Should I correct a teacher?

[Sadgirlonatrain]

In my son's recent geography homework, one of the questions on the sheet referred to the decline of coal mining in the North East.

"How would this of effected the area?"

No wonder the use of 'would of' is so widespread now, never mind the incorrect use of 'effected.'

Would you say anything to the school?

I wouldn't complain, but I would send a polite note saying that there seems to be a typo and you would suggest that it get corrected because obviously it's important that pupils shouldn't get the impression that that is correct.

I'm still bloody angry from my English teacher adding 'le' onto tack (as in riding tack) and that was about 55 years ago.. ;-)

Yes, but as though it were a slip/oversight you're pointing out to save the teacher's embarrassment. It might actually be the case.

These both need correcting. Characterising them as typos is a good idea, because it costs nothing to let the teacher save face and preserves relationships. I would think it best to contact the teacher directly if this is the first instance. Otherwise she (?) may perceive that you are trying to get her into trouble.

As a PP said it is possible that what you have quoted is taken directly from resource material, some of which is appalling

I'd love to know from teachers how this should be approached. As with many things, if you don't get feedback you don't know you and you never learn yourself. However it needs to be done in the right way.

I would contact the teacher about it directly, not mention it to my DC.

This is something i did often with my DCs' teachers over the years, in their English lessons (EFL) when they made mistakes in written English, or marked a British-English version as wrong (they tended to slip into American-English). But i never told my DCs about it. In all the time i was doing that only one reacted badly, but the head told them to calm down and take advantage of the fact that they had very easy access to an experienced, qualified TEFL teacher

I think it is important to remember this.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelling_of_Shakespeare%27s_name

You can engage a child and develop a love of the English language and reading at the same time as using correct spelling and grammar. "Could of" is so ugly that it certainly won't help anyone love the language.

What has to be borne in mind is that these days children will be marked down in GCSEs and A levels if they use bad grammar. Therefore failing to teach them properly can make a radical difference to their entire future. There isn't any excuse for it.

No, it's likely the teacher has dyslexia, which doesn't prevent them from teaching geography to a high standard.

Which GCSEs and A-levels does that occur in?
The ones what I teach and mark as long as the meaning of a sentnce is clear then the mark is given.

Same!

I wrote a story in English once and used the word “grisly” correctly. Teacher corrected it to “grizzly”. I was outraged but too shy to say anything.

I'm not - I've already said I'd flag it up!

I was responding to the PP who said she'd assume the teacher knew but had forgotten. IMO that's not possible with the "would of" error.

Yes, I would. I corrected a piece of work set for my daughter that used "butterflys" as the plural for butterfly. This was a remedial catch up class for Dd as she was a reluctant reader. It was the TA who set the piece of work and it's stayed with me, and although I try not to judge, I do, a little. Dd is now predicted an A in everything, not just English, but thinks "butterflies" looks wrong thanks to Mrs H. Mrs H now helps ds catch up after the pandemic 😩

Qualified teachers should know their SPAG ffs. TAs should too but they aren't held to the same standards, and quite rightly.

This is the best way to deal with it.

I think I’d do it anonymously. As in copy the sheet, correct it, put it in a letter addressed to the teacher at the school and post it.

So teacher doesn’t know who caught it, so can’t be maliciously vengeful to their child.

It goes direct to teacher, so they have a chance to correct it without being humiliated by being told about from the headteacher or head of year.

When I was a teacher I made my own worksheets till very late at night so I could meet my class' individual needs and really get the best learning out of them. Very rarely used Twinkl etc.

I had one parent absolutely hound me with typos, and yes, they were typos. Things like missing out or doing a double pound sign, repeating the odd word like 'and' or when text had moved down a line. The sort of thing anyone above age 6 could correct themselves quite easily or made no difference to their ability to understand.

I put up with it for a year. I then left teaching and never looked back. Quite happy to be out of being treated like scum of the earth for terrible pay and quality of life.

Obviously I am a teacher retention statistic now. Money wasted training me, kids don't benefit from my teaching and skillset/subject shortage/experience.

Complaining is fine. Just don't complain when you are left without a geography teacher and have a series of poor supplies for your child's education. You reap what you sew. (Or sow if you are tired from working 7am-11pm)

But thanks for reminding me I made the right choice op. Fact is any teacher worth their salt is leaving and only the ones who are less skilled and have no other option and don't care are staying.

Bravo.

I totally agree - my daughter got a 9 in GSCE English Lit and has gone onto studying it at A-Levels.

My point is - anyone with special needs still needs to have the same opportunity to teach our kids and sometimes make mistakes (there are a lot of kids out there who would rather be able to just be able to express themselves rather than worry that they are being correct grammatically).

@ichundich if the teacher has dyslexia then they should get someone to check their work to ensure it is correct.

@Bellaboo01 I understand many people struggle with SPAG, and that doesn't mean they can't have great jobs. But they should not be teachers unless they have an awareness of where they lack ability, and ensure their work is correct.

One of my DC struggle with this stuff, it's only going to make it harder on them if they are then taught something incorrectly.

I am also far from an idiot!

I'd be flabbergasted if that was the standard of communication from my kids' teacher. How have they possibly reached that level without grasping the most basic of spelling and grammar?

If they have dyslexia, then a reasonable adjustment would be to have another member of staff proof read worksheets before they are printed out.

I do agree it shouldn't stop them teaching geography to a high standard, but equally English should be of an acceptable standard in all subjects. This isn't .

In Geography the grammar and spelling is not prioritised. I think that may explain the sloppiness but even then it's poor.

Teacher's bring a lot more to the table than grammar!

Is saying "could of" likely to be a dyslexia issue?

I thought it was about spelling, rather than using the wrong words entirely?

If they have dyslexia, then a reasonable adjustment would be to have another member of staff proof read worksheets before they are printed out.

Pahahaha. Where can I apply for this role? Sure schools will be lining up to fund it.