PDA

View Full Version : Spelling and Grammar



VINASOL
24-07-2010, 06:42 PM
When I attended a parent/teacher meeting at nursery when my DS was in pre-school (aged 4), I was going through one of his books where he was practising his letters/writing/forming words (this was the term BEFORE he started Reception). I was actually horrified when I saw that his keyworker had asked him to write:

"I done painting today"

Now, at that time I used to work as a commissioning editor in publishing (my spelling and grammar has deteriorated dreadfully since I left lol) so I thought that I was just being really really picky as it had always been part of 'the job'.

So. My question is, are you picky too?


...but I just wondered how you guys and gals thought about this? '

POMMY
24-07-2010, 07:14 PM
I agree with you, I think that is terrible grammar although I know I am not perfect but the nursery should be as educators.

I am an editor for a online magazine and I am constantly correcting grammar and spelling and it drives me mad someimes lol

I dont think you can be too picky :) it only shows you care!

Bushpig
24-07-2010, 07:41 PM
Hey, there seem to be a few of us publishing folk on here... I am a graphic designer and would often have to do some editing during deadline times (when the editor was too busy)... proof reading et al.

The grammar used above is terrible.... especially from someone teaching others! :rolleyes: :panic:

Learning Latin at school helped me loads :thumbsup:

POMMY
24-07-2010, 07:49 PM
Us publishing folk :laughing: we come in all forms lol

I do think that spelling seems to be a art form we are loosing out on, especially when kids as young as 6 are having mobiles and are texting.
When I get a text off my nephews I have to decode it before I can understand what they are trying to tell me!.... and I am 27! lol

Twinkles
24-07-2010, 07:52 PM
Us publishing folk :laughing: we come in all forms lol

I do think that spelling seems to be a art form we are loosing out on, especially when kids as young as 6 are having mobiles and are texting.
When I get a text off my nephews I have to decode it before I can understand what they are trying to tell me!.... and I am 27! lol

I hate to be picky ......but ....:D

Bushpig
24-07-2010, 07:54 PM
I hate to be picky ......but ....:D

:laughing:

POMMY
24-07-2010, 07:57 PM
I hate to be picky ......but ....:D

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

See that is what happens after a glass of wine :)


I was just making sure you were paying attention :clapping: :clapping:

Bushpig
24-07-2010, 08:03 PM
:laughing:

(just using smiley icons... too scared to type as have had too much Bucks Fizz and Amarula Cream... :blush: )

sarah707
25-07-2010, 09:16 AM
From an ex teacher's point of view we are told to value the words the child uses rather than correct them.

So if the child says 'I done a painting' we would say... oh you have done a painting, that is lovely, would you like to give it a label?

The child's label would then be the words the child used to show the child we respect what he has said.

:D

funfunfun
25-07-2010, 09:22 AM
I agree , although this is an area i could brush up on .

Bushpig
25-07-2010, 12:17 PM
[/QUOTE]

Sarah I tend to disagree with this viewpoint... by you then using the same incorrect grammar you are implying this is correct... and it isn't...???

If a child said that to me I would answer 'oh you did a painting, that is lovely, would you like a label?' The label would then read what the child had said (with incorrect grammar, as this is what they said). By the child then using the correct grammar when older it shows how a child's language and grammar has developed... and there's written proof of it :thumbsup:[/QUOTE]

I disagree with it to some extent too.

I was sharing one expert opinion I am sure there are many.

I understand what the experts are trying to say about valuing what the child has said though.

The theory goes that many educators / adults become more focussed on correcting the child than on giving the child credit for speaking.

So instead of saying 'yes that's a lovely picture' they might say 'it's I have painted a picture Johnny, say it properly please'.

This then might lead to the child feeling put down because everything he says is wrong... ESPECIALLY if you are correcting something he hears at home!!

:D

funfunfun
25-07-2010, 01:27 PM
i think she means by using the correct grammer/wording correcting the child

you are showing them this is a correct way of saying it .

merry
25-07-2010, 03:26 PM
From an ex teacher's point of view we are told to value the words the child uses rather than correct them.


How are they ever supposed to learn the correct way to do things then? Sooner or later someone is going to have to correct them.

:)

sarah707
25-07-2010, 04:43 PM
Oops Bushig I don't what what I've done but it didn't work quite as I expected...

Sorry! :o

onceinabluemoon
25-07-2010, 08:34 PM
Oops!

I have to admit that I too use the words the child has actually said rather than what I think they should have said.

VINASOL
26-07-2010, 09:22 AM
Well, i have to say that I always correct my children with their speech, especially with 'done' and 'did'.

I went through school saying 'I done' and my brothers and sisters say it even now...but I remember having a boss when I was about 18 (an ex-English teacher) and he was really mean to me and me feel an inch small because I did not know the difference between the two. I was so embarrassed and horrified that I never said it again.

Although I do correct my children's speech, it really does not seem to have caused them any harm....however, my DD is only 3 so I don't correct her too much and I love it when she misprounces things (but she knows difference between done and did :blush: )
xx

MissTinkerbell
26-07-2010, 09:32 AM
I'm an ex-teacher too and have always repeated back what the child has said but using the correct grammar - after all we are educators and whilst we need to value and listen to what children have to say it is also important to make sure they hear the correct way of speaking otherwise how will they ever improve?

DS at 4 is currently having difficulty with his speech and is undergoing support from tha SAL team. We have been told to repeat what he says to us but correctly so that he can hear how to pronounce words and sounds. Surely this is the same with all speech?

To respond to Sarah's comment I would say "You did do a lovely painting, didn't you? Would you like to tell me about it and we can put a label on it?" I would then put the children's exact words on the caption. I have corrected the speech but also valued the child's spoken word - which I think is probably what Sarah meant to say - although I'm sure she'll correct me if I'm wrong :laughing: :laughing:

Badly written English annoys me - but then I had weekly grammar lessons at secondary school (it was a grammar school) and I'm not sure if this is till done.

funfunfun
26-07-2010, 11:36 AM
Badly written English annoys me - but then I had weekly grammar lessons at secondary school (it was a grammar school) and I'm not sure if this is till done.

till done :laughing:

onceinabluemoon
26-07-2010, 01:51 PM
I should have added I do actually 'correct' them in speech, just that when they ask me to write something i write what they ask me to write.

Another favourite seems to be saying 'of' in place of 'have'...

I often seem to be yelling at my teenage son 'it's I should HAVE gone to the shop, not I should OF gone to the shop!!!'

Rubybubbles
26-07-2010, 02:00 PM
:( I agree with Sarah

I am NOT educated in any way you all seem to be:blush: but I would be very proud of a 4yr old writing what he did! BUt then you wrote the key worker said for him to write what he did, so........


do, did, done donut:laughing:

VINASOL
26-07-2010, 02:09 PM
hi - I probably didn't say in original post (sorry) but it was the keyworker who wrote in his writing practice book "I done this today" and my son had to write over what she had written, rather than my son writing it himself.

I am not educated at all....well I have two GCSE's in English Language and English Literature but that's it....:blush:

venus89
26-07-2010, 02:27 PM
I'm a stickler for good grammar in my kids because that was how I was brought up. And my daughter, in particular, comes out with some awful stuff! I've finally got them to say 'x and I/me' rather than putting me first, so we'll get there in the end.

My daughters' reception teahcer couldn't spell at all. My favourite thing was when they were doing the life cycle of the frog.She was very arty and made a beautiful display with pictures of frogspawn labelled 'frogs porn' :laughing:

MissTinkerbell
26-07-2010, 02:33 PM
till done :laughing:

It was a typing error - my 's' key sticks so you have to press down quite hard on it for it to register!:laughing:

funfunfun
26-07-2010, 02:37 PM
It was a typing error - my 's' key sticks so you have to press down quite hard on it for it to register!:laughing:

So you say :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

onceinabluemoon
26-07-2010, 05:28 PM
hi - I probably didn't say in original post (sorry) but it was the keyworker who wrote in his writing practice book "I done this today" and my son had to write over what she had written, rather than my son writing it himself.

I am not educated at all....well I have two GCSE's in English Language and English Literature but that's it....:blush:

In that case I think that's disgusting and would be having words with the nursery manager!