Spelling Tests

[notpedanticenough]

My son's school introduced 100 word spelling tests a few years ago. These are carried out in one sitting from Y3 onwards. In order to move onto the second list of 100 they have to score 95. DS is now in Y5 and is still on the first 100. Going back through his tests from Y4, he has had between 90 and 94 correct each time, with different words incorrect. These words are: to/too, one/won, their/they're, its/it's, sometimes other words.
DS tells me that the teachers don't always make it clear (i.e. put into a sentence) that they want "to" not "too" etc.

I teach clarinet and can't imagine holding a child back from grade 2 because they didn't get a distinction in grade 1, but this is what the school are doing IMO.

Now, at his age I would (and still am) have been horrified to get any words incorrect and would make sure that I didn't make the same mistake again. But that was me and I'm a perfectionist (it takes me forever to write a post).

Do any of you have the same spelling test system in your DCs schools and, if your child is being held back because of silly a few, easily confused words, would you approach the teacher and tell them that you think it is unreasonable to keep a child on the same list for 3 years.

Seems a bit counter productive to me. I'm a spelling and grammar witch and even I would raise an eyebrow at this. I'd rather they picked up on regular clangers throughout the year.

Luckily, my DS doesn't seem that bothered. He's unbelievably laid back, and thankfully very bright (my elder DD has learning difficulties which this school refused to acknowledge, told me we needed to work harder at home which are now being addressed at comp).

I've already moved on to the next list of words at home with him in groups of 10 (I'd lose the will to live if I had to do 100 in one go) and he's coping fine, and will probably move on to the next list soon.

I qualified as a primary teacher in the late 80's and worked for a couple of years in an inner city primary (DS's school don't know this) before deciding to become an instrumental teacher and I know things have changed drastically since then, but I can't help feeling that this system of spelling tests is, as you say sparky, counter-productive.

I should have said in my last post that my teaching qualification and little experience probably aren't even relevant anymore, given that it was 25 years ago ( only seems like a few years).

www.readingrockets.org/blog/27769
penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/why-vocabulary-word-lists-don%E2%80%99t-work/