Should a primary teacher be able to spell?

[Cortina]

Last year our primary teacher couldn't spell, I assumed that it was a one off. It's happened again this year with a different teacher. The teacher commonly changes the correct spelling for an incorrect one it seems, separate to seperate, a lot to alot and so on.

Does it matter for Y2 or Y3? I haven't complained as I see no upside. Perhaps it really isn't important, no one values it so much any more, that much is clear.

Yes. She shouldn't be teaching children of any age if she can't even spell basic words. I would make an issue of it to be honest and contact the headteacher. Teachers need to have GCSE grade C or higher to even get into teaching college. I know standards have tumbled but still.

Yes it does matter. These people will be teaching your children to read and write! I value good spelling.

We get lots of spelling mistakes on DS's daily nursery reports, but I figure he is only 2 and they are not teaching him reading and writing yet.

Um yes they should be able to spell, and yes it does matter! Y2 and 3 is when they're really getting to grips with learning spellings, and if they have the incorrect one drummed into them it'll be bloody hard to drum it out. Then some of them will end up as teachers who can't spell and the cycle goes on!

Seriously, do something. It's one thing to make a spelling mistake when writing a comment on a child's work, as it might go unnoticed by the child (still not great, but hey) but to correct a child's already correct spelling?! Unacceptable. That's not teaching.

My friend had a child at a really good local primary. The teacher corrected the little boy's spelling from 'bicycle' to 'bycycle'. The boy said his mummy had told him to spell it 'bicycle'. The teacher told him his mummy was wrong and she wasn't a teacher so what did she know.

Speak to the school. Show them the evidence. And run through spellings with your son when he has tests etc. Spelling does matter: employers regularly say that if they see a CV or covering letter with spelling errors, that they pretty much automatically discount that person as a potential candidate.

Yes, it matters. Teachers should definitely be modeling the correct spelling and heaven alone knows how they managed to pass the literacy QTS test if they think alot is a valid word.

'mummy was wrong and she wasn't a teacher so what did she know'. PMSL.

It absolutely does matter, and I'm not scared to challenge a teacher on their spelling.

I've heard it's the same in private schools from friends. We are only a few months from the end of the year and I can't see that pointing it out will do much except to put the teacher on the defensive. She's bright and otherwise competent, as was the previous teacher, but doesn't have the knowledge by the look of things. I think the majority of people can't very spell well these days and grammar is usually poor too.

Yes it does matter.

I teach reception, 1 and 2 and my spelling can be dodgy for some words - I always use a dictionary or check with a colleague to ensure it it right.

One thing not being a fantastic speller, quite another not being aware of it and checking your spellings!

Ah Cortina, but standards are getting better aren't they?! Just look at the number of A*'s being rattled out.

Yes it matters. A lot . It especially matters if a teacher is marking a child down/wrong when they are in fact correct. Talk about confusing for the child!

It absolutely matters, and I would absolutely make a big deal of this with department head/head teacher.

They're teachers, FFS, they need to be able to teach. If they can't spell basic words, they really shouldn't be in the job.

No argument from this teacher, if they find spelling tricky they should be using dictionaries or spellcheckers.
Certainly, parents and children should not be able to tell if you are a good speller or not. It's unprofessional.

Of course a teacher should be able to spell - I can't believe you need to ask that!

Consistently correcting words that are actually spelled correctly in the first place is a serious problem. Think of all the confused children that have the misfortune to have this woman as a teacher. It needs addressing.

Yes they should!

One thing I like about DD1's current teacher is how eloquent her newsletters are.

Also I can still remember writing a poem at school when I was six about the "ermine stoat" and I got a SEE ME. The teacher wondered what I was on about, the stoat's fur turning white in winter? Anyway she came back the next day after looking it up and admitted I was right. I bet she thought I was a right little bleeder delightful.

We could extend this to 'should a teacher be able to speak correctly' too. For instance my son's nursery teacher uses this awful urban patois of 'he done you a pitcher today' 'we was gonna go outside' etc etc. It's just appalling grammar and mis-pronunciation. I'm not talking about accents but basic speech patterns. It's taken the best part of a year to correct his grammar and now ds2 will be going through her class in september too!

I give housepoints for anyone that educates me like that Insomnia!

I feel churlish doing that NoWay. I just feel I have to double my efforts to do more at home with my son. This lady is bright, competent and manages the class very well. I've spotted about 3 mistakes in school books over quite a long period of time.

As an example how many people realise a lot is two words? Not very many at all I think you'd find. Most don't spell it correctly on Mumsnet and we're all graduates allegedly.

That's fine for your son, but what about the rest of the class?
She needs to up her game and try harder.

Yes sparkle, nothing wrong with an accent but not being able to speak correctly is well disrespecting innit.

They should be spelling words correctly. Of course they should. My children have never had a teacher where this is an issue, but it does seem common on MN!

I'd say the majority of people realise that "a lot" are two words. I've not seen it spelt incorrectly in the time I've been on this board.

Sparkle, we have that too 'We was outside today, John had fun' springs to mind. This teacher was great in other ways, I've realised you can't expect everything.

Of course they should be able to bleedin' spell! I wouldn't think twice about complaining, and/or challenging the teacher.

TheVisitor, not so in my experience. Most people can't spell the basics well.