Does this writing look dyslexic?

[Iristutu]

Hi, my DSis looking potentially dyslexic. If anyone can look over this story and let me know if they think it is possible, or level it I would be very greatful. I would be interested to know the level as his reading is a 2b so it's looking like a big gap to me. I'm looking to talk to senco, he's age 6, so I'm guessing they will attempt to fob me off, but the huge ability gap is the red flag I feel.

Wonsa pon a tam the wos a famil hoo livd in the
(once upon a time there was. Family who lived in the)
Forisd nat dad went hunting he didnt cum bak
(Forrest one night dad went hunting he didn't come back)
So ten the cabig and fish dad faniliy ceme bak.
( so then they ate cabbage and fish dad finally came back)


Thank you.

[elltee]

As mother of a dyslexic nearly nine year old, yes. Loads of ideas and imagination. If he's in year 2, I would definitely speak to his class teacher - if they know you are concerned then it's more likely that they'll consider additional support ahead of KS1 assessments. My understanding is that most schools are unwilling to diagnose a child as dyslexic before the end of y2 and if his reading level is good I'd suspect this is the case. We were in a similar position and if I were to do anything differently it would be to have had DD properly assessed at the beginning of y3.

[Permanentlyexhausted]

Not necessarily. It looks as though he has had a good go at spelling words phonetically and has missed a few out along the way, because the ideas came faster than he could write. Which year is he in?

[Permanentlyexhausted]

I meant to add it looks very similar to how my DD's writing looked when she was in yr 1. She is definitely not dyslexic. I assume he wasn't copying a passage but was making up a story.

[kelda]

I think it's very good for age 6. I wouldn't think of dyslexia at all, especially if his reading is good.

[Iristutu]

Thank your for the relplies, he's year one.
I can teach him to spell, so last week we did six words ( love, home, loved, this, went, come) he could spell them all on third attempt, after being show them twice. I don't think he can hear them phonetically though. ( maybe an auditory issue) he can still spell them this week, so looks like it sticks.

[Iristutu]

A made up story ( or I would be VERY worried) school have asked to speak to me, they are a bit worried I think as he's very bright.

[harryhausen]

Hmmm, not sure. I'm not a teacher so no expert. However my ds used to spell very much like that in Y2. Some sentences I wouldn't be able to begin to even understand. He would spell simple words like house = howce, going = gowin, went = whint etc. trying hard but really hard to understand when most of the sentence is jumbled, letters back to front or letters left off the end of words etc.

Now he's in Y3 aged 7. He's improved beyond measure. His reading was always way ahead of his writing. The Y3 teacher said she wouldn't have flagged up spelling as a problem. It's just all suddenly clicked much more.

[mrz]

As a Senco and Y1 teacher it looks very similar to half my class

[Iristutu]

Thank your mrz, I know it's difficult to level, as you need to see lots of work but do you think that the gap between the reading and writing is a cause for concern...my friend said it looks like a 1c.

[mrz]

Writing usually lags behind reading at this stage as it is a much more complex process. The child needs to think what they want to write, then how to spell each separate word, then how to form each letter.

[Lookslikeimstuckhere]

Levelling from one piece of work isn't advisable really, it has to be seen as part of a bigger picture.

Whilst it may seem like a low level 1, it may be that he forgot his punctuation that day. It could be that he was in a hurry and therefore didn't have time to read and make sure that he had included all the words.

I've seen very able writers write the most amazing plan and then just can't get their ideas out. It doesn't mean dyslexia, it's just part of a learning curve. Also, they forget about all the other stuff when they are given a chance to do writing like this!

He's got a bits to work on -punctuation, a few descriptive words and ensuring he reads his work carefully but that's what I would expect in Year 1.

Please remember that reading (usually) comes first. Writing takes a bit more time to develop and so it can seem like there is a disparity between the two for some children.

Keep in touch with the school about it and if he continues to make progress then I would reconsider options at the end of Year 2. If no progress then definitely push for assessment (although they won't do much because of his age).

[Iristutu]

Thank you, I know its not a good idea to level from one piece of writing but I'm not a teacher so have no idea what a year one should be able to do.
A reading score of 2b and a writing of 1c is a lot of levels difference though.

[Iristutu]

Thank you, I know its not a good idea to level from one piece of writing but I'm not a teacher so have no idea what a year one should be able to do.
A reading score of 2b and a writing of 1c is a lot of levels difference though.

[Iristutu]

Sorry cat on knee.

[Lookslikeimstuckhere]

Haha! They do get in the way!

No, I know it's hard when you aren't a teacher (sometimes it's hard when you are!). It can seem like a total mystery...

[Lookslikeimstuckhere]

It is a significant difference. If he is high 2B reading then yes, I would probably be concerned too.

Does he write at home?

[Iristutu]

He wrote that at my request but he's never keen to write.

[maizieD]

I don't think he can hear them phonetically though.

On the contrary, I think that the piece you have shown us indicates that he can spell phonetically.

I would be reassured by mrz. She's very experienced

[Lookslikeimstuckhere]

If it was a piece of writing that you asked him to do, I would definitely not use that to ascertain his level, although I can see why you would want to try.

I would wait for the meeting. His teacher will have lots of evidence of his writing and will be the best person to talk to about next steps.

Hope the meeting goes well!

[Iristutu]

I just asked him to write me a story. for a chocolate bar

I wanted to know how many levels it's out so that I can request some intervention/ investigation.

Thank you.

[LuckyLopez]

He's too young.

DS is in yr 4/8 yrs old and only just being referred to the ed psych for a diagnosis.

[hazeyjane]

Not necessarily Lucky, my dd2 was diagnosed as dyslexic in yr2.

Having said that, dd1s spelling was similar in year 1 and she is not dyslexic and has never struggled with reading.

[LuckyLopez]

Well I realise there are exceptions but generally schools will tell you to 'wait and see' until they are around 7yo because as you said it can still be quite normal in year 1.

[NeedaDiscoNap]

Am not a primary teacher (secondary English and literacy) but that doesn't look like dyslexic type spelling to me.

[lougle]

If it's any help, I didn't need your translation to understand it and I thought 'forisd' and 'faniliy' were absolutely inspired.