NO PHONEMES!!

Oooookay!!!! So, England primary students work heavily with phonics, to the point that when you ask them to spell a word, the students say the phoneme (or pronunciation of the letter sounds) instead of just saying the name of the letter.

It is strange to say the least, and serves for great entertainment.  

An example:

Ms. Wash: “Oh my love!  What is your name?”

Students: “T-a-sh-a”

Ms. Wash: Turns around to giggle

Ms. Wash: “That is great Tasha”

Alright! Until you say, AMANDA THAT IS TERRIBLE! No, no I am not, because this continues on into the junior grades!!!

Imagine a 10 year old making random phoneme noises sounding like an alien instead of saying, “My name is Josh”.

I am praying that Canada, while I have been here, has not adapted this ridiculousness.  It is extremely challenging trying not to laugh at a child making phoneme noises at you.  

It gets even worse at times!  You see, the students have become so accustomed to making these phonic noises, that they have it down to a tee!  The only thing is, they say them too fast, and Ms. Wash is left STILL NOT KNOWING THEIR NAMES ARE!!!!

Example:

Ms. Wash: “What is your name?”

Student: “ja-i-esh-u-gh”

Ms. Wash: ummmm.... “okay, so what’s your name?”

Here are some pictures from my favourite school!!!  I have had a rash of 'not so favourite schools' lately so... I am trying to think of the good!

I am currently working at this particular school with the deputy head's class.  We rotate who teaches, and who take small groups to prepare them for their SAT's (or what we know as EQAO).  

I even love the building! It has beautiful vaulted ceilings inside and is just so lovely!

View from other side.

The kind of class you can do anything with!  They are soooo well behaved!