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dd has just started yr 1, she is already struggling - anyone else?

46 replies

paddingtonbear1 · 10/09/2008 20:04

dd struggled in reception as well, although improved in the final term. She just didn't seem mature enough for school (is summer bday), and wasn't interested for ages.
Now she has started yr 1, and already has had her english book sent home with extra writing work - she needs to work quicker in class the teacher has written. Her writing isn't great - she can write the letters but can't really form proper words much (apart from her name), and is only on stage 2 of the ORT.
She isn't impressed when she has to do extra at home, 'I want to play' is the response.
I dread her getting lines as punishment (they do this in yr 1, someone has already been threatened with it) - dd would take weeks to do hers!!

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Hulababy · 10/09/2008 20:08

Lines in Y1 That is dreadful.

Is the teacher differentiating the classwork for your DD, so that she is able to finish the work set for her?

I think I would want to chat to the teacher to find out about wat they are doing themselves,a nd to talk about the extra work.

FWIW I know of other children who have been at this level in Y1; it is not uncommon and within normal ranges still. Try not to worry. You may find that sometime during this year it will just click with her.

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constancereader · 10/09/2008 20:13

I would be very unimpressed by this.
She is only little, wtf are they sending extra work home for at this stage? Do they want to put her off for life? As for giving lines, I am speechless.

I really think you should talk to her teacher as I think your dd risks being put off school for good. I was a Y1 teacher until very recently and I only gave homework because parents wanted it as I believe it is of very little educational value. They are only five fgs! She needs work that is targeted to give her a sense of achievement and empowerment as well as work that will stretch her.

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AMumInScotland · 10/09/2008 20:16

You should set a maximum time for homework - maybe 15 minutes a night? - and let her stop after that. It's not fair to make a child do extra at home just because they are struggling. It would be different if she was messing about in class, but if she's trying to get it done and failing, then it's not her fault and she shouldn't be punished by not having to do loads in the evening just because of it.

Lines as punishment if she's struggling to write would be stupid of the teacher - it would only put her off!

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coppertop · 10/09/2008 20:17

at Yr1 children being given lines.

Ds2 has just started in Yr1 and tbh your dd sounds fairly similar to a lot of the children in the class.

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mollythetortoise · 10/09/2008 20:18

my daughter is the same. Also stage 2 ORT - Aug 03 birthday. I am not (yet) worried as she is bright , it's just compared to her classmates who are up to a year older, she seems behind. If they sent lines home for my dd to do, I would refuse to do them with her and tell the teacher this.. don't think they would do this at my dd's school though

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paddingtonbear1 · 10/09/2008 20:46

I think the teacher does target the work to their current level, to a certain degree. I took dd to the park this afternoon, and only happened to look in her book bag after tea as it's not a normal homework day. She has a comment in her English book 'you need to work quicker in class', and the book was sent home as she'd not managed to finish her word copying. It wasn't that much tbh so maybe I am worrying over nothing, but I guess I wasn't expecting it so soon - this is extra to her normal reading and homework. They are also supposed to join up writing, which of course she can't do.
Not sure anyone has actually had lines yet but I know it does happen - someone I know said about their ds, who also struggled to write, he got lines and missed playtime for over a week as it took him so long! It put him off writing for a few months after. Just hope dd isn't naughty...
I don't know if this is normal in schools as I don't have experience of any others!

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paddingtonbear1 · 10/09/2008 20:48

molly yes dd's reception teacher said she was bright enough, but she's always been 'young' for her age. She had glue ear for half of reception which might not have helped, but that has improved now.

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slayerette · 10/09/2008 20:59

This is so

I can't imagine lines being set in Yr 1 - I have a ds in Yr 1 and would be furious if he was set lines! To be honest, I would want to discuss differentiation with the class teacher; telling your dd she needs to work more quickly is not remotely helpful for a 5 yr old. The teacher should be making sure that the work she sets takes the differing abilities of the class into account.

Can you approach it in that way? - ask her how she differentiates her lessons to ensure that your dd doesn't get discouraged and continues to make good progress with carrot and not stick?

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LynetteScavo · 10/09/2008 21:08

My ds has just gone into year one. He's still on stage 2 ORT, and is an April b'day. I extreamly happy when he comes home and tells me he hasn't done any reading and writting, just playing.It's a wonderful school, whith an excellent Ofsted report and manages greats SATs (although I dont' actually rate either of those )
I would be hoffified if I thought he would be made to do lines, or told to work quicker.

She obviously knows what is good for her if she just wants to play.

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pudding25 · 10/09/2008 21:53

I am a yr 1 teacher. Totally in at lines in Yr 1. I always worry about my teaching but the more I read about what other teachers are up to on here, the better I feel!!!

First of all, it is only the second week of term. The teacher should be getting to know the children and settling them gently into yr1 which is quite a big jump from reception. What is the point of writing 'she needs to work quicker' in her book when she can't even read it and why send it home? If she can't write quickly at the moment, then the teacher needs to give her appropriate work. Get her to write one word properly to start with. Draw a picture that matches the word.
As for joined up writing in Yr 1???? We don't even begin that at our school until after half term in yr 2. They need to know how to form letters correctly before joining them up.
we have to give homework at our school. I hate it. I can always tell if a child has got their parents to do it and it is much better for me to see what they do in class. We only give it once a week in Yr 1. The only homework I feel they should get is a reading book.
Have a word with the teacher to see what her take on this is.

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pudding25 · 10/09/2008 21:56

Also wanted to add that stage 2 ORT at the beginning of yr 1 is pretty bog standard. I have always had many children who start the yr on stage 2 and improve in leaps and bounds throughout the year. Don't worry.

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SmugColditz · 10/09/2008 21:56

I would go in to see the teacher and make it abundantly clear that she will not be doing any homework set, as it is impeding her emotional development.

Then don't make her do it. Making five year olds do homework is lazy lazy teaching.

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PavlovtheCat · 10/09/2008 21:58

That is awful.

I personally would not make her do 'lines' if she got them at her age! She is too young! I would also not make her do homework if she is not ready for that much work!

Oh dear, I might home ed DD!

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paddingtonbear1 · 10/09/2008 22:12

Lynette your school sounds great, dd would love it there!
dd's school is what I'd call a 'high achieving' state school. dd's half term reports in reception always said she was below 'their standard', which if you read the small print said this 'standard' is above the national average. Her rec teacher did like her though and always found good things to say.
pudding you sound like a lovely teacher! I agree with you about homework. Alas dd gets 1 english a week, 1 maths (mental arithmetic apparently, starts this week), and of course her reading. I did ask about this and the response was, 'the parents wanted it'. well I don't! I did try not finishing homework in reception, the teacher put a 'please finish this' comment in.
I don't think I did joined up writing until I was about 7!
Think I will need to speak to the teacher, yes.

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pudding25 · 10/09/2008 22:14

The teacher probably does not have any choice but to give homework. Most schools have a homework policy and teachers have to stick to it or they get into trouble. However, sending unfinished work home is a different matter.

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paddingtonbear1 · 10/09/2008 22:15

Pavlov don't worry, not all schools are like this!
If she did get lines she'd be made to do them at school, in break time. I think I would sneak in and do them myself

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PavlovtheCat · 10/09/2008 22:17

paddington - i would not want my child to do lines in her break, thats what it means - a break! .

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CarGirl · 10/09/2008 22:18

paddington my dd3 is an August baby and is unimpressed with year 1 and the complete lack of play during school hours!!! Her writing is interesting, she loves doing mirror writing (ie backwards) I hope her teacher does not even dare try and get my dd to do more work etc etc etc because I would be in there saying that providing she is well behaved in class/school I do not CARE what she is achieving academically and I will not have them tell her she isn't good/fast/neat enough at the age of 5 (or ever perhaps???)

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paddingtonbear1 · 10/09/2008 22:38

dd doesn't dislike school but she is definitely fed up with the lack of play. Her timetable now is very formal. She has a great imagination and prefers to use this, and do arts and crafts - she loves drawing. Her letter formation isn't too bad but her concentration has never been great (unless it's arty things), she tends to need someone on her case which I guess is hard in yr 1!
I remember the battles we had with homework last year, we had to bribe her to do it! I knew this year was going to be hard for her, I sometimes wonder if we even chose the right school.

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CarGirl · 10/09/2008 22:44

paddington she does sound alot like my dd3 who gets very sbsorbed in what she's doing and is a "finisher" but only in her selected interests - art & craft & drawing. My dds school tries to focus on nurturing & caring but has above average SATS results but tbh I think SATS are a waste of time how they are at 7 is not a reflection of how they will do at 15/16!

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seeker · 10/09/2008 22:44

paddingtonbear1 - can you move her? It sounds horrible. I would (and I know it's easy for me to sit here and pontificate!)absolutely refuse to let her do any extra work and DEFINITELY not let her do lines. She sounds fine - lots of children can;t write much in year 1 and ORT 2 is pretty much OK for this age as well.

I know it's hard but your dd's education is a service that you pay for. Don't be intimidated by the school - complain if you're not happy. You would complain to your hairdresser or your accountant, wouldn't you? Same goes for schools!

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paddingtonbear1 · 10/09/2008 22:48

dd's school is supposed to be 'child focused' but I don't see much evidence so far. They have an outstanding ofsted and numerous awards, (which the head pointed out to us very proudly), but I am fast coming to understand that these things are not all they are cracked up to be!

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paddingtonbear1 · 10/09/2008 22:50

seeker I am rubbish at complaining, but I think I will have to become less rubbish!
I am not sure about moving her yet, she has some good friends there, her classmates are great, I was going to see how it went up until Xmas. If she seems unhappy (or gets lines!) I may well think again.

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smartiejake · 10/09/2008 23:17

Lines in year 1!!!

Way to put a child off writing! This makes me SOOOOOO MAD.

  1. Children should still be playing at this age.
  2. The activities they do in school should be suitable for their ability and stage of emotional development.

    Sounds to me like a very lazy teacher who can't be bothered to plan work on more than one level.

    Write a letter to the teacher and the head stating that you will support your dd with reading, you will talk to her, play with her, cook with her, spend time with her as these are the MOST important activities you can do with her at this age. Say you will not be prepared to follow up any class work at home as she finds it to distressing and it is detrimental to her learning. Say you do not expect her to be given lines for homework not done.

    Also state that any lines given will result in a letter to the governers and if necessary ofsted.
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smartiejake · 10/09/2008 23:18

P.S. she sounds like she is doing absolutely fine especially for a summer born who is only just 5.

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