Spelling Bees

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s optional at our elementary school. Last year my child was a good speller for his age because he had been at Catholic school for the two years prior. They had weekly spelling test. Unfortunately, the test to be eligible to compete in the spelling, spelling bee had words that were pretty far above grade level, and the kids had to get a perfect score on that test in order to be able to participate in the Bee. There wasn’t any time given at school to study the words, we were just trying to do it on our own at home and he didn’t quite get there. It didn’t bother him that he didn’t make it. This year I’m not even bothering to encourage him because his spelling has regressed now that he’s in a school district that doesn’t bother to teach or correct it. I agree that it’s ironic that they want to have a spelling bee when they don’t even teach the kids spelling. Our school has a lot of kids who are several grade levels ahead, and the spelling bee seems to be geared toward them. As if they already need more recognition and people telling them how smart they are. It is kind of a shame, because I remember being able to participate and doing pretty well in the spelling bee without needing to be that far ahead. The words were more in line with the spelling words that we actually studied at school.

My kid practiced the words and made it through the first round. I used it as an opportunity to work on spelling since the school doesn't teach it. The test was multiple choice which made it easier. I agree with the statements above 100%.

Really? I substitute in elementary grades and they seem to spend a lot of time on spelling and phonics.

I've never seen a spelling test come home for any of my kids. Maybe it depends on the school but that is good that yours appears to be doing spelling.

No. They don’t send spelling lists home. It does involve a lot of phonics and phonetic work though. It’s county-wide.

Just because you aren’t seeing a spelling list doesn’t mean they aren’t teaching spelling.

Just because they now teach a little phonics, that isn’t the same thing as teaching spelling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s optional at our elementary school. Last year my child was a good speller for his age because he had been at Catholic school for the two years prior. They had weekly spelling test. Unfortunately, the test to be eligible to compete in the spelling, spelling bee had words that were pretty far above grade level, and the kids had to get a perfect score on that test in order to be able to participate in the Bee. There wasn’t any time given at school to study the words, we were just trying to do it on our own at home and he didn’t quite get there. It didn’t bother him that he didn’t make it. This year I’m not even bothering to encourage him because his spelling has regressed now that he’s in a school district that doesn’t bother to teach or correct it. I agree that it’s ironic that they want to have a spelling bee when they don’t even teach the kids spelling. Our school has a lot of kids who are several grade levels ahead, and the spelling bee seems to be geared toward them. As if they already need more recognition and people telling them how smart they are. It is kind of a shame, because I remember being able to participate and doing pretty well in the spelling bee without needing to be that far ahead. The words were more in line with the spelling words that we actually studied at school.

My kid practiced the words and made it through the first round. I used it as an opportunity to work on spelling since the school doesn't teach it. The test was multiple choice which made it easier. I agree with the statements above 100%.

Really? I substitute in elementary grades and they seem to spend a lot of time on spelling and phonics.

I've never seen a spelling test come home for any of my kids. Maybe it depends on the school but that is good that yours appears to be doing spelling.

No. They don’t send spelling lists home. It does involve a lot of phonics and phonetic work though. It’s county-wide.

Just because you aren’t seeing a spelling list doesn’t mean they aren’t teaching spelling.

Just because they now teach a little phonics, that isn’t the same thing as teaching spelling.

A little? 2nd and 3rd graders know a lot more about it than I ever did at their age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s optional at our elementary school. Last year my child was a good speller for his age because he had been at Catholic school for the two years prior. They had weekly spelling test. Unfortunately, the test to be eligible to compete in the spelling, spelling bee had words that were pretty far above grade level, and the kids had to get a perfect score on that test in order to be able to participate in the Bee. There wasn’t any time given at school to study the words, we were just trying to do it on our own at home and he didn’t quite get there. It didn’t bother him that he didn’t make it. This year I’m not even bothering to encourage him because his spelling has regressed now that he’s in a school district that doesn’t bother to teach or correct it. I agree that it’s ironic that they want to have a spelling bee when they don’t even teach the kids spelling. Our school has a lot of kids who are several grade levels ahead, and the spelling bee seems to be geared toward them. As if they already need more recognition and people telling them how smart they are. It is kind of a shame, because I remember being able to participate and doing pretty well in the spelling bee without needing to be that far ahead. The words were more in line with the spelling words that we actually studied at school.

My kid practiced the words and made it through the first round. I used it as an opportunity to work on spelling since the school doesn't teach it. The test was multiple choice which made it easier. I agree with the statements above 100%.

Really? I substitute in elementary grades and they seem to spend a lot of time on spelling and phonics.

I've never seen a spelling test come home for any of my kids. Maybe it depends on the school but that is good that yours appears to be doing spelling.

No. They don’t send spelling lists home. It does involve a lot of phonics and phonetic work though. It’s county-wide.

Just because you aren’t seeing a spelling list doesn’t mean they aren’t teaching spelling.

PP whose kid went to Catholic for two years. Teaching the rules is a good start, but most kids aren’t going to retain that info very well if they aren’t being tested on it. Spelling rules are one of those situations where it makes sense. I liked how the Catholic school did it. Each night Mon-Thurs they had just a little bit of spelling homework. One night was the write the words in alphabetical order. Next night was to write each word in a sentence. Night after that, rainbow write each word. I forget the last thing. The exposure and repetition helped them learn the words. The teachers also made sure to correct it in their writing. I don’t see that happening in FCPS.

That’s because there’s zero research to show those methods carry over past the weekly spelling test. They DO NOT WORK to improve a child’s ability to spell words correctly when they write, period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting that FCPS wants to sponsor a spelling bee when they eliminated spelling books!

What are "spelling books"?

OMG! I remember these! Taught you all about spelling and language. That's how I learned about homonyms, etc. It was the only A I consistently got as a kid. We are in MoCo now and i don't think they use spelling lists beyond 2nd grade.

As for Bees, my second grader would love a bee, he's super competitive and thinks he's the smartest thing walking (that kind of competition could do him good!). I would love to see how he performs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s optional at our elementary school. Last year my child was a good speller for his age because he had been at Catholic school for the two years prior. They had weekly spelling test. Unfortunately, the test to be eligible to compete in the spelling, spelling bee had words that were pretty far above grade level, and the kids had to get a perfect score on that test in order to be able to participate in the Bee. There wasn’t any time given at school to study the words, we were just trying to do it on our own at home and he didn’t quite get there. It didn’t bother him that he didn’t make it. This year I’m not even bothering to encourage him because his spelling has regressed now that he’s in a school district that doesn’t bother to teach or correct it. I agree that it’s ironic that they want to have a spelling bee when they don’t even teach the kids spelling. Our school has a lot of kids who are several grade levels ahead, and the spelling bee seems to be geared toward them. As if they already need more recognition and people telling them how smart they are. It is kind of a shame, because I remember being able to participate and doing pretty well in the spelling bee without needing to be that far ahead. The words were more in line with the spelling words that we actually studied at school.

My kid practiced the words and made it through the first round. I used it as an opportunity to work on spelling since the school doesn't teach it. The test was multiple choice which made it easier. I agree with the statements above 100%.

Really? I substitute in elementary grades and they seem to spend a lot of time on spelling and phonics.

I've never seen a spelling test come home for any of my kids. Maybe it depends on the school but that is good that yours appears to be doing spelling.

No. They don’t send spelling lists home. It does involve a lot of phonics and phonetic work though. It’s county-wide.

Just because you aren’t seeing a spelling list doesn’t mean they aren’t teaching spelling.

Just because they now teach a little phonics, that isn’t the same thing as teaching spelling.

A little? 2nd and 3rd graders know a lot more about it than I ever did at their age.

But what about the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth graders, etc. that got ZERO?

[Anonymous]

They do very little phonics and spelling. I look through my kid's papers and on their weekly LA slides. Very little spelling, not much phonics. The only time I have seen it was in lexia.