Teacher and punishment for spelling mistakes.

[FiveOrangePips]

What would you think if your child was punished for making a mistake in a spelling test? My Dd's teacher takes "golden time" away from children, so for one spelling mistake 2 mins are taken away (they get 15 minutes a day I think), so if they get 7 wrong out of ten they lose all their free play time, and have to sit at their desk doing nothing at all - not even revising the spellings.

They don't get extra "free play" time if they spell all the words correctly. I feel it is wrong, and although dd only occasionally has spelling mistakes other children are routinely belittled for making mistakes, by the teacher. I just don't know what to do about it, I think the teacher can be quite sarcastic and bullying in general, she is close to retirement and seems to be killing time.

She's a twat.

When my Year 1 son gets all his spellings wrong (and fair play to you, kid), his teacher doesn't even mark it, because she doesn't want to embarrass/discourage him.

I appreciate that this is an iffy approach when kids are older, but he's only just turned six.

She's a cow, and you're right.

Sounds mad to me.

Year 1 children are just beginning to learn to spell - and it's a long road. Better encourage them, not put them off forever.

OP's daughter is at least nine, so probably Y5?
It's not a particularly positive, or effective method of encouraging them to learn to spell.
I also wonder if she differentiates the spellings to be learnt.

Disgusting.

My ds1 is in y5, and they only ever lose golden time as penalty for very bad behaviour. Good group work is rewRded by extra golden time. Spelling mistakes are never punished.

FGS even 35y ago, when I was at school, and punishment was used far more in education, we weren't punished for making mistakes in tests!

Very harsh and as Goblinchild (great name) says very negative. Also what a waste if the time is not even used to revise the wrong words!

Punitive and inefficient - not a good combo

Yes dd is 9, it is a mixed class of P4/P5 (Scotland) so there are two spelling tests, dd has more challenging spellings which I am happy about, I just don't like the way the teacher treats the children. I know of one child in the class who is having a really hard time with her home life and I just think the teacher is nasty, but what should I do about it?

I also have some concern that my ds, who has mild ASD and has a TA full time, ever has this teacher! It really worries me, and I just want to challenge the teacher, even I think she is a bit scary/intimidating...

Thank you for the replies, I am not sure how to deal with it.

Could you raise your concerns with a DHT or Principal Teacher, if there is one who has particular responsibility for the Upper School? Or curricular responsibility for Language?

This seems like a crazy means of "motivating" the kids to learn: my DD is P4 and is very proud of her clean Golden Time record: if she lost GT for spelling mistakes she would be mortified and would probably spend the weekend in tears. That's hardly going to inspire anyone to have a love of language and taking care over spelling, is it?

Madness!