Should I be correcting ds' spellings?

[saadia]

Ds1 in Reception (turned 5 in Jan) likes writing little stories and messages. He makes up the words he can't spell phonetically, so for "Mamma" he writes "Mumu", which I can see why he does, or Saturday will be spelt "Sataday".

Anyway, we do work on spellings and reading and many of these words crop up then, but, when he has spontaneously written a story or a message I don't usually correct his spellings because I don't want to dampen his enthusiasm. But I'm wondering if maybe I should - although I fear this may put him off writing things. OTOH, if I don't correct him he will learn incorrect spellings.

I'd correct them but perhaps a little bit later, so that he has time to enjoy his achievement first iyswim.

This is very, very common when children start to write. I'm sure there will be primary school teachers along soon who know more about it to give you better advice.

I would think that at 5 he is better writing enthusiastically, if erratically

In secondary we are told not to overwhelm kids with spelling corrections because, as you say, it puts them off writing. We are told to correct a maximum of 3 spellings a page.....and this is for kids of 11+

He sounds a real sweetheart!

you could perhaps correct the odd one or too now and again so as not to dishearten him . he is doing well!

i think you should not correct them in spontaneous writing because then the desire to be correct will limit the vocab he uses

it is better to use a wide range of words than restrict him to those he can spell

thanks everyone, yes probably best to maybe correct one word at a time.

I'm surprised at that rule for 11yr olds mb .

The thing is (and I'm speaking from experience here ) for some kids if you correct every word there will be 20 odd correcions on a page. At which time they will give up trying (also the voice of experience )

that's true zippitippi, I suppose if any word keeps coming up I could tell him how to spell it before he starts writing.

No need to correct them at all. I must say, he's making a good phonetic attempt at the examples you've given and sounds like he's doing really well for a 5yr old.

When it comes to writing, getting them enthused is the key. Talk to him about his story, ask him questions,tellhimit's wonderful. Then, after you know he's happy and confident about attempting such things you can just correct one spelling each time. Say something like,'this is a really good try and almost correct but it's actually spelt like this...'

Sounds like you're both doing a great job!

thanks homemama - the stories are often about Batman and "Supaman" saving the day. Yes I agree that enthusiasm is probably the most important thing.

Oh and agree that that too much correction can inhibit free writing. They end up trying to think of an easier spelt synonym so instead of writing it was fabulous, they say it was great.

Agree with other posts, let him enjoy.
What I might do is pick on words you notice and try activities with them at other times so he doesn't link them with the spontaneous writing he did for you. e.g. Play with magnetic letters on the fridge and help him spell the day of the week each day. Make some matching word cards and play pairs with Mummy, Daddy etc.

Could also give him a little bank of frequently used words to refer to...

Agreed berries. Young children learn best when they see and do things in context or real life situations.

thanks Berrie, that's a good idea.

You are told to correct a maximum of 3 spelling a page? By whom? Good grief- I am so pleased I am out of the state system if that's what it's come to! No wonder my private pupils need all the help they can get! Who are these idiots who make these rules?

nonono! don't correct any, not even one! my daughter is writing little messages everywhere to everyone she knows, every now and then she asks 'how do you spell such ahd such' but most of the time she just sounds it all out. at this age you really shouldn't be correcting them - that comes when they start to have spellings in upper grades

Is the NC really so prescriptive- and teachers can't use their own judgement? I would never correct 20 spellings per page, but I would correct high and medium frequency words, as well as those that ought to be known, and which aren't irregular spellings.

I am amazed by these revelations- is it any wonder that employers are crying out for mor eliterate employees?

It may surprise you all to know, but when I started teaching English to A level in the 1970s, half a mark was taken off for every spelling error at O level- though not more than once for the same word. So poor spelling could easily be the difference between a pass and a fail.

The pendulum has really swung too far the other way- and it is, quite honestly, one of the reasons that I don't teach in the state system any more.

This is no criticism of teachers- we just follow the rules.

I've never heard of the 3 per page, but I teach in special needs, so there isn't a great deal of writing going on anyway. it IS shocking though, and certainly when my daughter is of an age I will be correcting spellings! But not at 5

glyn

at secondary level using a wide and appropriate vocabulary is more important than spelling

and at 5 there really is no need to correct spelling

Hate to shock you, glyn, but I teach in the private sector and agree completely with mb about the 3 words rule. When I mark a piece of work, there's loads of things to look for and accuracy is only a small part of that. If I corrected all mistakes that some students made, they would become so disheartened...Why would you want to completely crush a child's sense of achievement and pride by correcting every single technical error? Even if they've written a good story, how can they possibly tell underneath all your red pen corrections?

Dd's school has a policy of not correcting spellings in the infants. It has worked beautifully with her. She writes spontaneously and confidently using her phonetic or best guess spellings and these are gradually improving. And right from the start you could almost always tell what she meant.

They do spelling as a separate task, gradually building up the commonest words and learning the rules. She remembers these a lot in her spontaneous writing but it doesn't inhibit her.

I only correct spellings when she asks.

I think it depends on the child. My ds loves making up stories and writes them on the computer. I normally read them, praise them etc and then, later, I might say how good his spelling is and ask him if he is interested in which ones were slightly wrong. My ds quite likes knowing and actually enjoys the process of going through the piece and noting the mistakes. He often spontaneously correct them as we discuss them. But it really must depend on the child.

no, no, no....how can I be a teacher of English and a writer if I don't believe in creativity!
Of course I wouldn't dream of crushing creativity- but why do the two have to be mutually exclusive, eh?

If you re-read my posts you will see that Isaid a teacher must use his/her judgement.

But in any case,all this "Let the ideas flow and to hell with the spelling etc" is plain daft. Children can learn to do both!

ps- slayerette- I don't possess a red pen- on purpose! I use pencil.

I don't correct at that age or it just seems very negative. It's better just to say how wonderful he's writing anything.

My 8 year olds I would in most cases.