does my child need a tutor

[miffyandsnoopy]

Hi, I went to parents evening yesterday for ds who is in year 6. She said he is already a level 4 in maths and is very happy with him, but she said his literacy he is 'not quite' a level 4 yet. Teacher mentioned he is not using correct punctuation i.e capital letters in the middle of sentences, commas in wrong place. And he is handing in work that doesn't make sense because he is not checking it first. Reading and spelling is fine. I have come away wondering if I should be concerned that he is not a level 4 yet, and weather I need to do more to help him. Do I need to go so far as to getting a tutor? Any suggestions as to what I can do to help, and weather I should be concerned? Thanks in advance

[sparkysparkysparky]

I think I'd probably have a (cack-handed) go myself first at reinforcing the use of capital letters etc.

[Killasandra]

Y7 is much, much easier if you have the basics of reading and writing really solid. Sounds like he is a bit (only a bit) off that now.

A tutor may help, if they're good. And he may only require a couple of sessions with one.

Or you could wait till June, and get a tutor from then to Summer if he hasn't improved.

One thing you need to watch out for is how little writing he might do between end of SATS (in May) and start of Y7 (in Sep). So a tutor then can be very effective......

[Ferguson]

Surely someone must have seen this coming? Has his written work suddenly deteriorated, or have these aspects of essays - capital letters, punctuation, not checking his own work before submitting it - been pointed out before, and been ignored by the child?

Have parents not LOOKED at his written work during the past four years? Punctuation and 'proof reading' should start to be taught in Yr2, if not before.

Are the mistakes just that he forgets, or careless slips, or does he not understand the mechanics of punctuation? By Yr6, in addition to using good words and 'style', students should be using paragraphs and advanced items of punctuation in a creative way, to enhance their written work.

Any of the books for children by Lynne Truss will be useful in reinforcing punctuation, and I give a link below. She is a very entertaining writer, and her books are enjoyable. But also, when he is reading ANY book, encourage him to look at how sentences are constructed and how punctuation is used.

A tutor shouldn't really be necessary, as once he is aware of the problem DS should be able to correct much of it for himself - provided he is prepared to make the effort.

www.amazon.co.uk/Lynne-Truss/e/B000APRCCY?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

On a lighter note, you might all like to try this:

[printmeanicephoto]

Yes def go to tutor imo. Level 4 is average for yr 6 although most kids in my Ds' class will be taking level 5 sats and some level 6. Depends on his capabilities and whether you are happy to push him a bit yourself. Tutoring has been great for my kids' confidence.

[HowDoesThatWork]

You don't sit a separate paper for Level 5. Kids take the same paper with questions at levels 3 to 5, the SATS level awarded depends on the number of marks. Some take additional Level 6 papers.

Spelling is getting silly if you ask me.

recent ones include:

creature
materials
disappeared
medicine
occurred
weight
gingerly
particularly
environment
particularly

(I hope I copied them krekly)