I have this sign up in my room in front of the dictionaries. Spelling Counts! In the years I have been teaching, students have become lazier spellers. Well, to be honest, it isn't just children. Society is becoming a lazy speller. They use all this short-cut stuff like "luv" and people, especially children, think that is the correct way to spell a word.
I imagine texting has made this problem worse. Can't we go back to writing the words correctly? I have a student who asked me why I kept insisting that she correct her spelling. After all, I know what I mean and so do you. You can tell what I mean by the texting clues. (I believe she meant context clues) (I don't think they hear very well either)
I was taught, and I teach it that way, that if the word is spelled wrong and it is a) on the page b) a spelling word this year) or c) a word used all the time, that it must be spelled correctly all the time. My kids can spell it different every single time they spell it. Even if it is on the same page.
My favorites? wat (what) wen (when) (I believe a wen is an oozing sore) wit (with) (however it isn't funny at all) Whant (want) were (where) where (were). I love reading these the way the students wrote them. They get mad when I laugh because, You know what I meant! But it is too good to pass .