Have schools stopped requiring students to spell accurately? Because there's a lot of awful grammar here.

Answer 1

First, as someone already said, there are a LOT of people from different countries posting at this site, and they frequently don't speak perfect English.

As for what schools teach nowadays, I'm a substitute teacher, so I see what goes on in a lot of different classrooms (although it's all in the same school district). From 1st through 5th grades, all classes do something called Daily Oral Language, where students look at sentences printed on a half sheet of paper, correct them, and then the class goes over them together with the teacher. They look at spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage, abbreviations, everything, every day. Sometimes instead of a regular sentence, it's a mailing address or opening of a letter, so they practice the format of those, too. The bottom part of the sheet is usually synonyms, antonyms or definitions of words.

They also have spelling tests every Friday, just like when I was a kid, and a "word wall" where they have "high frequency" words posted on a section of wall in the classroom, so everyone sees them every day. These are words that either don't follow typical spelling rules, so you just have to memorize them, or words that the students absolutely must know by that grade level.

Also, one of the favorite recess pasttimes is a spelling game called Sparkle. The kids love it. I use it whenever the teacher doesn't leave enough work for us to do while she's gone, to fill in the extra time, and the kids are always eager to play it.

By the way, this school district is in a farm community just north of Cincinnati.

Answer 2

They have not stopped requiring it, but grammar is a different matter. Grammar isn't taught these days nearly as much because Standardized testing dos'nt require it, and with our laws that think a child should be measured by the bubbles they can fill, teachers don't spend time on it.

I also Know that there has been more research behind what causes it, and it's actually a brain thing. I know my spelling is horrendous, but I use a spell check, and that helps. However, most people here seem to lack one on their internet browser. (Firefox 2.0 has one built in, & Google toolbar has a spellcheck feature in the customize menu that you can use)

Answer 3

I think some teachers take a phenomonoligical approach to grammer and spelling now. That is to say, they are most concerned about errors when they interfere with effective communication or expression. Accoriding to that approach, poor organization, word choice, or style could be just as "wrong" as poor grammar.

I do think we still teach grammer, but that teaching is focused on fixing the most common, most severe mistakes, and not on achieving excellent style or any sort of deep understanding of grammar.

Spelling is being taken over by spell-check features in computer software. But I promise not to hit "Check Spelling" before I submit this (even though I'm not sure "achieve" is correct!)

Answer 4

I am a fourth grade teacher and I do require my students to take spelling tests every week. Language is one of the most important subjects we teach. Spelling coincides with our language program at my school. It is more of a problem because the kids are not learning to speak correctly at home. They use street slang all the time and then bring it into the classroom. It is very discouraging to the teachers when the have to speak to these kids' parents and learn that they, too, cannot speak properly.

Answer 5

i've got confidence it remains taught yet many human beings experience that is not mandatory on the internet for some reason. i might wish that they do a greater helpful interest on their schoolwork, college purposes, and interest purposes than they do on the internet. there has been an entire new language superior by using internet clientele and many times times i think of i'm examining a much off places language. additionally, many human beings are purely downright lazy approximately grammar, punctuation, and spelling. they don't seem to attain a readable submit gets a greater helpful reaction from those attempting to grant them solutions.

Answer 6

I don't think the questions and answers on this forum are representative of our schools. I really don't care about my spelling and grammar on this forum. I'm usually drunk, in a hurry, or just too tired to care how i spell. Also, there are a lot of younger kids and foreigners on here.
Before complaining about spelling and grammar here, you might want to look more closely at your grammar......

Answer 7

Spelling takes a back seat because it isn't one of the subjects tested for the no child left behind exams. Teachers are pressed to get the kids to pass the exams, so only the subjects tested get the majority of the classroom time.

Answer 8

No kidding! I'm dreading the day when, following in the footsteps of the morons that promoted Ebonics, some insane leftist group declares the vernacular of internet slang/spelling/grammar as a seperate, disctinct, and legal language.

Answer 9

Spelling and grammar are mutually exclusive. Your spelling checks, but your grammar needs help. The second statement in your Q is an incomplete sentence.

:O

My kids go to public school in CA, and both are taught spelling and grammar, but neither of them post here.

Answer 10

I am not sure - I am more worried about the fact that there are some many people who are uneducated about class and behavior that they come off sounding like they are anal retentive because of spelling errors.

Good Luck!!!