Can you believe I had a student with the torn off corner of the newsletter printed with the spelling words on it in her hand during the spelling test? I was so shocked! It surprises me that they would think of that at this age (maybe an older sibling told her how to do it) but also that they would have the gall to do it surprises me! We apply the concept of ethics on a daily basis and constantly talk about what is right and what is wrong. Just amazing to me how early they start some of these habits.
It's all the same word family just different beginning sounds. Spelling is a whole section on the standardized tests they take in first grade, plus it gets them used to the grading system. We don't use report card grades-they get a 1,2 and 3. So when they get to 1st they are very excited over getting a 50% on a test-that's such a high number, you know! They can get some practice with it before it really counts against them. They are expected to read 40 wpm fluently by the end of Kinder now, I don't see spelling tests as unreasonable.
I want that kid in my class next year! The fact that a kindergarten student had the ethical breach to cheat doesn't surprise me at all. I've seen my first graders get up and walk across the room to look at another kid's paper. I also once had a kid ask me how to spell his mom's name for the purpose of forging her signature. Watch them play board games. They will cheat ruthlessly if they can get away with it. But geez. To actually plan ahead and acquire a cheat sheet is pretty amazing. When kindergarteners and first graders do crimes, they are usually crimes of opportunity. They see something they take it. The other player isn't looking, they move their game piece. And if they spy their neighbor's paper, they copy the answer (even if their neighbor's answer is wrong, and their own would be correct). But to make the answers available before the test indicates some very advanced planning and problem solving skills. While most kids would just try to copy their neighbor's paper, this kid obviously thought that whoever sits nearby was not very likely to know how to spell the words either, and the only thing to do was to take matters into her own hands. I see a lot of potential with this kid. What needs to happen is she needs to learn to use her far above average planning and problem solving skills for good and not evil.
The other thing is that to most kids that young, "cheating" means "copying." This girl may well know she's not allowed to copy from her neighbor. But since cheat sheets are so rare among kids this young, have we specifically told them they are not allowed to use them during tests?
40 wpm in kinder? wow!! As for the cheating....I caught two of my students cheating on the spelling test so far. It really bothered me how sneaky they were. What's worse is that I teach the high achieving group and these two students are really good spellers. I guess some feel the pressure early on to do well.
I have to say part of me thought that too. They are a GT class, but I haven't seen much of that application of skills come through. I also admired her ingenuity although it's outweighed by my disappointment in her behavior.
Yes, I don't agree with it all because I feel like it's too much being pushed down. They come in not knowing letters and sounds. It's very hard to get many of them to that level. But you do what you are required to do. :thumb:
While I was shocked to hear she cheated in Kinder, I was even more shocked to hear you have to give spelling tests!
Wow! When the class I have now was in 1st grade, one of the girls was 'helping' other students in her group on a multiple choice test by pointing to the letters and numbers on their name plates!
We give a 5-day (approx. 2 hours per day) standardized bubble-in, multiple-choice test in Kinder. That bothers me much more. When they first told me I'd have to give spelling tests I also was not happy about it. But I do think the practice of studying the words helps. The grades don't officially count, but does give another opportunity for parents to see how they are doing.
I think you're all freaking out over this way too much. Face it. When you give primary students a test of any kind, you have to watch them more closely than a class of 8th graders. My guess is that this girl probably thought it was wrong to copy from her neighbor, but having the words written down on paper was ok. I'd give the original girl a good stern warning, and use it as an opportunity to explain to the kids the exact kinds of things they are not supposed to do during a test.
And I do, that's why I saw it. I think she knew it was wrong. She didn't want to show me what was in her hand. I did talk to her about it and gave her a zero for the test-that's all I'll do. I've never had that happen before. It just surprised me, that's all.
