Reception Year and NOT reading yet - anyone else?

[ksld]

I have just been looking through several Reception year reading level threads and worrying myself more and more. DS is summer born still just 4 and has not even started on any reading scheme yet. He can write and decode 3 letter words, and sometimes knows some tricky words but quickly forgets them.

I know he is behind a bit, but surely he is not the only one? Anyone else got a non reading child? Will he have lots of problems as he goes into Y1? Should I be teaching him to read?

[izyboy]

Mine doesnt read at all or write. He is learning through the medium of welsh tho which is his second language. His teachers are not at all concerned and feel it will all click into place in the next year or so. The important thing is to keep your DS's self esteem high and praise him for what he can do.

[2009]

Mine is also still 4 and can just about make out things like 'hat, 'cat' etc but not much else. Teacher does not seem worried, says it is quite common for the younger ones and it will come etc, and she has plenty of experience.
Difficult not to worry however, especially when the school send home a list of 100 words which they expect them to be able to read and write when they go into Year 1. The list includes words such as 'about'

[throckenholt]

don't think that is unusual for boys - particularly summer born. Mine didn't really get going with reading until the spring term of year 2 (before that is was painful for all concerned ). He is now in year 3 and reads quite confidently and often reads of his own volition at home (something I thought he would never do 2 years ago !).

As long as he is making progress - in however small steps - I wouldn't worry yet.

[TBCoalman]

I've written about this before, but neither of my August born boys could read until well into year one. I worried, but they had fab teachers who were not at all concerned.

FWIW, both my boys were free readers and sitting on the top table by the end of year one.

I read somewhere (where?) that reading with your child for at least 10 minutes a day can help to massively improve their learning, even if they are not reading themselves. Just listening to you read will improve their vocabulary and sentence structure.

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

My DD couldn't read anything reliably at all in reception and for the first term of Year 1. Then over the course of the two week Christmas Holiday it was as if someone had turned on a reading switch and she was getting through those Daisy Meadow books on her own and in Year 2 was one of the top readers in her class.

I have a younger DS who is currently in reception and learned in a completely different way, much more gradual. I guess it shows really well how different each child is.

For now I would just focus on making sure he enjoys sharing books with you and being read to, he will get there.

[francagoestohollywood]

Ds didn't learn to read in reception. They are 4, they shouldn't be expected to learn to read. Most children aren't just ready at 4.

[funnypeculiar]

My little brother didn't read properly until he was nearly 7. Then could read fluently pretty much overnight - I know that sounds unbelievable, but my mum is a reception class teacher & my dad is a child psychologist, so I suspect there is a reasonable amount of truth in it
Aparently there is some bit of the brain that needs to kick in before they can start decoding well - can't remember what it is (helpfully!) but it tends to kick in later for boys than girls. One of the reasons why the US/Scandinavian model of not teaching too much formal reading until 7 can be popular in academic circles.

That said, I can't see that it would hurt for you to spend time with him & a book - both encouraging him to read, and reading to him - few games like read every other word/page can make it feel less pressurised. Assume you're doing phonics? How is he on his phonic sounds?

[bigchris]

my ds is in reception, was 5 in April, and can't read. he can recognise several words like Dad and cat but can't read the stage one floppy books.
I think yr 1 might coem as a bit of a shock for him

[mloo]

He doesn't sound behind to me, ksid. He sounds quite average.
What you describe for your ds is about the same as ds1 at this point in reception.
DS1 is now on the G&T list for literacy (yr4).

DS2 is reading a bit better at this point in reception, but not by miles. I feel that DS2 is quite amazing!!

[forehead]

I have posted on another thread regarding reading levels for reception children. I personally believe that it is important for a child to read as soon as possible. Having worked as a parent helper at dd's school, i have witnessed first hand the problems many children encounter when entering year 1 as non readers. Many of the children have low self esteem. I accept that there are some children who leave reception being unable to read who then begin to flourish academically. I do however believe that a child has a better experience of school if they can read. I know that they are very young but that is the system. My summer born ds is 4 in August and i am already teaching him how to read. He is a very shy child and i believe that he would be at a disadvantage if he did not learn to read in reception. Teach your child how to read and do not rely on schools. Ignore all those who say that 5 is too young to learn to read, Just ten minutes a day will do. I use Jolly Phonics and high frequency words to teach my DC's. It is not rocket science.

[TBCoalman]

I remember the teacher saying (after much pressing), that DS wasn't at all behind, rather that 'some of the other children are just very advanced'.

It's hard not to worry though, I do remember.

[OrmIrian]

The only one of mine that was reading in reception was DS#2 - now in Yr1. The other 2 weren't really reading until well into Yr1. DD is now in Yr5 and her literacy is al Level 5 (ie top level for yr6). I really wouldn't worry. It will come. Keep encouraging and practising.

[Fimbo]

My ds is in reception and can read the odd word or two if he is in the mood to do so. My dd wasn't reading until the end of Year 1.

Thanks for that post forehead

[OrmIrian]

Bugger me! Rocket science is a piece of piss compared the the complexity of learning to read, forehead. At the same time as learning all the other things 4 and 5 yr olds need to know.

[goblincandoa5k]

I work in a Y1 class and believe me there can be massive differences between the children - especially the summer born boys.

From what i have seen, most will naturally 'click' sometime during this year and off they go. For others, they should be identified and provided with the extra help that they currently require. This will vary as their reading skills are aquired.

ksld have you spoken to his teacher? She should be your first port of call. She may have phonic games that you can both play at home - phonic snakes and ladders is always a hit

Going into Y1 should not give him problems. The work should be set at a level that he can complete.

hth

[goblincandoa5k]

duh

acquired

I can spell, honest !

[francagoestohollywood]

Believe it or not forehead for many pedagogic experts for is to early to learn to read. And of course you'll have low self esteem if people try to teach you something you are not ready to learn. But I accept that this is not a popular view in the UK, so I rest my case.

[francagoestohollywood]

four, not for

[francagoestohollywood]

too

[throckenholt]

if you do decide to try and teach him to read at home make sure you use the same methods as school so you don't confuse him. And accept that it may be very slow - be very patient (not something I managed to be honest) and try and make it fun. If you can't do that - then I think it is best to leave it to school.

As I said before - DS1 learning to read was painful for him and us - it has been much easier for all concerned with DS2&3. No idea why - just different children with different brain wiring. DS1 now (at nearly 8) reads fairly fluently and more importantly enjoys it, and is gaining confidence.

[ksld]

Thanks for all the replies from people in the same boat - like TBCoalman says it is hard not to worry when you can see a lot of the class racing ahead with it all.

The teacher says he IS behind goblin, but only behind as expected IFYSWIM as he is Summer born and started reception in January. She seems happy he will catch up eventually. He loves books and being read to, but finds reading dull as he is just reading words, without any comprehension of the story, so is reluctant to do any reading at home.

My main worry really is that he goes into a mixed year group next year, so will be with 15 Y2s who presumably will be able to read. As he is starting the year 'behind' the bulk of his peer group, and surely far 'behind' children who are (some of them) nearly 2 years older, he will just be left completely behind with learning. He already has pretty low self-esteem, and I don't want schooling to become something else he feels he 'doesn't do very well'.