My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

Yr 1 boy: reading issue

25 replies

Llareggub · 29/09/2012 18:49

Just looking for a bit of advice. My DS is October born so nearly 6 and in yr 1. I was approached my his teacher yesterday for a chat about his reading and writing, which she is concerned about. At the end of reception it was flagged as an issue. He is performing ahead in all other aspects and she described him as "very intellectual" and "extremely articulate" and that he uses advanced language in class.

He is on stage 3 (blue band of ORT) I think and he is reluctant to use any phonics at home. He recognises words and usually memorises the book. I am not convinced that he has grasped the point of phonics. I also think he is a perfectionist who won't read because he doesn't know how to do it strait away - he has never struggled with anything before.

He loves numeracy and does sums for fun at bedtime. I don't get this and don't encourage it - and he writes sums using 1000s and 100000s. He just gets numbers and does it all in his head. I suggested to his teacher that given his interest in maths and science stuff we find him some books in that vein but she said she doesn't have anything suitable.

She's getting him some extra help but I am concerned that he is going to switch off completely from learning. I don't know how to support him best at home - whether to persevere with Biff, Chip etc as directed by school or leave it for a while - he is really resisting at home and we struggle to get anything done.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
Report
Campaspe · 29/09/2012 18:57

I'm sorry that I don't know about ORT levels as my DD's school use a different method, but as he's on level 3, surely that isn't too bad for a Y1 child?

So you've discussed it with his teacher. What extra help is she going to get for him? What are you doing at home to support with phonics?

Have you considered a subscription to a site such as Reading Eggs? If he likes IT, this may well help him. Or if he has a Leap Pad, or PC, some reading games?

And if he loves maths - he's obviously really bright, just better with numbers than letters - have you considered exploring some maths websites together but making him do the reading?

Sorry if all this seems a bit obvious. You could try posting on the children's fiction section and ask for books that feature numbers or maths based stories. Spinderella by Julia DOnaldson is the only example I can think of off hte top of my head.

Report
littlemiss06 · 29/09/2012 19:07

Its great that she's spotted a problem and deciding to help although to be honest he is on a higher band than my year two child, she's on stage 2 of ort, I tend to try and keep work at home to about 10 or 15 minutes per day as not to lose interest and to keep it fun, im sure someone will be along with better advice soon

Report
mrz · 29/09/2012 19:37

Firstly Biff and Chip are Look & Say books not phonics, so what exactly have the school suggested you do at home.

Report
Chestnutx3 · 29/09/2012 19:42

The problem is that at that level book it is all rather boring. Maybe try Reading Chest if you can afford it and you can sign up to receive non-fiction books otherwise try the library. My DD was the same, and it has suddenly clicked, similar age but went up 4 book bands over the summer. Perfectionism, very keen/able in maths, very advanced verbal vocab - it will click. Read to him books that he will be able to read in the future about science/maths (Bookpeople have good sets).

Report
Llareggub · 29/09/2012 19:43

She said she is going to send flash cards home. He hates those.

She has suggested that he writes my shopping list. He wrote "eggs" as "estat"

OP posts:
Report
mrz · 29/09/2012 19:43

Have a look at MN learning and Oxford Owl free ebooks

Report
UsedToBeAContender · 29/09/2012 19:44

Another vote for reading chest, my DS was bored shitless of Biff and Chip.
As soon as "Top 10 Deadliest Animals" and "Greatest World Records" arrived he was hooked.

Biff and Chip are a bunch of arse if you ask me. Whoever wrote that stuff was smoking something. And don't get me started on the pictures...

Report
mrz · 29/09/2012 19:45

Has he been taught phonics at school ?

Report
mrz · 29/09/2012 19:45

I would be looking at Bear Necessities if it were a pupil in my class.

Report
Llareggub · 29/09/2012 19:46

We read a lot at home together. We've read Roald Dahl, the Magic Tree House and lots of science books. He really likes those, as well as history books. He is a little bit obsessed with newspapers.

OP posts:
Report
schmee · 29/09/2012 19:47

He is about on track if he is on level 3, but it's good that the teacher has picked up that he is learning at a slower level than his ability (I think this is what she is trying to say). If you have an iphone/ipad then this app is absolutely fantastic and might appeal to your son by the sounds of things.

Report
Llareggub · 29/09/2012 19:57

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I will look into them this evening.

He has been taught phonics and she is going to put on some extra sessions for him and a few other boys. He spent all of last year building stuff outside which he loved, but he rarely chose to write anything. His handwriting is lovely, really pretty but he is reluctant to write unless he knows absolutely what he is doing.

We've just been reading a shark book together and he was able to read "what is a shark?" after a bit of encouragement and a promise from me that it would be the only 4 words he would read. He didn't sound them out.

When he sounds out letters he sings them out with big. Gaps. Between. Them so he doesn't really get it. I've tried to explain but he gets cross because his little brother gets it. In fact I think his 3 year old brother is learning loads!

OP posts:
Report
acebaby · 29/09/2012 20:46

You could ask the teacher for the Project X books, which he may prefer, and I'm sure there are loads of ORT non-fiction books (can't quite remember for sure) He may also like looking at some phonics websites on his own (less pressure, and they all love computers!). Starfall is a good one, with lots of free stuff.

I totally get the maths at bedtime thing by the way. DS1 does this, and I remember solving simultaneous equations to wind down as a teenager Blush.

Sometimes reading is something that just needs to 'click' - and he may need a bit of extra support to enable this to happen. I think your DS1 sounds lovely btw.

Report
Llareggub · 29/09/2012 20:47

Just remembered - his teacher wonders if he might require confidence building and giving lots of praise. It's hard to praise him when he stares at the book and says "poo head Biff went to poo in poo land.". Sigh.

I must admit that phonics fox me too.

OP posts:
Report
DeWe · 29/09/2012 21:51

Llareggub Grin

Must make sure ds (also year 1) doesn't see that over my shoulder. He'd think that was the height of witticism. Grin And his teacher would not be happy.

Report
Llareggub · 30/09/2012 11:49

Thank you all for the suggestions. DS has been trying to teach phonics to his little brother this morning so I suspect it is confidence more than knowledge.

OP posts:
Report
RosemaryandThyme · 30/09/2012 14:42

How about using maths to teach reading ?

Am sure there is an American guy on Utube who demonstrates this, in essence you use the alphabet, convert to numbers, 26, then use number patterns to read CVC words, ie 254 is bed, once mastered child then looks for two letter sounds and converst those to numbers 27 to 44, so ea might be 28, again full words are written in number "code" for child to convert back and so on.

Report
mrz · 30/09/2012 14:45

how does he cope with digraphs and trigraphs?

Report
achillea · 30/09/2012 14:49

I think you have one of those extremely bright kids who could do wonders when he's older but they sometimes have an unusual learning style and a different development.

Does he do any music lessons?

Report
Llareggub · 30/09/2012 15:46

Sorry mrz, I have no idea what those are. As I said, phonics fox me too. Off to google those words...

No, he doesn't have music lessons but recently asked for piano tutition. It is on my to do list but as he is very sporty he does 3 after school sports clubs and with swimming lessons there isn't a lot of time. I think it would be a good idea for him though, so will look into that. I'm sure he could drop a sports club.

OP posts:
Report
Llareggub · 30/09/2012 15:49

OK, I have googled digraphs. I don't know how he handles them. I think we have done some of these (like sh, I suppose) but frankly my knowledge is pretty poor. I am feeling like a very well educated phonics failure. Blush

OP posts:
Report
mrz · 30/09/2012 15:56

two, three or more letters that represent a single sound.
so or or or

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

mrz · 30/09/2012 15:57

Sorry Llareggub I've confused you I meant how does the "American guy" in You tube deal with them not your son.

Report
Llareggub · 30/09/2012 16:00

It was a good question to consider anyway, and it has made me realise that perhaps one strategy for me might be to get him to teach me. I think he might enjoy that and if I get some guidance from his teacher perhaps I can dovetail it with the extra help she is going to give him. It might help his confidence to know something mummy (genuinely!) doesn't!

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.