Year 1 writing help please

[jalapeno]

DS is 5yrs 8mths and doing well with his reading and maths at school. The teacher has indicated that his writing is not as strong and I have just asked him to write a few lines about his half term and his writing and spelling are a bit iffy to say the least.

He obviously needs to practise but is very reluctant, I suspect because it is harder work than reading and he knows he isn't as strong at it. Can anyone help with ways to capture his imagination?

Yesterday he wrote me a brief postcard which was lovely and I showered him with praise so things like that would work I think.

Also how do I get him to realise the link between the words he is reading and the way they should be spelled when he writes?

[OffToNarnia]

My ds exactly same age as yours. Very good reader. Nobody mentioned problems with maths so think ok. His writing is not nearly as good as his reading. He is left handed but not sure if that makes a difference- teachers certainly don't make a big deal about it. His spelling is mixed. He definitely listens in 'phonics' group but spelling not consistent eg broacken, prest, bnarna etc. Sometimes spelling ok sometimes not. Seems to find writing tiring on hand; think grips pencil too hard. No one seems worried though so just hope will become easier in time and not pushing it. He likes to write shopping lists and quizzes for me as he finds that fun. Have to ask for translations sometimes but mostly understandable even if spelt wrong. I don't want to put him off and hope my not pushing is right approach!!

[annbenoli]

I am a teacher, at this stage they should be spelling phonetically and if they are willing to have a go themselves at bigger words that is brilliant. Lots of praise and encouragement is the order of the day. If they are willing to write anything bythemselves at this stage then there is no need to worry.

[Ben10isthespawnofthedevil]

I love the phonic spelling that my Year 1 DS comes up with! Srender = Surrender Sooperman=Superman Rast=Raced.

[OffToNarnia]

Thanks annbenoli. I rather like my sons phonetic spelling. I have noticed that some of the girls in ds class [year 1] have great writing.. horrible homework fayres where you have to force yourself not to compare!!! Boy girl thing? Also I think some of girls enjoy writing lots where as my ds not at that stage yet. [Likes drawing incomprehensible maps that don't look impressive to anyone but himself! I just leave him to it at mo].

[kitkat1000]

i buy packs of cheap birthday cards from the card shop (10 for £1!!) or cheap invites as my 5yr old daughter loves writing these out.

[McDreamy]

My DS is the same. His teacher suggested not focusing on the writing at home but more on his fine motor skills. So encouraging activities like Lego, cutting out play dough would all help muscle development and in turn help with his writing.

DS is obsessed with vehicles to the point he would look through Exchange and Mart over a comic . I bought him a scrap book, glue stick and some scissors and he will spend ages cutting out pictures of cars and sticking them in his book, so much longer than trying to write something.

[jalapeno]

Thanks all, some good ideas there! He just sat and wrote a bit about his week, also phonetic spelling (Tchoosday was a good try and I can't argue with the logic!!) and I got him a fresh exercise book and stuck in some of his recent pictures and he wrote a Birthday list the other day which I have stuck in. Hopefully a sort of journal will be his thing. It is the reluctance to try I am struggling with so I'm willing to try anything to capture his interest.

I too have noticed that girls much prefer writing. I can vividly remember being desperate to write myself!

[jalapeno]

OfftoNarnia I have also not pushed him at all through reception and early yr 1, recently he has really improved with his reading so we have responded to that but I am worried his writing needs to improve too, if not at the same rate just a little bit would be good!