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!

Learning Latin at school helped me loads

**POMMY** · 24-07-2010, 07:49 PM

Us publishing folk

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

Originally Posted by POMMY

Us publishing folk

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 ....

**Bushpig** · 24-07-2010, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by Twinkles

I hate to be picky ......but ....

**POMMY** · 24-07-2010, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by Twinkles

I hate to be picky ......but ....

See that is what happens after a glass of wine

I was just making sure you were paying attention

**Bushpig** · 24-07-2010, 08:03 PM

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

)

**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.

**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

[/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!!

**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

Originally Posted by sarah707

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!

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

)
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

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

Originally Posted by MissTinkerbell

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

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

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