DD2's spellings - please tell me I'm not going mad!

[2sugars]

It is tomato, and not tomatoe, isn't it? With the e being added only if it's a plural?

Am since dd1 copied down 'imature' last week ....

TIA

Yeh, definitely tomato when singular

Yes, you're right.

This is why teachers should give kids a printed list

Thanks guys! Now all I've got to do is get her to learn them for her test this arvo

My dc's teachers do give the children a printed list- and whoever does the printing is not a very confident speller.

Even teachers make mistakes...

I once had to speak to a child about their handwriting as it was messy and some spelling mistakes and I knew they could do better. The ta then sheepishly spoke up and admited they'd scribed for the child!

sorry admitted!

agree sushistar, they are only human. But worrying if they can't spell basic words.... not saying it's always the teachers' fault, children can copy things down incorrectly, but I have seen some shockers in my DCs books handwritten by teachers.

Remember some teachers now can get 3 (or even 2?) Ds at A-level and then go to a uni for 3 yrs which will teach them how to play the system, not to spell! Not that they don't do a great job, but they're just not always taught good numeracy/literacy skills themselves. Sad but true. Thank God you can spot the dodgy spellings for your dcs sake.

I went to a "Literacy Morning" at my DS's school and on one of the task cards, the incorrect "there" was used.

As the head was standing nearby, I pointed it out to her, but it took her a minute or two to realise what I was getting at. Then she said " Oh well these children won't make that mistake, as the teaching is so much better now than when the teachers were at school". They will if the teachers don't get it right. I thought I was pointing out a simple mistake, she seemed to be suggesting that it was entirely possible that the teacher who wrote it didn't know the correct spelling.

A friend of mine has a very good degree, but FTB is working as a TA and she says the class teacher often asks her for correct grammar and spellings.

I am an adult literacy teacher and I am often ASTOUNDED at the level of IGNORANCE displayed by those who are supposed to be educating others. The odd mistake is human. Ignorance is an awful indication of the low value society places on the importance of being able to express yourself accuratly and clearly. Rant over.

Now paranoid someone will spot a spelling mistake in aforementioned rant!

Sushistar - Accurately would be more accurate . Please never check my posts in return though .

i am a rubbish speller but a good teacher and I do make mistakes...especially typing ones because I am worse at proof reading..

i do confess to my class and tell them it is ok to make mistakes and i also show them how to check for mistakes.

Cazzy, at least you admit it to your class. It IS important for them to know how to check for errors - one day they'll be filling in application forms!

cazzybabs, teachers need so many skills, we can't expect all teachers to be brilliant at everything. HOWEVER, if a teacher's responsibilities require them to teach spelling, then either they should be able to spell or at least recognise that they can't so that they get others to ensure they are sending home correct spellings with our children. I'd get fired there was such a basic mismatch between my job responsibilities and my capabilities. Not having a go at you, teachers in general or anyone else. Just stating a fact. If you are doing any job, teaching or not, you should have the basic level skills that job requires. I can't forgive a primary teacher for not being able to spell potato or know where to put apostrophes or the difference between there/their; weather and whether. Have seen them all. Unless there's a special reason (dyslexia etc) in which case I'd hope they'd ask someone else to help them out.

yes - I always ensure I send home the correct spellings and equally if I am not sure if the children ask me for a spelling I'll look it up.

My Y2 son's spellings this week included - frightening and dynamite Is that me or is that totally over the top?

my son was sent home with the word 'saxaphone'
to learn, along wth instructions to 'practice' his handwriting.