How much sloppy work from the teacher should I tolerate before approaching the HT?

[Alliwantisaroomsomewhere]

DS is in Yr 3 at a good enough school! There have been 2 or 3 minor spelling or grammatical errors in homework tasks which I have (very graciously ) overlooked.

However, last term DS had to do some time telling homework ie write down what the time is on the clock face shown. Teacher marked all of the his work correct when over half was incorrect. I wrote a note to the teacher asking about it and she apologised profusely saying that she had marked the homework but had no idea how that had happened.

This week's homework for numeracy had a number pattern that was unfathomable and the literacy homework had a grammatical error that would have made the work confusing for children.

What really pissed me off a lot was that DS's literacy homework from last week was marked all incorrect when not only was it correct, but the week before's work was very, very similar and again all correct, but this was accepted by the very same teacher. Again I made a note in DS's literacy homework book, and all she has done is initial and date my comments.

The marking is very sloppy and I wonder whether I should raise all these issues with the HT or do I let it go and see if things improve. All parents recently received a note from the HT stating that moves were afoot to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the school.

Do I put up and shut up or speak up?

(sorry, very long and rather dull...)

I would mention it yes, not exactly a one off is it

Why not going and speak to the actual teacher?
I do thin the teacher should be the first port of call, in person face to face. And only then, move on to the HT if not satisfied.
The first thing many HT will do is ask you if you have spoken to the class teacher ime.

I wouldn't delay, if you really are seeing consistently poor marking and poor grammar. It isn't unreasonable to expect the teacher to maintain a high standard in these areas.

I do feel that sometimes teachers who make the odd mistake make up for it in spades in other areas and it isn't necessarily a deal-breaker to slip up on a letter home or whatever. But poor marking of children's work isn't acceptable.

I would email the HT tomorrow and include all of the examples you can to back up your complaint. You have tried raising it with the teacher and it hasn't helped her to raise her standards - so YANBU.

Why would you go to the HT instead of speaking to the teacher?

I'd be mortified if I made an error on something I sent out to parents but when you work 12+ hours every day and you're setting/marking homework at midnight and falling asleep at the desk it happens I'm afraid.

Obviously that's not the case for every teacher, this teacher might just be "sloppy" but you ought to give them the chance to explain.

Heggiehog, I had previously written a brief, informal note to her about work that was badly marked, and we talked about it - she apologised profusely saying that she had no idea how it happened. I appreciate that people make mistakes.

I have decided that I will leave things as they are at present, and if I am concerned again, I will have a word with her and if it continues after that, then I will write a letter to the HT.

Also, the one lot of marking was just bizarre: "I like food," said the dog. Teacher said that the word "said" had to start with a capital S. She marked ALL the sentences like that - the task was about "speech marks" as the school calls them (rather than quotation marks).

I would only be worried if she marked class work incorrectly. I wouldn't give a fig about the homework. (Homework can be a chore to mark, especially if most has been completed by parents!)

Are the books in school marked accurately and well?

All primaries call them speech marks tbh, well every one I have been in have. Often introduced alongside or just after speech bubbles. Become quotation marks later in the primary years afaik.

I would still go to see the class teacher face to face now; HT if things are not dealt with satisfactory, or head of Key Stage of one exists.

Not any more hula. They're called 'inverted commas' (a la Gove).

I do think it's VERY important to look at marking of class work before complaining.

(I do agree that it's sloppy to mark homework incorrectly, but I think you'd have a better case to put to HT if class work was marked badly.)

I would go to the head about it.

"I like food," said the dog. Teacher said that the word "said" had to start with a capital S.

This is deeply strange.

I agree Cobbler. That did it for me.

ipadquietly - not here yet - later on in school maybe, but I am in Y2. DD, in Y22m says quotation marks and speech marks still.

I do remember them being inverted commas once before.

It's in the new grammar test!

They're called inverted commas. 'Said' should absolutely not be written with a capital S. Shambolic. See HT. Completely unacceptable in the formative learning of young children. from both a primary school teacher and parent who cannot bear bad teaching

Yes, have a word

He doesn't tell me what to call punctuation.

Here's a question from the sample Y6 test:

11.Which sentence uses inverted commas correctly? Tick one.
?Fortunately, Peter, you?re going after all, said Mrs. Smith.? It?s a good job, too!
?Fortunately, Peter, you?re going after all, ?said Mrs Smith?. It?s a good job, too!
?Fortunately, Peter, you?re going after all,? said Mrs Smith. It?s a good job, too! ?Fortunately, Peter, you?re going after all,? said Mrs Smith. ?It?s a good job, too!?

No mention of speech marks!

But hey, I just call them 66 and 99s!

Stupid multiple choice 11 plus-like bollocks, imho.

The SPAG test, not the speech marks.

I really, really want a 'like' button especiallyfor your post, TeamEdward.

I think you need to tackle this now.I would ask for an after school meeting with the teacher and show her the examples of incorrect marking. Explain that if it happens again you will have to speak to the HT.
Your child is being given incorrect information and it is ridiculous that any teacher is unable to punctuate direct speech.I would also photocopy the incorrect marking before you speak to the teacher-just so it doesn't inexplicably disappear if she is challenged.
I was a teacher for 30+ years so know all about tiredness/workload etc but that is inexcusable.