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Original poster

Teachers of English?

26 replies

gillybeanz · 02/10/2017 22:01

I was reading an end of year English test for KS3 so Y9 that dd had attempted Sad
It said that spellings would be marked, which has shocked me as they didn't used to be marked when older dc did GCSE's.

My dd is dyslexic and wants to improve her spellings.
She asked me to find some lists and I don't know where to start.
I can't ask school as they are doing so much other stuff with her and she wants to do it at home. She is trying so hard to make it to the higher paper rather than foundation, but obviously going right back to the beginning will take more time than she has.

Suggestions, please.

OP posts:
Rose0 · 02/10/2017 23:24

SPaG (spelling and grammar) is 5% of the marks I believe for English lit/RE/history/geography and maybe some others. I don't think it is for English language though. It's been the case since before my DD took her GCSEs (in 2015), I don't know when it was introduced but teachers will be experienced with dealing with it (and as it is only 5% I think they tend to focus on improving other areas).

I'd say if she wants to improve her spelling, sit down together for a period of time each week and work out different spelling patterns and look at word roots, so that she can at least have a good shot at a word even if she's unsure. I'd say try and get her to avoid autocorrect as well so she gets used to having to try and spell words right and from her own deduction.

Also - if her dyslexia is really bad and she is potentially borderline 3/4 or 4/5 then maybe look at asking the school about a scribe for subjects where SPaG marks are awarded? And if she already gets a laptop then she could also try and practise memorising some more difficult words that she may want to use (generic words such as "subseqently" or "incidental") through typing them repeatedly, so she remembers the motion as well as the spelling. Grammar is also 33% of the SPaG marks, so make sure she's able to structure sentences well! But generally, unless the spelling and grammar really are horrendous and incoherent no student will lose all 5% , so I wouldn't let it worry you. As long as she can form a grammatically correct sentence and spell basic key words right, she absolutely doesn't need to lose any sleep over it.

Rose0 · 02/10/2017 23:25

PS I'm not an English teacher - my suggestions are all just off the top of my head! You'd definitely be better off googling it or speaking to someone who specialises in aiding dyslexic children with spelling.

Original poster
gillybeanz · 03/10/2017 14:22

Thanks RoseO

I saw the words spellings are marked and panicked a bit.
I will try the things you suggested they sound great, I don't know what your background is but you certainly make sense.
Thanks again.

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Piggywaspushed · 03/10/2017 18:44

Pukka pads have a list of spellings on the inside back cover!

Piggywaspushed · 03/10/2017 18:46

By the way , SPaG is not new. It has maybe just become more explicit so teachers are emphasising it.

Scribes are VERY rarely given - and this is partly because students who sue them can not be awarded any SPaG marks.

Piggywaspushed · 03/10/2017 18:47

Also..... no higher/foundation in English!

Original poster
gillybeanz · 03/10/2017 21:13

Aw, thanks.
I'm sure I'd seen higher and foundation listed, ignore me.
Is the list in the Pukka books a complete list of the spellings they are expected to know.
I wasn't aware that spellings had become a marked part of the exam, they honestly weren't years ago when our grown up dc took theirs.
I remember asking their teachers at the time.

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 03/10/2017 21:25

They were.... I have been teaching for 25 years!!

The pukka pads have the 100 most commonly misspelt words so it's a good start!

There isn't a need to know list: it's expectations of vocabulary and accuracy at each level. For Lit the SPaG marks are added to two of the answers and are out of 4. For Lang 16 marks on each paper are (sot) of for SPaG but it isn't quite that clear cut tbh.

Piggywaspushed · 03/10/2017 21:26

That should say (sort of) !!

Rose0 · 03/10/2017 22:41

I just want to second what Piggywaspushed is saying - there definitely isn't a "need to know" list. I'd just find some generic words that she can use (and impress with) in lots of sentences to help build her confidence, and help her with patterns so that she generally finds spelling less intimidating, but I really wouldn't stress over it.

The marks aren't many and arent that rigid - it's not like you "lose one mark per incorrect spelling" or "gain a mark for each correctly spelt word from this list". It is, as piggy says, an expectation of coherence, essentially. If you can understand what your daughter is writing (grammar) and a majority of her spellings are correct or at least logical (spelling) she will be eligible for a good number of the few marks there are available for it.

Plus, if your DD is only in year 10 then you have plenty of time to help her prepare and for her to work for it, and her school have another year to get used to all the ins and outs of the new spec. The best of luck to her! (And you!)

MaisyPops · 03/10/2017 22:49

There are quite a few spelling lists online.
Personally, I'd get the CGP Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar for KS3/GCSE guides and workbooks. They deal with spelling rules quite well and the answers are in the back of the workbook so you can check at home. I use them with my students who flag up as having SPaG issues.

It may also be worth calling the school and asking if the teacher can give you a call back. If I had a parent wanting to know how they can best support/intervene at home I would be more than happy to give them suggestions and help them out.

Also - if her dyslexia is really bad and she is potentially borderline 3/4 or 4/5 then maybe look at asking the school about a scribe for subjects where SPaG marks are awarded?
This is wrong though. You can't just get a scribe for dyslexia. It is rarely given as an access arrangement and usually it isn't for dyslexia when it is awarded in my experience.
Whatever access arrangements are applied for come through after being assessed, awarded internally and then sent as evidence to the exam board proving that this is thr child's usual way of working. Once that is in place, thr arrangement will apply to most subjects (e.g some are practical only others exempt practical subjects). You can't pick and choose when an arrangement applies.

Original poster
gillybeanz · 03/10/2017 22:51

I do worry, she tries so hard and should be better than she is iyswim.
Obviously she isn't going to get a 9 but whatever her standard it would be so good and an achievement for her to reach her potential.
Her results are so poor and she is always bottom of the class in the core subjects.

She is Y9 but so far behind, lots of help from SENCO, but I have to do my bit at weekend, just a bit.

OP posts:
NC4now · 03/10/2017 23:01

Does she get exam concessions? You need to be discussing them with the SENCO now really.
My DS has dyspraxia and takes his exams in the LRC rather than the sports hall. He can use a laptop and gets extra time. They aren't keen on scribes, as it's difficult to speak in written rather than spoken English.
They don't automatically get concessions though. School have to apply for them and give evidence, so you need to be putting things in place in good time, eg so a laptop is their usual way of working.
It would be good to arrange a meeting with the SENCO if you can,

NC4now · 03/10/2017 23:03

Sorry, took me ages to type that on my phone - what Maisypops said!

Original poster
gillybeanz · 03/10/2017 23:06

Aw thanks, I'll email tomorrow.
It was mentioned but some time ago, so I'll chase up and arrange a meeting.

The biggest challenge is writing, her vocabulary is unbelievable, she can talk confidently to anyone about so many different things.
I know it frustrates her that she can't get it on paper, because we are very similar.

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LeOrange · 03/10/2017 23:40

I am an English teacher and marked for Lit and Lang this year. I am teaching my kids to just go for it with their vocabulary and not worry too much about spelling. They lose more marks for a lack of ambitious vocabulary than they do for misspelling. If it is hindering meaning, then certainly work on it, but if not, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Better for her to focus on being creative, knowing her texts really well for Lit and being sure she is commenting loads on effect for Language (how does it make he reader think/feel/imagine).

JoJoSM2 · 03/10/2017 23:46

I think you should sask the school for resource recommendations and strategies. With whatever type of dyslexia she's got, certain things will be more useful then others. And like LeOrange says, place your efforts carefully.

thenewaveragebear1983 · 03/10/2017 23:52

The AQA literature paper I have just done with my student had 2 questions- 1 on Shakespeare, 1 on a 19th century novel. 30 marks for each, with 4 additional marks in the first question for spag. This will include correctly using quotation marks. No marks awarded in the second question for spag at all.

I'm not sure about the other papers.

LeOrange · 04/10/2017 00:07

It is going to come on the most
on question 5 on each language paper on A06. Have a look at the marking criteria (if she is on AQA they are accessible on the website) and you will see that it is not all spelling, at all.

Original poster
gillybeanz · 04/10/2017 00:44

I think it's CIE GCSE unless school change it for any reason before she takes it.

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Piggywaspushed · 04/10/2017 07:19

Is this a private school gilly ?

NC4now · 04/10/2017 07:37

It's a shame, isn't it? DS really struggles with writing. The ed psych said his writing speed was on the lowest percentile. He's taken GCSEs with less writing where he could - tech, PE, construction, but he still needs to get through his English, Maths and Science.

Piggywaspushed · 04/10/2017 08:23

Your DS should definitely have an exam concession! Extra time and/or laptop!

NC4now · 04/10/2017 09:51

Yes he does, fortunately. He's reluctant to use a laptop in class because he doesn't like to stand out but he's better off doing.
He's worked really hard at making his writing legible, and he now prints beautifully, it's just slow.

Original poster
gillybeanz · 04/10/2017 14:32

Piggy

Sort of, it's complicated. Grin

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