Why doesn't ACPS teach spelling in elementary?

[Anonymous]

Is there a developmental reason why ACPS doesn't teach spelling in elementary? My son's spelling is phonetic. He is in third. While I've seen his math and reading improve, his writing is phonetic and not very developed. I was thinking of starting spelling at home. I feel like it would build his confidence. Does your ACPS elementary teach spelling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a developmental reason why ACPS doesn't teach spelling in elementary? My son's spelling is phonetic. He is in third. While I've seen his math and reading improve, his writing is phonetic and not very developed. I was thinking of starting spelling at home. I feel like it would build his confidence. Does your ACPS elementary teach spelling?

Because there isn't an SOL for spelling. Schools don't waste time teaching it.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is in 6th now at GW, and the lack of spelling instruction has frustrated me for years. I was promised it was coming in 3rd grade, but it never did and then virtual learning happened. We've tried off and on to do some work on spelling at home, but nothing has really stuck. Her spelling is still pretty bad, though I will say it has improved dramatically in the last year or two just from me making her edit things she writes at home and spellcheck pointing out her mistakes to her. Math was similar--no rote memorization so it took much longer for basic math facts to sink in--but she did eventually become fluent.

Her 6th grade teacher does grade for spelling, punctuation, and grammar so there's that at least!

I don't think it's an ACPS thing or a VA thing though. My friends all over the country complain about this. Unless they're in Catholic school.

[Anonymous]

We do now - Really Great Reading (has a spelling element) - started last year K-2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is in 6th now at GW, and the lack of spelling instruction has frustrated me for years. I was promised it was coming in 3rd grade, but it never did and then virtual learning happened. We've tried off and on to do some work on spelling at home, but nothing has really stuck. Her spelling is still pretty bad, though I will say it has improved dramatically in the last year or two just from me making her edit things she writes at home and spellcheck pointing out her mistakes to her. Math was similar--no rote memorization so it took much longer for basic math facts to sink in--but she did eventually become fluent.

Her 6th grade teacher does grade for spelling, punctuation, and grammar so there's that at least!

I don't think it's an ACPS thing or a VA thing though. My friends all over the country complain about this. Unless they're in Catholic school.

Interesting. My friends in both NYC and the midwest (Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha) all have kids in public school who do spelling.

[Anonymous]

Right there with you, OP. Mine is in 5th now and also spells phonetically (i.e., horribly). I don't know why ACPS doesn't teach it.

[Anonymous]

APS does spelling but it starts in 2nd or 3rd grade. So definitely not a national thing.

[Anonymous]

ACPS just does Word Study and if the kids learn to spell from that then they are lucky.

[Anonymous]

Purchase a spelling curriculum and do it at home. You should do the same for math. You can do as little of it a day as you like. Just 10 minutes a day. Alternatively you can do what a lot of other parents quietly do and hire tutors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do now - Really Great Reading (has a spelling element) - started last year K-2.

This is true but the comment about spelling not being on the SOL is also true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Purchase a spelling curriculum and do it at home. You should do the same for math. You can do as little of it a day as you like. Just 10 minutes a day. Alternatively you can do what a lot of other parents quietly do and hire tutors.

+1. Unfortunately parents now can't rely on school to teach these basics. I am also supplementing math and spelling and grammar at home.

[Anonymous]

Bought some spelling and grammar games on Amazon. Can't believe this! Going to work on handwriting too. My dad sent my son a card in cursive and he couldn't read it.

[Anonymous]

If you don’t mind a little Mennonite theology, Spelling by Sound and Structure is a great spelling program. Just have them do 1 page a day. Easy.

[Anonymous]

They focus in reading and writing instead. If they get a kid to love writing and not worry about perfection/spelling everything correctly, it's a win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They focus in reading and writing instead. If they get a kid to love writing and not worry about perfection/spelling everything correctly, it's a win.

Guess what? You can do both at the same time.