something wrong; not DD.

Brian I think they're supposed to do the whole list in one column per night.

Ok, here's my proposed note...

Dear Ms Petty

DD tells me that you threw her spelling homework in the bin today, because I had forgotten to sellotape the sheet back together as I usually do. I cut the spelling list off so that I am able to read the spellings out to DD, as I found that otherwise she just copies them from the list.

DD spends time and effort writing out her spellings, and to throw her sheet into the bin in front of her because of my mistake seems to be rather unfair. I had been cutting and sticking the sheet as I felt that this was the most effective way to help her to learn her spellings, and it was certainly not my intention to anger you - I shan't cut the spelling sheet again, and please accept my apologies for the inconvenience it clearly caused.

Regards,
Peering

Obviously I'm joking about the Ms Petty...

I think your note is ok, and it's fair enough to mention something because she went overboard.

However, I think you should stop cutting the sheet and just fold it over or let dd cover it. The whole point is that she looks at the word and learns the 'shape' of it, not listens to you recite them. The teaching method is there for a reason.

Is it BOF? I hadn't realised that - that does make sense. Surely she sees the shape of these words when she's reading books though, doesn't she? I'd thought it would be better to have her think of the word from scratch than just commit it to short term memory (look then immediately write it) IYSWIM.

In future I won't cut the sheet, but I'm not totally convinced by the method. Thanks for that though.

madwoman I'm absolutely aghast at the teacher cutting up a child's clothing! I would be livid!! And I would also consider presenting her with a bill for a replacement - clothes aren't cheap. (At least, not where I live.)

I think the teacher is trying to teach the children to respect their books and also to ensure that all chidren's books are the same.

The OP was wrong to cut them out.

Why on earth can't the op write out the list of words on a separate bit of paper?

In your DD's homework book you just need to fold the page over or cover it with post-it notes so she can't see the words and copy them.

The teacher overreacted but I think your technique of cutting the words out is silly.

peering,
i suspect the teacher will reply:

'dear ms peering,

the 'look, copy' method that we use to teach spelling is called that for a reason.

please do contact me if you require clarification of our teaching methods, or to borrow a dictionary.

regards,

ms petty'

i am kidding, obv. but it is a fairly standard approach. it was tres yawnsome for ours because they were given photocopied sheets with giant flowers, the word written in the centre, and the damn thing had to be copied out onto every. single. blardy. petal.

look, copy, indeed.

mostly i refuse to comply. (probably why they attack my children with scissors lol)

we don't bother to learn spellings here any more. (dd2 is 7)

Body Journey as I said above, it's not a book, it's a sheet of paper. There is no spellings book - just a sheet of paper every week, which I always sellotaped back together (apart from this week). And the 'look, cover, write method' has never been explained as such, DD just came home and said "we have to look at the word, then write it down".

madwoman.....

Dear Ms Petty,

I had no idea it was called that - I wasn't clear that you had a method, as such...

I would love some clarification of your teaching methods, or indeed any school-home communication at all other than via our DCs, whom I find often to be unreliable at conveying messages or the gist of your teaching methods. I look forward with much anticipation to hearing from you on this!

I'm alright for the dictionary though, thanks. Maybe you should keep it so that you are able to check a child's spellings without having the list beside them.

With fondest regards,
Ms Peering

Loving the virtual note-writing and replying!

its actually the copying that is the method for learning the spellings. if i were that teacher i would be annoyed too, although i do think that throwing them in the bin and shouting would not be the way to handle it - i would have written a narky note to the parent.

I would be mad and have to say something, maybe taking a couple of days to calm down might help though.

How about

Dear Headmaster/mistress,

I would like to make a formal appointment to discuss the distressed state in which my DD came home from school on tuesday, which she tells me was due to Miss Petty's throwing away her homework this morning.

As you are no doubt aware, I take a close interest in DD's schoolwork, and am very concerned that this episode will affect her future application in Miss Petty's class. I hope that this can be resolved without having to alter DD's timetable to move her away from Miss Petty, as to date they appear to have had a productive relationship.

Yours sincerely

Copy to Miss Petty and the head of governers.

ps. please find enclosed recipt for the hooded sweater DD2 was wearing on tuesday. I would appreciate it if you could have my reimbursement to me within the next 7 days such that we can replace DD1's favourite sweater for the important family event we are attending this weekend. Maybe we will also have time to discuss Miss Snippy's class scissors and their appropriate usage at our meeting?

Too much?

NoWittyName I'm finding it so cathartic that I don't think I need to write to the teacher now..

kalo she didn't shout. I think a note to me would have been much more appropriate.

Does copying them really stick in the mind more than thinking about the word and its pronunciation, writing it, then writing it again correctly if you were wrong, noting what was different to how you thought it would be?

Peering - the method is very effective if done properly - loads of research available on the web if you are really interested. Method is detailed here: www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/waystolearn/lookcover/factsheet1.shtml