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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to correct American spelling on dd's homework sheet

88 replies

m0therofdragons · 17/06/2014 11:01

Dh is laughing at me because I'm a bit picky when it comes to spelling - I write for a living - and it really irritates me when school stuff comes home with spelling mistakes. Letters I sigh at but let go, however, dd (year 1) had a homework sheet and part of it asked her to color something in. I crossed it out and wrote colour. Aibu to think this is poor? Dd's spellings have also been wrong recently, asking her to learn shute... we taught her chute and shoot, but what if parents don't know it's wrong?

OP posts:
summertimeandthelivingiseasy · 17/06/2014 11:04

Someone has to (sigh)

TimeForAnotherNameChange · 17/06/2014 11:06

I'd be livid at the spelling homework, but would probably just sigh about the pre printed sheet and point it out jokingly to the teacher in an "Do you know you're using American resources?" kind of way. If it's Sparklebox though I'd be very concerned and asking for a meeting with the teacher and the head. That's a vile company to be using given their associations with paedophillia.

mommy2ash · 17/06/2014 11:06

was it hand written by the teacher or printed out? if it was printed i think you are being ridiculous. if the teacher wrote it then it would have annoyed me a little.

either way i wouldn't have crossed it out. if i thought my dd's teacher was spelling words incorrectly on a regular basis i would have a word with the teacher about it.

manchestermummy · 17/06/2014 11:07

If it's been printed from the internet then that would account for the use of color if it's an American site. However, and I am not a teacher, I would have thought using a UK-based site would always be more appropriate. I would have crossed it out too.

I couldn't bring myself to tell the teacher, but I would contact the school via the office without hesitation. According to Meriam Webster online shute is a variant of chute but your average Y1 doesn't really need to know that.

whereisshe · 17/06/2014 11:08

YADNBU, incorrect spelling drives me up the wall. I work with a lot of people from elsewhere in Europe and their insistence on American spelling upsets me. Mainly because I have to pause and process why it looks wrong rather than just absorbing the content I think.

manchestermummy · 17/06/2014 11:08

Sorry but I think using an American resource and not appreciating the difference in spellings is ridiculous: not the OP mommy

DrankSangriaInThePark · 17/06/2014 11:09

Lots of good American resources, I use them all the time, and use the spelling variations as a learning tool to point out that US English use is actually older than UK English use generally speaking, as it is the form of English that the first wave of immigrants took over with them. Then the kids get history as well as English.

But yes, I'd be spitting if it was Sparklebox being used, but surely not.

manchestermummy · 17/06/2014 11:10

The shute thing isn't in preparation for the Y1 phonics test is it? DD1 had some very odd (or 'alien') words to deal with last week.

The Americanised spelling is unforgivable either way.

Original poster
m0therofdragons · 17/06/2014 11:10

It was printed. I think it should have been corrected before photo copying. Dd is doing phonics testing this week so it irritated me. No issue with American resources but it needs to be adapted to suite it's audience, doesn't it?

OP posts:
Freckletoes · 17/06/2014 11:11

Definitely NBU! I would do it-how are kids going to learn if there are mistakes in their worksheets etc! The general opinion seems to be that spelling isn't that important any more and as I understand it spelling mistakes in work aren't corrected all the time (one TA told me it would affect a child's self esteem if they had hundreds of corrections in a piece of work Hmm ). So correct away!

manchestermummy · 17/06/2014 11:11

Pointing out the difference between UK English and US English is not relevant for a Y1 child. Start with what they will be using in every day written discourse then move on.

Nomama · 17/06/2014 11:11

Absolutely, hand written or printed, the teacher should have proof read it prior to giving it out.

If we can't check and lead by example who can?

As for Shute, your daughter was either being invited to Devon or being asked to read some rather advanced books (A Town Like Alice isn't my idea of a good read for Year 1).

I'd be a bit disturbed by this and would probably mention it to the teacher.

FolknNorah · 17/06/2014 11:13

Lol at suite it's audience Grin
But I agree with you.

Original poster
m0therofdragons · 17/06/2014 11:15

Not an alien word - I asked about that one. I believe shute is American version of chute.

I don't want to be "that mother" but I would be horrified if I sent out my work with incorrect spellings. As freelance I wouldn't get much work, so it's important to me.

OP posts:
summertimeandthelivingiseasy · 17/06/2014 11:15

I found grey written as 'gray' on a European Allergy website. It is not relevant to America as it was European pollen and hay fever.

It is like a creeping tsunami.

DrankSangriaInThePark · 17/06/2014 11:16

Pointing out that a hell of a lot of native speakers of English use a different variant to the one used in the UK might not be relevant to a Yr1 child's targets etc, but most of them seem to find it fascinating.

Original poster
m0therofdragons · 17/06/2014 11:16

Haha predictive text - I knew this was a dangerous thread for my phone :D

OP posts:
HumphreyCobbler · 17/06/2014 11:17

Well it should have been corrected before sending out. But maybe the teacher didn't notice? If it is a one off I would not think much of it tbh, only to point out to my dc that it is an american spelling.

You are so busy as a teacher that you inevitably miss some things. People reacting to a small one off mistake as if you are a fuckwit who is trying to ruin their child's education is one of the reasons I am no longer teaching. It is very wearing and depressing when you are working your arse off any someone pulls you up on one small thing.

Of course if it happens all the time then I would say something. I wouldn't correct in red pen as I think that is rude, but I would mention it to the teacher.

DrankSangriaInThePark · 17/06/2014 11:18

The thing is, OP, they aren't incorrect. They are spelling variants. Used by more people (almost all Asian and Far Eastern learners of English use American spellings and grammar, which is also different at times) than use the UK variant.

Original poster
m0therofdragons · 17/06/2014 11:19

Don't mind dd being told about different US spellings but I cannot imagine that's what the homework was looking at as it was about shapes.

OP posts:
Sallyingforth · 17/06/2014 11:21

Does DD say "zee" instead of "zed"?

Original poster
m0therofdragons · 17/06/2014 11:21

I used black pen. Dds spelling book is often marked incorrectly "thinking" was marked right even though dd left out the k and brew was marked incorrect and written next to it even though dd wrote it correctly and clearly. It's just building up a bit all these minor things.

OP posts:
SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 17/06/2014 11:23

I would have corrected it, yes. In red pen most likely.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 17/06/2014 11:25

They are incorrect in the UK Sangria. No-one is saying they are incorrect elsewhere in the world I don't think.

squoosh · 17/06/2014 11:28

Incorrect in the UK so anything other than the liberal use of a red pen is unreasonable.