To correct the teacher's spelling?

[Dany0909]

I'm a year 4 TA in a primary school. This year I have a new class and a new teacher.
She's an ok teacher in general, I've definitely worked with better.

Yesterday, she handed out the spelling list and had spelt one of the words wrong. I pointed it out to her privately as I didn't want parents to notice and she got in a huff. She didn't believe me and checked the spelling online before changing it.

Just today, she misspelt three subject-specific words that I'm sure she has been teaching for years so I was surprised she didn't know them. The kids copied them off the board incorrectly but I felt too uncomfortable to say anything.
I'm not going to specify the words so this post doesn't give me away just in case.

Anyway, I'm not really sure what to do. It's annoying because obviously the kids are learning incorrect spellings from her, but at the same time I don't really want to annoy the teacher. I'm not sure if she's dyslexic but surely if you knew you were then you would double check the information you're asking children to copy down. She's not overly nice or welcoming towards me so not sure how to approach it. Should I just leave it???

I cannot abide “I should of” 😬😬😬

My DH is collecting his state pension. He still remembers the teacher who corrected his spelling WRONGLY when he was 6!

It’s fucking outrageous!
I’m a teacher btw!

We used to regularly get emails from DC's school reminding us that children should complete their "homeworks".

It was just one of many many similar problems, and we gave up going to school eventually.

I haven't forgotten my 5 year old daughter's teacher changing her correctly spelled word 'scary' to 'scarey'. I had words with the head teacher about that, only for her to tell me that she has difficulty spelling 'icy'! A 3 letter word! This was a long time ago, because that daughter is 33 now.

Once the child has learnt to read properly you can start with spelling. But if they haven't learnt all the phonics to read first it's harsh to squash them constantly spelling words correctly when they haven't learnt this.
If a 5 year old writes I Luv mumee- they have formed letters and sounded it out and that's a big step- would you be happy with your child's teacher saying it's rubbish and needs to spell it properly

Yes. Honestly it was unreal. Teacher left not long after!

Haha I’m Kiwi and this would make the whole country seethe with anger! Shocker

Definitely think the OP should point this out though. It’s hard enough doing spelling without having to relearn wrongly learnt words!!!!

Oh my. As an ex teacher, I honestly believe that someone with such a poor understanding of English grammar should not have become a teacher. 'Of' is not a verb! What's worse is the lack of awareness. They would have come across correctly spelt what haves, could haves, should haves, and not thought, 'Hang on a minute...'

Unfortunately I worked with a few teachers who couldn't spell very well. They sometimes got annoyed when corrected by others and one would even repeat their mistakes defiantly, highlighting their errors and saying they didn't matter as language is always evolving. This particular one is now a deputy head teacher.

Whilst of course I agree teachers need to spell words correctly whenever possible, we are not infallible. We are human and sometimes make mistakes.
I teach Y6 and think it's important for them to understand that to make mistakes is human and often how we learn.
If I make a mistake on the board, for example, and a child identifies it, I would thank them and correct it.
I want my class to have the courage to try, to answer questions, and accept that they will make mistakes along the way but that it's perfectly OK to do so.

I agree that everyone makes mistakes but teachers need to be extra careful not to make spelling and grammar mistakes. I'm crap at spelling which is one of the reasons I wouldn't be a teacher.

My husband used to correct our kids French teachers worksheets with red pen. It was at a private school in a French speaking country and the French teacher was actually French.

You only need a grade 4 or above in GCSE English to meet the English requirements to be a primary school teacher in the UK.

This really doesn't surprise me. My undergrad was in English Lit, and we'd have PGCE/teacher training students on the course. The group in my classes were the worst students out of any of us. Never read the books, messed around in seminars and lectures, and generally did not want to be there. One of them was quite open in that she had no interest in the topic, but teaching was a good job with decent holidays.

By no means do I believe all teachers are like this. I had some wonderful teachers I'll never forget, and know several now. No issues with any at DC's schools as of yet.

But there's always going to be some who come to the job with this attitude. I'd definitely complain, OP. It's not on at all, and this sort of thing is so important for children of that age. I'd not be happy if this was the education my kids were getting.

This is so gross. So gross. Whyyyy can’t people just get it? Is it that hard? The OF. It makes me squirm - it runs so deep and I couldn’t even tell you why.

No one says “I of done that task.” They say “I have done that task.” Therefore we arrive at “I should HAVE done that task.” Arghhgggghhhgghh!

Second to this is brought and bought…when they’re mixed up but someone actually doesn’t know the difference, rather than just a slip of the tongue.

I’m not even that great at spelling or grammar myself so it’s awful to be a snob about it but these are truly maddening!

I think that you were absolutely correct to point out her error, Dany0909

My niece had a primary teacher, who would mark them down for not using American spellings - she was American - she was an English teacher. She tore a kid off in front of the class for writing "mum."

It turned out that she was dyslexic.

When we lived overseas my kids went to the XXXX English Speeking School.
I have a photo somewhere

My old English teacher was a stickler for correct spelling and grammar. If someone had written would have or could have she would have made them stand up and conjugate the verb in front of the class. My manager at work mentioned someone’s sense of humar in a message!.

This.
If she got in a huff with you for pointing out incorrect spellings before, go over her head.
I'm a massive spelling pedant and can't bear the thought of incorrect spelling lists being given out by a teacher who should know better

I have seen it being done but then it turns out the 'clever' person was wrong anyway

I used to do supply TA work and I don't think I ever went to a school that didn't have spelling mistakes all over their posters/signs/labels.

In one, I sat in a class listening to a child reading and as I looked around, every sign and poster had an error on it. It was quite the spectacular achievement.

She’s putting you in a horrible position with her incompetence. It’s very important to learn to spell correctly at this age.

In the 1970’s in Scotland some schools adopted a teaching method designed by Pitman called ITA. The whole method was never completed from start to finish with any pupil, as it was an absolute disaster.

The principal, If I remember correctly was to teach the way the words sounded with odd formations thrown in.

There are people that I know cannot spell properly to this day and feel very angry about it.

I've name changed as mentioned this IRL recently, but I was sent a copy of an email from our local MP about her stance on VAT on school fees, which contained the sentence: 'We don't know yet how it's going to effect people.'

I teach Year 3 and knew effect/ affect to be a homophone on the Year 3/4 spelling list. The NC expects children working 'at standard' for writing to be spelling 'most' words on these lists correctly by Y6...

On the whole, this thread is making me itch 😂

Let the teacher know. Spelling is obviously not her strength. Dont go to the head, that’s ridiculous.

I agree.

Op what outcome do you want? As a TA you need a good relationship with the teacher.

Make conversation with her diplomatically. Bring up how you feel spellings are your own strength and she might share that it's not her strength (maybe she's dyslexic). Then you might be able to offer to take responsibility for the spelling assignments.

She'd be pleased to have that task delegated to you, if done diplomatically.

If you go over her head to the Head, that's going unnecessarily nuclear. You'd damage your working relationship with her permanently. Other teachers would be reluctant to be partnered with you for subsequent years. Just don't do that

Suitable reasons for speaking to the Head about her include misconduct or safeguarding concerns. Not a spelling mistake or two.

I have someone on Facebook who is a teaching assistant and never uses any punctuation, ever. Just streams of words. It is infuriating, and I want to say something every single time, but never do.