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.

Oh it does matter. I had a full blown argument over the spelling of a particular word (which I don't remember now, it was so important ) last week because when he was 10 he and most of his class failed a spelling test on this word and the teacher taught them how to spell it -incorrectly- 'properly'. Some of the girls on my course a couple of years ago couldn't spell for shit. This degree level course was designed for the graduates to do a PGCE afterwards and become teachers.

Many teachers won't have been taught how to spell. When I was at school it was not considered important to teach us spelling and grammar. I then did a science degree (not much spelling needed, apart from obscure intermediates in biochemical processes) then a PGCE (not enough time to teach you to teach, let alone basic spelling).

I do occasionally make a mistake on the board. I am happy for students to point it out. I check all letters home carefully, and we proof-read reports. My particular weakness is practice / practise. So I get a colleague to check for me.

If I correct spellings in books I make sure I'm getting it right!

I get PTA letters home from the boys' school which are written by someone who is very over-enthusiastic with the apostrophe. I suppose that's not the school's fault, but it would make me cringe if I was the teacher having to hand these out.

What next? A maths teacher correcting the sum of 2+2=4??? Being able to spell is basic. An average 12 year old should be able to spell check a 6 year old's writing.

Yes they shoud be abe to spell but might also be human error - I woud point it out to the teacher - I would think they'd be a bit embarrassed but if it were me I would want to know. It doesn't need to be a big issue

YANBU I think there are very few people who never make spelling errors but if she's not sure of the odd word she should look it up and make sure she teaches the correct spelling imo.

Nah, course it doesn't

YES it matters a lot but not in the teaching fraternity. My MIL who taught for nearly 40 years always disagreed with me and her children were state educated and went to russel group universities you know - you should - she will have told you a million times. Regrettably two of them have never had a decent job and they're in their 40's now.

Ummmmm I guess once you have spent a day wiping noses, bottoms and tears, carried out a some child protection, helped parents with parenting, had endless meetings, written 6 page lesson plans for the following day, avoided phone calls from Galt Education......again, hunted for the lost plimsoll of an irate parent who claims it WAS named, emptied the shocking amount of conkers, leaves and twigs gathered in children?s trays, written a permission letter so the children can walk to the park 4 metres away, taught a few life skills alongside the basics and FINALLY made it home, that large glass of wine whilst writing a letter to parents and balancing your only meal of the day on your lap, the odd spelling mistake is quite likely!

(Goes away to await grammar errors to be pointed out)

Yes they should be able to spell, certainly words the children they teach might be likely to use, and should check a dictionary if trickier words crop up - even bluffing their way out of it if a child asks for a spelling they do not know - ask them to look it up themselves or find out for homework!

Can we extend this to TAs too. DDs wrote in her reading record

"it's good to here your reading so much at home" - one of those mistakes i could put down to human error or being distracted in a busy classroom, but BOTH is a bit

sadly i am too much of a wimp to rock the boat by bringing it up

I'd complain. For god's sake, if the teachers don't know how to spell a word, then their pupils won't either. Every three years 100 children will be released from the teacher's class unable to spell properly.

The problem with saying they should use a dictionary is that if someone believes they can spell, they won't look a word up, will they? They'll just blithely continue to spell it wrongly.

Umm, tryingtobemarypoppins, it's grammatical errors!

:o

Teachers who can't spell are a pain! And it's not enough to say, "it's up to the parents to ensure that spelling basics are grasped & reinforced not the school". My kids would not believe me over their teachers (teachers are gods, don't you know ), even though the dictionaries agreed with me. Plus, I want to be supportive of my kids' teachers, I don't want to have to tell my kids their teachers are just wrong.

Now they're a bit older and (mostly) believe in my spelling genius .

I am a poor spelling primary teacher, I bought a dictionary and I look things up in front of the children so I can spell it correctly. Shame I don't have a dictionary to hand on mn...

I am the first to defend the odd typo (teachers are often doing so many things at once you wouldn't believe it) but incorrect spelling is not excusable in a teacher.

OK I'm going to stick my neck out here. Accurate spelling and grammar should be second nature to a teacher - to any well educated person. As automatic as tying your shoelaces, or telling the time. I can be tired, pissed, upset, stressed, no matter. I still know how to spell 'definitely'. When did writing and speaking accurate English become so bloody difficult that even teachers aren't expected to do it? Why such low standards?

Of course primary school teachers should be able to model correct spelling. If there are words they aren't sure about they should check.

I'd address this with the teacher in question and if errors persist, take it to the Head.

YusMilady

Well said.

I can accept that some teachers are dyslexic, but in my experience they generally strive for accuracy. In the main, accuracy should be natural when teaching.

The fact is that most people who get a grade C in GCSE English Language can't spell well. Colleges are full of students who have got this basic grade but who cannot spell, use punctuation or paragraphs.

It's crazy that people with a grade C at GCSE English or Maths are allowed to teach.

I agree. Grade C is no longer any real measure of competence. The skills tests are laughable and in any case you can take them over and over again until you pass.

Hats off to LeQueen and YusMilady. "DS1 read allowed very well and clearly" has to my all time . Teacher not TA too.

oh, that reminds me - dd2 got a certificate for literacy at the end of school year assembly last year. with a spelling mistake on it. that might be my personal favourite.

Erm, yes they bloody well should! What a disgrace, I'd be down the school each and every time to argue the toss, there's no excuse and you certainly shouldn't put up with it

I am doing my degree to be a teacher, and I am dyslexic and a terrible speller. Don't laugh but I'm teaching myself by doing DS spellings with him and trying to re-learn them. He is yr 2. Because yes, I do think they should have basic spelling ability, but an excellent teacher whos crap at spelling is surely better than a crap teacher whos spelling is flawless?

I did laugh when DS report read "DS name (spelt wrong!) sometimes lacks concentration when writing................"

helium - not if they are teaching spelling, tbh.