But can they SPELL?

Dear colleagues in english, writing
and across the curriculum.

Re the Spelling Be

My principle in 4th grade stood
behind me in cordory pants while
I did my speelling forcing me to
write with my right hand rather
than left.

I claim it impacted my spelling &
wisdom teeth. Grade school abuse.
A student in class yesterday
criticized me for misusing  "impact"
as verb. It's a noun, Sam, don't
you know any bitter?

So it goes & goes. I came across
pages of copy on rubrics and
assessment left in the 2nd floor
printer this morning. Things are
getting better, they're getting
better all the time..

Here's something I found in the new
Raymond Carver biography I was
reading this weekend--reconfigured
to fit my screed:

  Raymond's Report Card
 
Raymond hasn't developed habits
of behavior that we would expect of
a boy in the fifth grade...He does not
accept the responsibility of a citizen
who has to live with other people
 
...the boy has improved  a great deal
in writing and shows some improvement
in citizenship. He is able to keep his
papers off the floor now.
 
...reads very well; understands what
he reads and retains it.
 
...but is easily disturbed; has trouble
keeping to the task at hand & makes
careless errors in arithmetic
 
...has a bad habit of giggling at
anything and everything.