writing in reception

[icancancan]

my ds (4.9)is finding it difficult to write. his teacher mentioned to me last week that he is taking twice as long as the others to finish worksheets even though he knows the answers. he is very meticulous. he has also started to 'reverse' write letters and numbers, including his name which he has not done before. he is totally disinterested in colouring, drawing etc and was assessed as being hypermobile when younger.
I am worried that he might be dyslexic but apparently the schools don't test for this until a child is 7, by which time he may be way behind. most of his class are writing sentences (and the odd paragraph from some of them!). It is a 'hothouse' school to put this into context.
Does anyone have any experience/advice/hope they can give me.

[Octavia09]

Some kids just need to be pushed. I know what my DS can do when I sit next to him. If he is distracted or not told to do the task (a few times) then he will not. From my side, I am hoping he improves with time. He is also at reception but they do not write sentences.
Not everychild loves colouring. Have you showed him on line colouring? www.thecolour.com has lots of themes so and www.scrapcolouring.com
On line is different but he might get interested in colouring when he sees all the vehicles and colours. You could print him his favourite picture to colour with pencils.

[icancancan]

thanks Octavia, I try to sit with him in the evening and do a little bit of tracing from the jolly phonics worksheets but its a bit hit and miss whether he will engage and I don't want to force him. Any experience of 'mirror' or reverse writing?

[Octavia09]

I got my DS jolly phonics and he is not that much interested in it but he really like the jolly songs. I do not remember seeing him doing reverse or mirror writing. Maybe other parents will be able to help you.

[hillyhilly]

I think mirror or reverse writing is not uncommon, I used to do it all the time (far more naturally than "proper" writing) and even now at 41 can v easily reverse write. My niece also did it and my daughter did a little, I don't know if there's a familial connection but we are all well able to write forwards without confusion. I am left handed and wonder if that's got anything to do with it.
One of my earlier memories is bringing a piece of work proudly to the dining table and there being a collective gasp, we then got my mum's make up mirror on it and it was perfect!!

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

I would have said that he just isn't responding well to the "hothouse" style of teaching. I think relatively few Reception classes would have most of the children writing sentences or paragraphs at this point in the first term.

Reverse writing is very common around this age, too. I know DS used to do it when illustrating stories in particular -- if the character was facing right then the words would obviously be coming out left-to-right and so should obviously be written that way (which does sort of make sense when thinking about it).

[icancancan]

thanks for the swift replies - mmm... I too wonder whether the pressured environment will be suitable for him. However, he loves this school and his friends and has settled really well. his reading is progressing normally and I would say he was average at this stage (yellow band/ort 2) so it seems it is just the writing that could be the issue. i will keep checking with his teacher that he is okay.
I looked on the SN boards along the lines of 'when did you feel your child was dyslexic' but couldn't find anything specific, just stuff after the event iyswim ie; assessments at 7 etc.
could, of course, be overthinking all of this, but he is not the most confident of children and would hate for him to feel singled out/teased or anything.

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

I meant character facing left then the words would obviously be coming out right-to-left, obviously (have left-right issues myself, which may account for a lot)

[ghenghismaam]

hilly I too am left handed and can also remember a 'mirror writing moment' from childhood!! Just had a sneaky practice & I can still do it
Ican my DS is also 4.9, in reception & reluctant to write, very much on the basis that he's never been a lover of sitting down drawing, crafts etc. He will happily do 'writing' at his table in class when it is their task, he's not as good as some, but nowhere near the worst - but really reluctant to do at home. He loves doing phonics, reading etc and I'm at the stage of thinking it's one of those things that they'll do when it clicks - and it hasn't 'clicked' just yet?
PLIMLS that all makes perfect sense to me as a complete lefty

[emkana]

worksheets... what kind of worksheets?

I would absolutely hate for my ds to be doing worksheets in reception.

[Littlefish]

I agree with emkana.

[undercovamutha]

My DD is 4.3yo and is in reception. She writes her name and one or two other words/names and that's about it (although she recognises most letters, and can read some short words).

There are no worksheets (thank god!), and the school are very relaxed. The thought of doing proper homework in reception blows my mind! My DD is so tired after school, the most I can do is quickly go through her reading book a few times a week.

I'm not an expert in dyslexia, but it sounds more likely that your DS is just not doing quite as well relatively as some of his 'hothoused' classmates.

[littlebylittle]

I find this extraordinary. In fact i can't believe lots of the things people are saying about their expectations/experience of reception; they sound more like normal for Year 1. Worksheets? Disinterested in writing? Only four years old. I don't usually get this under the collar but why is there this pressure for such speedy academic progress?

[littlebylittle]

It sounds as if he might be making a point in his own way about how this style of education suits him. Again, uncharateristically forthright for me, so sorry.

[cath476]

My ds is 4.10 and can write his name and maybe a few other key words (his brother's name, mum, dad etc.) but no more than that. I am not even remotely concerned. He is not reading as such but is recognising most letters and can hear the sounds in a word. He is 4! They are not even following the National Curriculum yet! Have a look at this nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/eyfs/taxonomy/33660/33694/0/46384
There really is no need to panic at this stage, as long as he is enjoying playing, socialising and learning then that is the main thing.

[NoahAndTheWhale]

I wouldn't say that yellow band was average at this stage - it is a higher level than the majority of reception children I would think. Sounds like there is an element of hot housing going on.