My daughter brought home a book yesterday from school. It was a book that the teacher had written and the students fill in the blanks (very cute idea, I'll give her that) the title was "What Humpty Dumpty Should of Done". I wrote the teacher and told her that 'of' was not the right word to use there and I was not going to have my daughter learning to read with a book that was not grammatically correct. She wrote back and I quote "Sorry their was a mistake, no problem"
Did she even get the mistake? It was on EVERY page of the book!! And to respond with the wrong 'their' made it worse! Do I try again to explain this to her? Should I let it go? Or should I take it to the principal?
2006-12-15 05:36:18 · 32 answers · asked by :) 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
Give that woman a ticket!!! Yes, by all means, take it to the principal. This is someone who is entrusted with teaching your child! No wonder kids can't spell or compose a sentence properly. I think it's a shame! Proper grammar (as well as manners) go along way in a child's life as he or she grows older. Teaching them the wrong way leads to being unable to "unlearn" them at a later date. Bad grammar should not be tolerated from a teacher, the same as bad behavior, manners and hygiene would not be tolerated. I applaud you for your efforts!
2006-12-15 05:50:10 · answer #1 · answered by Toots 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Obviously this teacher is far from being a good english teacher. What I would personally do, is go through that book and edit it so thoroughly, with one liners and corrections, in red!! On the cover or the first page, I'd write a little letter about the situation and how you feel. Also include a copy of the e-mail (or whatever) with the word "their" corrected!! Then make a copy of the corrected book, in case she wants to complain about you or if you want to pass it onto the principal!
2006-12-15 08:57:01 · answer #2 · answered by Sunshine Swirl 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well.... this is a tough one. Is your daughter being taught by an imbecile OR is the teacher just tired these days because of the hectic holiday schedule? Hmmmmm.... what to do?
"I" think I would make an appointment with the teacher and discuss these recent "errors" on her part. Once school resumes, after the holidays, maybe you could spend a little more time in the classroom as a parent volunteer to "check-up" on her, as well as continue paying close attention to "stuff" she sends home with your daughter. If the "errors" continue, THEN I would schedule an appt with the vice-principal FIRST before going to the principal.
Good Luck!
2006-12-15 05:49:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's outrageous!
I would definitely bring it up with the principal. School officials have the right (and obligation) to know what the children are being exposed to in the classroom.
I wouldn't want my child to go around writing....
shoulda or should of instead of should've or should have
I don't think I could stand seeing how they use
witch instead of which
where instead of were
or even when they say (or write) things such as
... I had saw... I had did...
or as a director (US born) at work writes.... "in the meanwhile"
Do us all a favor and report that incident ASAP
I'm not a native English speaker, don't live in an English-speaking country, but am a freak for correctness.
2006-12-15 06:27:34 · answer #4 · answered by BEL76 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If this teacher is responsible for your daughter's english grammar education, I would contact the principal. There is no excuse for an english teacher to incorrectly speak the language, let alone write it. Hopefully, the principal will suggest a course in grammar for the teacher to *refresh*
2006-12-16 17:15:10 · answer #5 · answered by animavecchia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sigh! I'm with you! People wonder why American kids are behind their Asian & European counterparts, and yet we can't get teachers who know how to spell or write. Not sure what the "big picture" answer is there...
My kid came home from school with a social studies report that had the following grade and comment, "A+ - Well wrote report!" I kid you not. At least it wasn't English class...
I think you should show your daughter the correct usage/spelling, etc. and leave the teacher out of it. It's obvious that this individual is not teachable. If you bring it up, your daughter still has half of the school year left, and she's the one who will suffer. For the rest of the year, she'll be "the one with the know-it-all Mom". Teachers often have long memories and short fuses when it comes to stuff like this, and she will hold it against your daughter.
And her grasp of spelling and correct word usage will still not improve.
2006-12-15 05:48:56 · answer #6 · answered by OK yeah well whatever 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Good for you! Yes, I would take this to the principal but do it in a non threatening matter, start the conversation with "...did you know that..." and say that you are doing this because you want your daughter to learn good grammar both in and out of school!
Grammar is hard for me too, but I always have some one look at important documents before I send them!
P.S. I hope my grammar was okay!
2006-12-15 05:45:32 · answer #7 · answered by seashell9 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take it to the principal. This lady should not be teaching or may need a crash course in grammar. Everyone has some problems with grammar from time to time, especially those weird little oddities in the English language. But it appears she does not even have a basic knowledge.
2006-12-15 05:51:07 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Take it to the principal. There is no excuse for poor grammar by a teacher. The teacher is a student’s main academic role model. How is she supposed to learn Standard English if her teacher doesn't model it correctly for her?
By the way, I am a second grade teacher in California. ‘Their”, “there” and “they’re” are considered second and third grade spelling words here.
2006-12-16 16:29:58 · answer #9 · answered by Lysa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No wonder no one on here can use proper grammar. Then or than, your and you're, accept and except - so many things people use incorrectly. I would just go over my kid's homework with them and supplement her school learning. If you can call it learning...
I would also continue to point out the mistakes to the teacher. Maybe she will eventually learn.
2006-12-15 05:45:56 · answer #10 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋