Spelling in FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spelling is taught, it probably isn't taught in isolation. It might not look the same as when you and I were in school. By that, I mean most students probably aren't receiving a list of words to memorize for the week and then tested on Friday. Many teachers teach spelling through the writing process.

Look at the progress report. What standard do you see graded? It is "Edits for usage and mechanics in writing".

This does not work in practice. After 3 years, absolutely no work has come home with any edits for spelling either by my child or the teacher. Word study verses random spelling lists is fine. Integrated spelling in writing in 1st-3rd grade especially just doesn't work. Kids are too preoccupied with the writing process to focus on knowing how to spell new words and the teacher has too many things to teach with writing already. Also, written work occurs maybe once a month if my child is lucky so they just aren't even spelling that many new words.

This has been our experience as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spelling tests are kind of artificial. The best way to become a good speller is to read A LOT and to write. Learn some basic spelling rules (I before E, e.g, but even then, exceptions) so reading a variety of texts produces better spellers than anything else.

And really, we don't like to say it, but being a good speller overall is kind of an innate skill.

For some kids this works and this is the approach that FCPS is based on.

BUT, there are a lot of kids that fall through the huge cracks of this method. Kids that have a more difficult time with reading, kids that have a harder time with writing. If these kids are not full on failing, the school does nothing for them. They read the bare minimum and write the bare minimum.

I have 2 kids with dyslexia and dysgraphia, FCPS does nothing for them. I've tried numerous times and even though technically they shouldn't have to be failing that's always the excuse we receive. They are on grade level for 2 reasons, they have fairly high IQs so have learned to compensate for their weaknesses and because I spend almost $500 per WEEK on therapy for them. Plus me working with them at home.

They can't spell at all. The things they write don't even look remotely like the correct spelling. But since teachers don't grade the spelling on all the "Kreeatib" writing FCPS endorses, there are no repercussions.

They need spelling words and the rules that go with them. Not word study- actual spelling with rules.

Same for grammar. The rules need to be taught, not thrown in as a side bar on a worksheet.

Agree 100%. And not just spelling words, but definitions that go with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spelling tests are kind of artificial. The best way to become a good speller is to read A LOT and to write. Learn some basic spelling rules (I before E, e.g, but even then, exceptions) so reading a variety of texts produces better spellers than anything else.

And really, we don't like to say it, but being a good speller overall is kind of an innate skill.

I think you've just drunk the cool aid. Spelling is still taught in most districts in the country. They are not all wrong to do so. Yes, children need to write a lot to become good spellers. However learning how groups of words are similarly spelt does help them categorize words in their mind. It certainly does for me. Unfortunately FCPS is weak in both word study and in writing, so most children are only getting spelling instruction through reading which isn't enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spelling tests are kind of artificial. The best way to become a good speller is to read A LOT and to write. Learn some basic spelling rules (I before E, e.g, but even then, exceptions) so reading a variety of texts produces better spellers than anything else.

And really, we don't like to say it, but being a good speller overall is kind of an innate skill.

For some kids this works and this is the approach that FCPS is based on.

BUT, there are a lot of kids that fall through the huge cracks of this method. Kids that have a more difficult time with reading, kids that have a harder time with writing. If these kids are not full on failing, the school does nothing for them. They read the bare minimum and write the bare minimum.

I have 2 kids with dyslexia and dysgraphia, FCPS does nothing for them. I've tried numerous times and even though technically they shouldn't have to be failing that's always the excuse we receive. They are on grade level for 2 reasons, they have fairly high IQs so have learned to compensate for their weaknesses and because I spend almost $500 per WEEK on therapy for them. Plus me working with them at home.

They can't spell at all. The things they write don't even look remotely like the correct spelling. But since teachers don't grade the spelling on all the "Kreeatib" writing FCPS endorses, there are no repercussions.

They need spelling words and the rules that go with them. Not word study- actual spelling with rules.

Same for grammar. The rules need to be taught, not thrown in as a side bar on a worksheet.

Agree 100%. And not just spelling words, but definitions that go with them.

Our school is actually pretty good with vocabulary. They use wordly wise for this for all students and in some AAP classes they use Cesar's English. None of those lists are related to word study though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spelling tests are kind of artificial. The best way to become a good speller is to read A LOT and to write. Learn some basic spelling rules (I before E, e.g, but even then, exceptions) so reading a variety of texts produces better spellers than anything else.

And really, we don't like to say it, but being a good speller overall is kind of an innate skill.

This worked for me, reading a lot and having a good memory. But it doesn't work for everyone. There are ways to teach spelling, and there are lots of rules that apply to nearly all words -- look into The Writing Road to Reading and All About Spelling, for a rules-based approach to spelling and writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spelling tests are kind of artificial. The best way to become a good speller is to read A LOT and to write. Learn some basic spelling rules (I before E, e.g, but even then, exceptions) so reading a variety of texts produces better spellers than anything else.

And really, we don't like to say it, but being a good speller overall is kind of an innate skill.

This worked for me, reading a lot and having a good memory. But it doesn't work for everyone. There are ways to teach spelling, and there are lots of rules that apply to nearly all words -- look into The Writing Road to Reading and All About Spelling, for a rules-based approach to spelling and writing.

There are definitely strategies that will help, but in my experience, the vast number of students who don't pick up spelling from reading don't do much better with rote memorization. And you can't possibly learn and test every single word. So word groups, word studies, these help build a foundation, and i love them. But I would rather my kid and students not spend time memorizing words as the benefit for the majority of students is minimal.

[Anonymous]

We are in FCPS and we have spelling. Quality varies from teacher to teacher. Apparently FCPS has very little quality control when it comes to teachers. Some have no idea how to teach spelling and don't do it or do it badly, and others know what they are doing and do it well. It's a crapshoot. Mostly seems to depend on the principal, and there is zero quality control there. They could have been a PE teacher for all Fairfax cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spelling tests are kind of artificial. The best way to become a good speller is to read A LOT and to write. Learn some basic spelling rules (I before E, e.g, but even then, exceptions) so reading a variety of texts produces better spellers than anything else.

And really, we don't like to say it, but being a good speller overall is kind of an innate skill.

This worked for me, reading a lot and having a good memory. But it doesn't work for everyone. There are ways to teach spelling, and there are lots of rules that apply to nearly all words -- look into The Writing Road to Reading and All About Spelling, for a rules-based approach to spelling and writing.

There are definitely strategies that will help, but in my experience, the vast number of students who don't pick up spelling from reading don't do much better with rote memorization. And you can't possibly learn and test every single word. So word groups, word studies, these help build a foundation, and i love them. But I would rather my kid and students not spend time memorizing words as the benefit for the majority of students is minimal.

What we are saying is that in many schools children aren't even learning word study. Learning groups of words with similar endings for example. It's all supposed to be absorbed through reading and writing. Keep up.

[Anonymous]

I'm seriously considering homeschooling because I'm so disappointed with the quality of FCPS. They do so much testing, but I'm not seeing much instruction. I've also noticed that written communication from teachers and administrators contains spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors - from the folks who are supposed to be teaching our children. I received a much better education 30 years ago from my school in the 'hick' part of VA. I expected much more from the highly regarded FCPS schools, but the reality is far from adequate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm seriously considering homeschooling because I'm so disappointed with the quality of FCPS. They do so much testing, but I'm not seeing much instruction. I've also noticed that written communication from teachers and administrators contains spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors - from the folks who are supposed to be teaching our children. I received a much better education 30 years ago from my school in the 'hick' part of VA. I expected much more from the highly regarded FCPS schools, but the reality is far from adequate.

Emails from teachers with grammar mistakes can't seriously be your biggest pet peeve with FCPS. Your arguments against FCPS except for the testing sound very nit picky and don't help in the discussion to improve education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spelling tests are kind of artificial. The best way to become a good speller is to read A LOT and to write. Learn some basic spelling rules (I before E, e.g, but even then, exceptions) so reading a variety of texts produces better spellers than anything else.

And really, we don't like to say it, but being a good speller overall is kind of an innate skill.

For some kids this works and this is the approach that FCPS is based on.

BUT, there are a lot of kids that fall through the huge cracks of this method. Kids that have a more difficult time with reading, kids that have a harder time with writing. If these kids are not full on failing, the school does nothing for them. They read the bare minimum and write the bare minimum.

I have 2 kids with dyslexia and dysgraphia, FCPS does nothing for them. I've tried numerous times and even though technically they shouldn't have to be failing that's always the excuse we receive. They are on grade level for 2 reasons, they have fairly high IQs so have learned to compensate for their weaknesses and because I spend almost $500 per WEEK on therapy for them. Plus me working with them at home.

They can't spell at all. The things they write don't even look remotely like the correct spelling. But since teachers don't grade the spelling on all the "Kreeatib" writing FCPS endorses, there are no repercussions.

They need spelling words and the rules that go with them. Not word study- actual spelling with rules.

Same for grammar. The rules need to be taught, not thrown in as a side bar on a worksheet.

Agree 100%. And not just spelling words, but definitions that go with them.

Our school is actually pretty good with vocabulary. They use wordly wise for this for all students and in some AAP classes they use Cesar's English. None of those lists are related to word study though.

This is part of the problem. There is a good grammar and language program available, yet it's only part of the AAP curriculum. If your child isn't in AAP, they get crap word study and no real grammar.

It's abhorrent that only some kids get a real education, while the rest are given 'SuperTeacherWorksheets' and the teaching varies from teacher to teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My now 6th grader has had no spelling or grammar instruction since 3rd grade. As a result, her spelling is abysmal. Thanks, FCPS.

Because you don't see it as your responsibility to fill in the gaps? If the school sucks, speak up or move to one that doesn't. If you can't, it's kind of a dick move to just shrug your shoulders and blame the school. Parenting includes teaching.

Really? Gee, I didn't realize that as I spend every evening with my children, teaching them what was never even covered in the class that day, enforcing good spelling and grammar since it's never corrected at school, and reteaching poorly "taught" math. No, it never even occurred to me that I would have to fill in the many gaps in my children's education when we chose to send them to a "highly regarded" FCPS school. But I guess all of that effort equates to me just "shrugging my shoulders" and, yes, blaming the school. Because when I send my children to school each day, I kind of expect them to be taught.

Your entire post is a dick move.

Saying that your child has abysmal spelling as a result of a deficiency in the curriculum is shrugging your shoulders. You either lied in your first post or you lied in your second. If you were reinforcing spelling during those 3 years, I highly doubt your child's skill level could be termed abysmal. Many of us supplement what our children learn in school and I can assure you that effort does not result in anything that could be described as abysmal. I'm not saying that we are raising geniuses but when you put in the extra effort it typically pays off. The tone of your first email implies that you place the education of your child squarely on the shoulders of the school and as a result of their failure your child is struggling. if you really were supplementing your child's education this would not be the case. You can't blame everything on the school system.

[Anonymous]

I believe it is call Word Study. In our school they separate the kids in classes according to ability. It takes a week or two to do assessments of the kids. Last week they had words but with their home room teacher. This week is the first week they were separated into different classes with their words

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe it is call Word Study. In our school they separate the kids in classes according to ability. It takes a week or two to do assessments of the kids. Last week they had words but with their home room teacher. This week is the first week they were separated into different classes with their words

Word Study is not the same as traditional spelling.

Word Study is memorization of words- no deductive methods taught, no rules.

Traditional spelling teaches kids how deductive methods of spelling and spelling rules which kids can use towards spelling of words that that are unfamiliar to them.

The rote memorization works for passing the test. Most kids then quickly forget the spelling. The memorized it to regurgitate it then cleared the inbox for the next set of words.

[Anonymous]

^ how to use^