Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Dd 6 struggling to read. Should I pay for help.

30 replies

Elfontheshelfiswatchingyoutoo · 04/12/2018 21:49

It's not clicking and she's in year 1. I'm worried about her falling behind.
The thing is she won't read with us. We have tried every which way, and she struggles. She still makes silly mistakes eg sounding word out but then saying the last few letters eg bedroom, room.

I'm wondering is there people for this age we could try and get her to read with who may have other strategies. Maybe phonics isn't working for her.

Or... Should I not worry yet...

OP posts:
Bluemascara4 · 04/12/2018 22:21

Hi!

My DS is 7 and was a read refuser up until now. He had extra help at school ( state).

He's just about got to grips with it but still struggles with some words .

Have you spoken to your child's teacher / have they flagged it as an issue ?

Original poster
Elfontheshelfiswatchingyoutoo · 04/12/2018 22:29

Only reluctantly, they said she gets extra support at school.

I don't think phonics is working for her. Teacher wasn't worried but I am. She's not getting it.

I think a different tactic is needed. I heard there are 2 different types and even then some dc don't like it.

OP posts:
Seniorschoolmum · 04/12/2018 22:31

It’s still pretty early to worry.
I’d focus on reading with her. Find some books that she likes so much, she can’t wait to find out what happens next. (Thank god for Harry Potter) Smile

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

6 year olds Families General education Primary education
madmum5811 · 04/12/2018 22:33

Just read stories to her every night. I bought the Peter and Jane book set and we worked our way through that. Did not mention it to the school. So we did a bit of reading that then a couple of lovely stories every night. No pressure. It is lovely to cuddle up together on the bed last thing.

Original poster
Elfontheshelfiswatchingyoutoo · 04/12/2018 22:34

I don't find that she's so mad about stories like her older dc. She doesn't like story cads either to go to sleep too!

"
She does enjoy certain books, she knows bear off by heart

OP posts:
Original poster
Elfontheshelfiswatchingyoutoo · 04/12/2018 22:35

Peter and Jane were great.

Maybe I will try and track some down.

OP posts:
Bluemascara4 · 04/12/2018 22:36

Yes, any topic she's currently into is a good starting point .

If it's long ( more words than pictures!) we do a sentence each .

I think all children just open their boxes at different times if you see what I mean . Mine walked early but was non verbal until 3 . He finds maths easy and loved it but struggled with comprehension.

I think reading ( either to her or small amounts with her ) daily for even ten mins helps .

She will be fine x

Original poster
Elfontheshelfiswatchingyoutoo · 04/12/2018 22:57

I've just ordered the Peter and Jane flashcards and the frequent words Peter and Jane.
. Not sure what all the 2a stuff is but will give them a go.

We are not short for easy to read books, we have hundreds from older sibling but nothing like simple, large print... Peter and Jane.

OP posts:
madmum5811 · 04/12/2018 23:11

You can get some blue tac and put the flash cards up somewhere and make a game of reading them.

Girlsnightin · 04/12/2018 23:34

I always thought phonics was a load of rubbish, and at home followed how I was taught to read. Normal alphabet and reading small words and building up. It did mean DC had to do phonics at school and different at home, but DC were very, very quick to pick up reading and have continued to be ahead of age group for reading.

Girlsnightin · 04/12/2018 23:37

Also read copious amounts of Julia Donaldson for the rhythm and natural flow of the words. Build up from you reading everything to them shouting out the last word, to taking it in turn with sentences. Etc.
But read every night together at bedtime, make it your time and reading will not feel like an enforced chore.

LBOCS2 · 04/12/2018 23:37

DD (also y1) was not a reader until about two weeks ago, and now all of a sudden she 'gets' it. I think it clicks at different times for different children, as long as the teacher isn't concerned I'd just keep at it tbh.

Redyoyo · 04/12/2018 23:47

Join the local library and let her pick any books she wants, my dd receives extra help at school but shes not getting it and is in primary 3, however there has been a vast improvement since we joined and let her choose her own books.
We now don't read the school reading books at home as she has them all memorised, so we use the library ones.

llangennith · 05/12/2018 00:40

All children learn differently. I taught my three to read very easily, before they started school, with the Peter and Jane books. Flash cards then sounding out and decoding words.

DGS hated reading, goodness knows how school managed to teach him to read. He's in top reading group of Yr6 and top of everything else. Still hates reading and still a mystery to us how school managed it.

Girlsnightin · 05/12/2018 07:30

Agree with the pp regarding library. We do library every week. The books are far better to light a joy of reading than the school reading books. Bloody Kipper is enough to put anyone off!

bookmum08 · 05/12/2018 07:44

Comics are often less 'scary' than a book.
Subtitles on when watching TV can help.
Non fiction books can be good - there are loads of books like Lol Dolls Character Guides (or whatever toy/interests she has) or cook books or craft books where she has to read instructions.
Get her to see that reading isn't always about a story that you have to read from beginning to end.

Sirzy · 05/12/2018 07:49

Encourage her to enjoy books. If she isn’t into fiction look at non fiction. Or comics?

I really wouldn’t go down the flash cards line that’s much more likely to turn reading into a battle and a chore which won’t help

anniehm · 05/12/2018 08:05

Reading at home really pays off, buy some books that they are more interested in. Otherwise it's worth checking out your local dyslexia association and whether they do tutoring

KnittingSister · 05/12/2018 08:12

We liked Oxford reading tree (even bloody kipper!) But hated New Way books,so maybe try a different reading scheme?

BigSandyBalls2015 · 05/12/2018 08:13

6 is still quite young. I've got twins and one could read when she started reception, the other didn't click until about 7, I remember being concerned like you are.

Both did well in GCSEs with very little difference in grades.

TroyKing · 05/12/2018 08:16

I found that my daughter was very competitive to be able to do what her big brother could and when she was small she wanted him (almost 3 years older than her) to read to him and point out the words

She learnt much quicker with him than she did with me or at school.

Kezzie200 · 05/12/2018 08:29

This is what we did with our son who turned out to be severely dyslexic (rbut dont worry hes 21 now and has done fantastically since college)

Still read but get her audio books so her access to stories keeps up with her maturity. See if she would qualify to join Listening Books. Dont stress. Allow her to read the easier books she needs but dont make her do more: more must come from her. Consider if its worth having a colorimetry test at a specialist optician for glasses or overlays if dyslexia is a possibility.

Dont stress. That will only make it harder for her.

Also, how behind is she? If its a few months then it might just be the way she is now.

CoraPirbright · 05/12/2018 08:42

What you need is ‘Toe by Toe’. It’s a book that you do for 10 mins everyday and strips you right back to A-Buh-Cuh and had my dyslexic son reading ‘psychoanalyst’ with ease on the last page. Pretty tough going but it does work.

Lulumush · 05/12/2018 08:55

I agree with all of the above. Reading to her nightly will make it more relaxed for her - Julia Donaldson books are fun. And we also joined our local library which is tiny and really kid friendly. My two love it. We are often the only ones in there and they head straight for the children zone and sit and read books that they choose while I browse. It's really nice and is a different way of encouraging them in a relaxed environment. Good luck.