Anonymous
Post 03/31/2025 16:35     Subject: Falling behind at K level

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't get too worked up about the spelling because MCPS is terrible at teaching that, so I wouldn't expect a kindergartener especially to be able to spell much of anything. Focus on reading first. Keep reading to them, make sure they read to you for 20 minutes, and go over the flashcards every day.



At this point in kindergarten, students should be fairly solid in spelling CVC words. In addition, knowing how to spell common sight words is important too so that they can write simple sentences.


So they teach spelling now? That's actually good to hear. When my DC was in kinder and 1st they would have the kids "write" things but never corrected the spelling mistakes. First spelling test they have ever had is this year in 4th grade.


Inventive spelling is expected until students learn that particular spelling pattern. Let’s say a kindergarten student writes, “I lik cande.” That’s perfect because they’ve written what they hear. They haven’t learned silent e yet or that y can make a vowel sound at the end of a word. After they learn that, yes, their spelling should be corrected. You don’t want them to avoid writing anything because they are hung up on spelling everything correctly.


This is a terrible approach as kids learn bad habits and some never learn to spell correctly. We never had spelling or tests in MCPS. Taught at home.



Spelling tests aren’t spelling instruction. What phonics program is being used? Ours has equal emphasis on decoding and encoding.


This is an MCPS forum, aren't all schools using the same phonics program now? Does the program MCPS uses now include specific spelling instruction starting in K?


No
Anonymous
Post 03/31/2025 04:15     Subject: Falling behind at K level

^^ the reason I ask is because OP seems worried about spelling but when my kids were in K spelling was not explicitly taught. But that was under Benchmark, so hopefully that has changed. But I think it's crazy if there are expectations for spelling if it isn't actually being taught.
Anonymous
Post 03/31/2025 04:13     Subject: Falling behind at K level

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't get too worked up about the spelling because MCPS is terrible at teaching that, so I wouldn't expect a kindergartener especially to be able to spell much of anything. Focus on reading first. Keep reading to them, make sure they read to you for 20 minutes, and go over the flashcards every day.



At this point in kindergarten, students should be fairly solid in spelling CVC words. In addition, knowing how to spell common sight words is important too so that they can write simple sentences.


So they teach spelling now? That's actually good to hear. When my DC was in kinder and 1st they would have the kids "write" things but never corrected the spelling mistakes. First spelling test they have ever had is this year in 4th grade.


Inventive spelling is expected until students learn that particular spelling pattern. Let’s say a kindergarten student writes, “I lik cande.” That’s perfect because they’ve written what they hear. They haven’t learned silent e yet or that y can make a vowel sound at the end of a word. After they learn that, yes, their spelling should be corrected. You don’t want them to avoid writing anything because they are hung up on spelling everything correctly.


This is a terrible approach as kids learn bad habits and some never learn to spell correctly. We never had spelling or tests in MCPS. Taught at home.



Spelling tests aren’t spelling instruction. What phonics program is being used? Ours has equal emphasis on decoding and encoding.


This is an MCPS forum, aren't all schools using the same phonics program now? Does the program MCPS uses now include specific spelling instruction starting in K?
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 16:00     Subject: Falling behind at K level

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't get too worked up about the spelling because MCPS is terrible at teaching that, so I wouldn't expect a kindergartener especially to be able to spell much of anything. Focus on reading first. Keep reading to them, make sure they read to you for 20 minutes, and go over the flashcards every day.



At this point in kindergarten, students should be fairly solid in spelling CVC words. In addition, knowing how to spell common sight words is important too so that they can write simple sentences.


So they teach spelling now? That's actually good to hear. When my DC was in kinder and 1st they would have the kids "write" things but never corrected the spelling mistakes. First spelling test they have ever had is this year in 4th grade.


Inventive spelling is expected until students learn that particular spelling pattern. Let’s say a kindergarten student writes, “I lik cande.” That’s perfect because they’ve written what they hear. They haven’t learned silent e yet or that y can make a vowel sound at the end of a word. After they learn that, yes, their spelling should be corrected. You don’t want them to avoid writing anything because they are hung up on spelling everything correctly.


This is a terrible approach as kids learn bad habits and some never learn to spell correctly. We never had spelling or tests in MCPS. Taught at home.



Spelling tests aren’t spelling instruction. What phonics program is being used? Ours has equal emphasis on decoding and encoding.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 13:10     Subject: Falling behind at K level

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't get too worked up about the spelling because MCPS is terrible at teaching that, so I wouldn't expect a kindergartener especially to be able to spell much of anything. Focus on reading first. Keep reading to them, make sure they read to you for 20 minutes, and go over the flashcards every day.



At this point in kindergarten, students should be fairly solid in spelling CVC words. In addition, knowing how to spell common sight words is important too so that they can write simple sentences.


So they teach spelling now? That's actually good to hear. When my DC was in kinder and 1st they would have the kids "write" things but never corrected the spelling mistakes. First spelling test they have ever had is this year in 4th grade.


Inventive spelling is expected until students learn that particular spelling pattern. Let’s say a kindergarten student writes, “I lik cande.” That’s perfect because they’ve written what they hear. They haven’t learned silent e yet or that y can make a vowel sound at the end of a word. After they learn that, yes, their spelling should be corrected. You don’t want them to avoid writing anything because they are hung up on spelling everything correctly.


This is a terrible approach as kids learn bad habits and some never learn to spell correctly. We never had spelling or tests in MCPS. Taught at home.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2025 10:36     Subject: Falling behind at K level

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't get too worked up about the spelling because MCPS is terrible at teaching that, so I wouldn't expect a kindergartener especially to be able to spell much of anything. Focus on reading first. Keep reading to them, make sure they read to you for 20 minutes, and go over the flashcards every day.



At this point in kindergarten, students should be fairly solid in spelling CVC words. In addition, knowing how to spell common sight words is important too so that they can write simple sentences.


So they teach spelling now? That's actually good to hear. When my DC was in kinder and 1st they would have the kids "write" things but never corrected the spelling mistakes. First spelling test they have ever had is this year in 4th grade.


lol no. But it's still expected so you need to work with them at home.