The end of the weekly spelling test

[proud2BlibKansan]

NEWPORT NEWS — The weekly tradition of spelling tests is gone from elementary classrooms.

Newport News Public Schools did away with them this fall in favor of "word study," which focuses on patterns instead of memorization.

The district follows a national trend of eliminating the tests, which some districts say are useless.

Locally, Williamsburg-James City County stopped giving students spelling tests nearly a decade ago, spokesman Greg Davy said in an e-mail.

"WJCC elected to drop spelling lists because they were too limiting and not effective," he said.

more . . . http://www.dailypress.com/news/education/dp-nws-spelling-tests-banned-20111114,0,5664969.story

[Scuba]

1. Huh. I thought sure this had something to do with Mineral Man. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. LOL

Actually this is a very controversial issue in elementary schools lately. I was thinking it would make an interesting discussion topic here.

BTW, I'm in the pro spelling test camp. We can teach word study while continuing to give spelling tests.

[11 Bravo]

3. In Fairfax County we employ word study, but still assess (at least in my school).

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. I was in training a couple years ago and this came up

The presenter asked us how we assessed spelling and we said "weekly tests". He then asked how the state test assessed spelling. I said "It doesn't. The test assesses whether the kids can pick the word spelled wrong - or spelled right - from a group of words. That's not assessing spelling."

Needless to say, the presenter wasn't pleased with my comment. :)

[a la izquierda]

5. Back in the '80s...

we always had to know how to use the word, in addition to spelling it.
I loved spelling. I rocked at it.

[RebelOne]

6. No wonder America is becoming dumbed down. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Spelling is still being taught

The issue is how to test it.

[TBF]

7. Here in Houston we still have them -

my daughter is in 3rd grade - she learns about 20 new words a week and they also have spelling bees. She and one of her friends won a recent classroom bee & will compete in the school spelling bee next month. She's very excited about that!

[stevedeshazer]

8. I dint lern how 2 spell

it dint hert me nun.

[surrealAmerican]

9. I assume they have a body of research to support this.

I did have doubts as to the efficacy of the "memorize the list" approach.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Actually research shows the tests don't help the kids learn how to spell

Any teacher can tell you that. Just because the kid spells a word correctly on a test on Friday doesn't mean he will be able to spell the word correctly on Monday.

But that's not why the tests are important. I believe they teach the kids how to study and yes, how to memorize. I still see value in that. Memorization is a skill we all need.