Spelling in FCPS

[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

As said before, many schools are also abandoning word study. This is the issue. Agree no one uses random spelling lists, but the absence of any spelling instruction outside of a writing piece is of concern.

[Anonymous]

When my DD was in 1st grade, last year, we were told they do not concentrate on spelling until 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my DD was in 1st grade, last year, we were told they do not concentrate on spelling until 3rd grade.

At our school, word study only existed in 2nd and 3rd grade and then switched to vocabulary.

[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.

I haven't noticed any egregious error in communication, but I agree that the hype about FCPS is a far cry from the disappointing reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Are you talking about prefixes and suffixes? Because I'm pretty sure I never learned "traditional spelling" at my non-FCPS school growing up.

[Anonymous]

I guess we are lucky at our school.

The students learn prefixes, suffixes, and roots, and the teachers constantly teach word parts as they are reading.

The students learn grammar and conventions rules and are held responsible for those rules in all their writing (and not just in English/language arts).

Could there be more spelling, grammar, and vocabulary instruction? Absolutely! But the students ARE getting instruction. Repeatedly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess we are lucky at our school.

The students learn prefixes, suffixes, and roots, and the teachers constantly teach word parts as they are reading.

The students learn grammar and conventions rules and are held responsible for those rules in all their writing (and not just in English/language arts).

Could there be more spelling, grammar, and vocabulary instruction? Absolutely! But the students ARE getting instruction. Repeatedly.

Definitely not the case in every class or every school.

Yet another failure within FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

our school calls it word study but what you call"traditional spelling"and define how it is taught is what is being taught in my Childs Word Study(with deductive methods

[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.

+1000
I attended FCPS back in the 80's and received an excellent education, which I really thought my kids would have as well when we moved back here. Sadly, this has not been the case. Neither one has learned how to write, using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I'm having to make up so much at home with them. Also considering homeschooling, especially since that's essentially what's going on anyhow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yep. Of course parents who have kids in AAP see absolutely nothing wrong with the status quo. And apparently, neither does FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I didn't lie about anything. If anything, I should have reworded to say: my child's spelling in the 3rd and 4th grade was abysmal due to utter lack of instruction, and it was only after working with her extensively at home that it has improved somewhat. Does that very specific sentence make you feel better? At any rate, everyone here knew exactly what I was saying because they've experienced the same thing themselves.

Generally, when parents send their children to school, they entrust their education to teachers. Kind of like when we go to the doctor, we expect we're going to be treated by a professional. There are many outstanding teachers, and my child was lucky enough to have one in the second grade. Since then, however, either the quality of the teachers or the curriculum itself has gone downhill. I've always been happy to help my kids with their schoolwork at home. In the past few years, however, I've been doing a lot more than helping. I've been teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I didn't lie about anything. If anything, I should have reworded to say: my child's spelling in the 3rd and 4th grade was abysmal due to utter lack of instruction, and it was only after working with her extensively at home that it has improved somewhat. Does that very specific sentence make you feel better? At any rate, everyone here knew exactly what I was saying because they've experienced the same thing themselves.

Generally, when parents send their children to school, they entrust their education to teachers. Kind of like when we go to the doctor, we expect we're going to be treated by a professional. There are many outstanding teachers, and my child was lucky enough to have one in the second grade. Since then, however, either the quality of the teachers or the curriculum itself has gone downhill. I've always been happy to help my kids with their schoolwork at home. In the past few years, however, I've been doing a lot more than helping. I've been teaching.

I doubt most parents fully entrust their children's health to doctors. They do preventative care, treat minor illnesses and injuries on their own, and follow through on prescribed medication regimens and procedures. There are some horrible doctors out there. In just the past few years, I have had doctors who have missed a broken bone during multiple visits for over two months (despite disfigurement, massive swelling, and marked bruising of the area), diagnosed pneumonia as seasonal allergies (despite fever, "goopy" cough, and painful breathing), and recommended an over-the-counter orthotic for a hairline fracture in my ankle. I have also had wonderful doctors, though. There will always be a mix of good and bad, just as there is in any other profession. People need to be a partner in their own healthcare or parents need to be a partner in their children's healthcare.

The same should be happening with education. Parents should be a partner in their children's education. They should be reinforcing, supplementing, and supporting what is taught in school.

It sounds, PP, as if you are a partner in your child's education, which is great.

[Anonymous]

Spelling is called "wORD sTUDY" which means they have added a shit ton of busy work rather than just letting the kids memorize the spelling. I think it's their failed attempt to liven things up and be more creative. Every year since 2nd there have been weekly spelling tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spelling is called "wORD sTUDY" which means they have added a shit ton of busy work rather than just letting the kids memorize the spelling. I think it's their failed attempt to liven things up and be more creative. Every year since 2nd there have been weekly spelling tests.

At your school. Some schools have dropped a weekly word study list all together and it is causing problems.

[Anonymous]

We haven't given spelling lists at my school for at least 15 years, probably more.