Read write inc support at home

[SpanielFace]

My DS has just started reception, his birthday is August 31st so he is the youngest in the year. He is a happy, confident little boy and has taken to school brilliantly, his reception teacher is lovely and he's really enjoying going. So far, it's mostly been play-based learning, but they have started phonics, and are using the Read Write Inc scheme. I am trying so hard not to compare with other parents, as he's so much younger than some of the other children, but it's hard not to worry! He knows all of his numbers but struggles with letter sounds, and I know his pen control isn't great. I noticed Read Write Inc do flash cards, parent support packs etc to do at home, and was wondering about getting them. But he's already getting some simple homework (a "pre-reading book" changed twice a week, and 4 letter and 3 number flash cards to practice the sounds at home). Currently it's taking us 5-10 mins every other day or so, and that seems fine for an only-just 4 year old who is pretty shattered at the end of the school day! Is it worth trying to do a bit more with him at home, or should I just try and relax and trust that he will get there in his own time?

[Muddlingalongalone]

If you're happy with the school & the teacher I would leave it. Read lots to him, play spot the letter type games as part of daily life & reinforce school learning with "homework"
DD1 was very verbal and could sight-read simple words but knew no phonics at all when she started reception last year and was "behind" the children from the school nursery according to her teacher at 1st parents evening but by easter she was in the top set for phonics (with 14 others - 60 intake) & teacher gave her the end of term class award for progress with phonics.
He's still new to school etc so let him settle & enjoy it and do things at his own pace

[SpanielFace]

Thanks. Yes we are doing that, also lots of "I spy" type games, finding rhymes for words etc. what else could I do to help with pen control at home, other than lots of drawing / colouring? He's yet to draw a recognisable picture although he does circles, crosses, lines etc.

[Ginmummy1]

Agree with muddling. Play doh at home for finger strenth, fine motor?

[SpanielFace]

That's a good idea, he loves play dough and will sit and play with it for hours.

[TeenAndTween]

I bought the RWI cards and used them with DD during the last part of nursery, and then reception, possibly y1 also.

We started with a few (s a t p i n) and then added more in as time progressed.
Very much a game. We had a cereal box letter box and if she knew the sound she posted it in. At the end we opened the back and counted. We occasionally did this instead of reading practice and recorded number of sounds she knew in the reading record.

Pencil control you can try maze puzzles, tracing and and dot to dots. Also Hamma beads (come in various sizes)

ps Try reading practice before school rather than after. He'll be a lot less tired.

[GreatBigHoo]

To help pen control you can try activities that strengthen up the hand and arm muscles and improve fine motor skills - play dough/plasticine modelling, using scissors, stringing beads or pasta, Hama beads, Lego, chalking on pavements, making marks with a stick in sand or mud, large-scale painting (with water on a fence/wall or on the ground limits mess!).

[jamdonut]

Play dough rolling into a long snake is good finger exercise as is bead threading, screwing and unscrewing large-ish nuts and bolts, jumping frogs into a tub ( Tesco has packs of frogs in the party favours section!) , And YES to scissor skills...so many children lack this skill, and yet are required to cut things out at school. Get a proper pair of metal safety scissors and show them how to use them properly. The horrible plastic 'blade' things you can buy are rubbish!

As for RWI, children get plenty of practice in their RWI lessons, with the sounds, but it doesn't hurt to do a bit at home from time to time. Every little helps, as they say.