To talk to teacher or not?

[anna114young]

Hi all, not sure whether to have a chat to my ds teacher. He's been really reluctant to go to school and the school haven't really supported him with his reading. I definitely think the two are linked!

I had a meeting with the teacher a while back and I felt my concerns about his reading were dismissed a little.

Since then I have started a reading program outside of school. DS loves it - it's the first time I have ever seen him read without a huge tantrum. This program has identified he might have an eye tracking weakness and that blending is difficult for him. So we have some exercises now to work on both.

I am happy with the reading program and the support I get from the team there but I am wondering whether to mention these discoveries to his teacher? I would hope she would help him more but since our last meeting I do wonder if I would just get an eye roll!

[pastandpresent]

Why do you think reading is linked with your ds being reluctant to go to school? First step is find out why he is reluctant from him, not from what you think/guess. Then if there were a problem, of course you should speak to the teacher.

[Quietlifewanted]

Definitely speak to the teacher again, it's so important that our youngsters learn to be competent, independent readers. My Y2 DD is a very reluctant reader and I'm becoming increasingly concerned. I wonder also whether she is having problems with her eyesight. Just out of interest, which reading programme have you signed up to? We're finding we don't get books sent home frequently enough nowadays so we need to find some alternatives. Thanks!

[anna114young]

@pastandpresent - I am not guessing. He just hates school! He isn't like this when he goes to his clubs like football etc. He often tells me he is stupid though, because he can't read like the other kids in his class. I have told the teachers this but they don't really seem to do anything about his reading level.

[anna114young]

A bit of background - I had a meeting with the teacher before I started the reading program and his teacher says that he is "below average for reading" and is reluctant to join in with Guided Reading.

I asked her what they are doing about it and she said he is in a group for Guided Reading which they are focusing on.

When I said that I felt he was reluctant to come into school due to his reading she said maybe he was tired, new term etc etc

I brought up the topic of dyslexia and was told she would speak to the SENCO about it.

I was left feeling a bit deflated if I am honest!

[anna114young]

@Quietlifewanted it's called Easyread, they have a 10 lesson free trial which I did to see if it was the right thing for ds. We have tried so many things before and he often hated any extra reading support. This was quite different as it is very fun, with games and prizes.

[GintyMarlow2]

I wouldn't bother mentioning it to his teacher, especially now that you have found a reading programme that works for him. The teacher will organise reading time for each child in the class, but this will be listening to them reading their appropriate reading books. I doubt a teacher would have the time to put a particular scheme of work in place for an individual child. Especially as you say they have already dismissed your concerns over his reading level. Just continue with the reading programme you have found, and he should improve.

[anna114young]

@GintyMarlow2 that was my thinking - thanks for your advice!

[ScatteredMama82]

How old is your DS? I would continue to try and highlight it to the teacher.

[anna114young]

He is 9 @ScatteredMama82 honestly the meeting I had was only a few weeks ago and so disappointing. I just thought she might be interested in what we are doing at home and the progress we are seeing....but maybe not? I don't know if teachers like parents taking over at home!

[LooksLikeImStuckHere]

I disagree! As a SENCO and primary school teacher at various points in my career, I absolutely would want to know this. It may be worth asking to talk to the SENCO directly.

[ScatteredMama82]

Ok - if he was reception I'd say wait and see how he goes, but at age 9 I think there is absolutely a case for having a meeting with the teacher, and also the SENCO.
I disagree that you should just press on at home and not talk to the teacher, you might find it backfires if he becomes less engaged with what they are doing at school because he's focusing on what he's doing at home with you. I think you need to try and press the teacher into a coordinated approach so that he is getting the best chance to improve.
Well done you for keeping on at it though, the reading plan you've found him sounds fantastic.

[anna114young]

@LooksLikeImStuckHere @ScatteredMama82 maybe i will go straight to the senco then? Honestly i got nowhere with his class teacher.

Maybe i could suggest the program to them too haha not sure they would take suggestions from me!

I just want school to get easier for ds! Will do whatever it takes!

[LooksLikeImStuckHere]

Yes, I would absolutely go to the SENCO to explain what the issue is and how you are addressing it at home. If it’s successful, they may be able to incorporate some of the ideas into the classroom to help him be more engaged in the learning.

[PinkPlantCase]

Hi OP as a child my reading was behind where it should have been. Around age 6 the school thought I had a tracking problem and sent me to a specialist Optician.

I was weak on the tracking side I also had dyslexia that was undiagnosed until I was 17.

You don’t say how old DS is but please don’t let them fob you off about dyslexia if you think it might be what’s going on. My parents were told that if I wasn’t actually failing then they wouldn’t investigate as there were other children who needed their resources more.

I also hated reading out loud. Still do tbh but I could read reasonably well in my head. It was just so much harder when I had to process the text into making words.

Hope that’s helpful

[DominaShantotto]

Depends on the school - last one my child was at I would have passed the info on to the class teacher and SENCO in a heartbeat - and the SENCO would probably have looked into it just as another potential tool to have in mind for other kids.

This class teacher - doesn't want to fucking hear a word about anything that might help the children with SEN. Will just talk over any parental concerns and ignore you completely.

[pastandpresent]

When I read your OP, I thought he was in at least in KS1, or reception.
From my experience, most of those who struggled in ks1 has somewhat caught up by beginning of KS2.
So if he is 9 and the teachers aren't concerned why he is still behind even though the parents(OP) are engaged enough to worry about the progress, then I think you need to have a talk with teacher.

[cansu]

You are giving your child 1:1. He will make huge progress from this and will enjoy the time and support. Your son's teacher has thirty children to teach. It won't be that she is not interested, it will be that she is also trying to teach 30 other children to read, write and punctuate sentences as well as the rest of the curriculum.

[anna114young]

Such mixed responses! I might try the SENCO instead of the teacher - it would be great if they could introduce the reading program I am using in the school. I bet/hope DS isn't the only child struggling!

[Crazycrazylady]

To be fair to the teacher,it's very hard to give kids one on time at the moment, sounds like he is the right reading group for him. I'd mention it to her that you feel the programme you're using is helping but I think it's probably unlikely that she'll have resources to use it with him, not without a statement of some kind. I'd keep plugging away with him at home and if you're not happy with progress, I'd definitely ask about a educational assessment ,(esp if he's has no issues in other parts of school.)

[Guymere]

If he’s 9 and not making expected progress, the class teacher really should be doing something! The DC is 9! Yes, speak to the Senco. Ask to see their assessment of his progress. Ask what they are putting in place to help him improve. Say you have had to do something because you are so worried for him. I wouldn’t be happy with being fobbed off. I wouldn’t be happy with the school either.

[Guymere]

I forgot: look at their send policy. Look at the literacy curriculum. Be armed with knowledge.

And, for what it’s worth, teachers should care about the progress of all children - 30 or not!

[saraclara]

@anna114young

Such mixed responses! I might try the SENCO instead of the teacher - it would be great if they could introduce the reading program I am using in the school. I bet/hope DS isn't the only child struggling!

Please, please, please don't try to tell the teachers their job! Even the most helpful of them will inwardly roll their eyes at a parent suggesting that they take on a scheme that she's used for five minutes.

Let the programme speak for itself. If he does well on it at home, that gain will transfer to his progress at school. When that progress is noticed, you can mention what you've been doing with him. But don't. DON'T suggest they should try it. Just talk about how it helped him and leave them to decide if they want to research it.

[Guymere]

I missed that! No don’t suggest they use it. After all, their scheme is probably suiting most dc. Phonics is phonics after all.

[Guymere]

The school will think his progress is down to them of course! This is a Sen problem not a reading scheme problem in my view.

[anna114young]

@saraclara @Guymere fair enough - I get your points. I will just be happy that he is finally making progress, whether that is me paying for it and doing it at home with him or the school getting to the bottom of it.

It is just frustrating that I feel so unsupported by the school. Luckily the literacy specialists at the program I am using are so supportive and just seem to "get it" when I describe his reading.