teachers who have dyslexia

[blessedwithboys]

long story short, my 3rd grader isn't doing too well in spelling this year. he's struggling to learn the words. i've noticed his teacher marks words right on his test which are actually misspelled. today i found out that she has dyslexia.

theres a much longer version which i just typed so neatly and then lost. based on this synopsis, wwyd?

ps: there's also the language immersion issue, maybe you saw my other thread?

[Aeress]

Are you concerned that your child will learn to spell words wrong?

I guess I need more information.

Ok, I read the other thread.

It is reasonable to expect a teacher to spell correctly in her native language and in English. Maybe a gentle reminder to check the dictionary before marking a word as wrong when it isn't?

[GuildJenn]

I'm an editor who has dyslexia - and yes, I often ask myself why why why I chose a field where my spelling would be on display.

Anyways, I might gently point out some of the errors to her at the next parent-teacher conference or after school (I think it's better done in person). If you're concerned about your child's spelling, I'd just pre-test him and do a few extra word activities with him at home. It's actually a nice learning moment for him about how to look things up and that kind of thing...a bit of a pain for you, but spelling is one of those lifelong things outside of school anyway.

Spelling is important for sure. But it's not something to get overly fussed over, in my opinion, as long as the other elements of the class are going well. However, if you have a bigger concern you could approach the principal.

[Lisa1970]

Our local schools do not even teach spelling. Teachers, and people in general, with dyslexia is actually quite common. However, dyslexia does not mean you cannot learn to spell and it would tick me off if she were counting my child wrong when she has a list to check from. That is about being careless, not about having dyslexia. I am unsure how you came to know she has dyslexia, but if she told you she did as an excuse for what she has been doing, and never apologized or seemed to feel about it, I would be quite unhappy.

You might try offering to volunteer some of your time each week to correct the spelling tests for her if she will let you. Another thing is, my children have had a teacher who did something wrong through the years, like a history teacher who knew so little about history. I had to be upfront with them about the truth about the teacher and to not feel bad about it themselves and how to compensate for it personally. At some point, children will have a lousy adult, coworker, or otherwise, and will deal with something like this, most likely. So this could be a teaching moment there too.

Good luck and I hope things get better.

[eepster]

As a dyslexic, I find it rather annoying that this situation is being blamed on dyslexia.  The problem isn't that the teacher is dyslexic (how the heck do you know she's dyslexic anyway.)  The problem is that she isn't being careful when grading papers.  

I would never assume that my way of spelling something was correct.  I would use an answer key.

I must ask though, how often this is happening.  Is it a regular occurrence, or has it happened once or twice?  Everybody makes mistakes after all.  She has dozens of tests to correct while trying to decipher sloppy 3rd grade handwriting, any teacher no matter how good at spelling or how diligent about checking the answer key is going to occasionally make a mistake.

[KandJsMama]

Before reading the last response, my gut reaction was to be a bit miffed at the teacher and perhaps at the school system for not catching this.

But my perspective has changed.

 I agree the errors have more to do with not being as careful as she should rather than with Dyslexia. I've spelled things incorrectly on PowerPoints, on message boards, etc when I'm in a rush and I'm an English teacher! I'm not incompetent, just get busy sometimes.

I would suggest talking to the teacher and learning more from her.