To be really pissed of with the school

[Nornironmum]

Ds is 5, 6 in April and is one of the youngest in his class.
He is in primary 2. We had him tested privately a few months ago for dyslexia as it runs in my family, myself my brother and my father all have it. Turns out ds is not dyslexic, and has above average intelligence according to the report.
We have no concerns about behavior and neither does the school. He reads very well but struggles a lot with writing. His spelling is fantastic I tested him tonight and he got 24 out of 25 words correct, writing and spelling them all alone.
Anyway the issue is he goes to a special help teacher for one hour a day with a small group of others, and gets reading books home, along with the same books the rest of his class are reading also, ie the weekly reading books, Oxford reading stage 5. He has no problems with reading this at all.
He gets a book from the "special help" teacher which is only one or 2 words per page and this week it's the same book he has had 3 times before.
He was crying tonight saying he didn't want to read the baby book, and why can he not go to the library with the rest of his class once a week and pick a free reader book to take home.
He is not allowed to do this as he gets the "special reading book" home and they think its too much.
He is reading " the magic finger" at home with me and doing very well, he needs help with some words etc, so I know he is capable and his teacher said his reading is above average. So why is he made to read these "baby books" as he calls them, it's really putting him off reading and it's embarrassing him that he can't pick a book like the rest if the class. He asked me tonight if he was stupid, and keeps asking why he has to go to the "special help teacher". I know his writing needs help, so I tell him this, but it's making him feel terrible and he said the rest of his class are teasing them as they can't go to the library and pick.
Would I be unreasonable to ask to speak to the " special help teacher " as we'll as his own? I have written in the dairy that I feel the books are counterproductive too basic and putting ds off reading and could she give me a call please. I just don't want to be one of those parents but I really can't see how he can read what the rest of the class are reading and then get these basic books for extra reading, I just want this teaching method explained to me.
Thanks

You just need to ask these questions to his "special help teacher".

I called it that because that is what ds calls her. And the teacher calls her that also. That's why I put it in brackets I hate the name, but bar stating the teachers name on here what else can I call her?

I wouldnt be pissed off but I would go and have a chat with the teacher. It sounds like something that can be sorted out very easily if you communicate your concerns.

Agree that you should to talk to the "special help teacher" to get the teaching method explained.

Well, you should speak to his teacher. She/he won't know unless you tell them. They don't listen to my dd read anymore now she is in yr1 so they won't know how he is coping.

You shouldn't be worried about ensuring your ds doesn't get 'put off' reading. It is important.

WSS. You need to find out what is happening. Does he do writing tasks at the same time as reading (ie within the hour slot?) Maybe they write about that book. I don't know. Ask the teachers and hopefully you will get the answers you need but I wouldn't get to worked up about it.

UANBU! contact the school straight away before he is further put off reading. I am biased as I love kids books. (Story time in the school I work at is ALWASY my session;-) )
What work does he bring home to show he's being given work to Improve his writing skills if these are the skills that need developing?
Statistically (I hate statistics) boys tire of reading earlier than girls with few choosing to read or enjoyment as they get older so if he enjoys it he should be encouraged. If he's in special help, does he have an IEP for that lesson - ask to see it so you can see where his teacher is going with the session.

Have you communicated to the school your concerns about dyslexia? Why was he put in that group? Have you said before that the book is too easy? Why so angry if you haven't told them any of your concerns?

Hi, I'm in Norn Iron too.
I'd speak to the teacher, and tell her your concerns that it's putting him off reading. When is your next parent teacher meeting, do you see them both together at that? Does he have an IEP?
We often wondered if they needed to keep up the numbers for the "Special Needs Teacher" to secure ongoing funding, although I was in the opposite situation to you and couldn't get DS seen by her.

I don't think they do much writing at all in the lesson. His writing is bit great we do lots of work on that at home, but it's not really improving.
I have written endless notes in the reading dairy about this also and the teacher has never came back to me about this.
She is hard to get hold of, as takes small groups from each year group all day.
I just don't think the "special help" class is helping him at all, it's just knocking his confidence

Surely the writing and the reading are different things anyway. DS2 is also five and also one of the youngest in his class (end of June). He also goes to the special support teacher for writing since his writing is not where it should be. But his reading is great and he is on stage 12 and so he's still progressing normally with that.

I don't understand why in your DSs case they are holding back his reading because of difficulties with his writing.

Yes the school know he was tested. His teacher and I were very surprised he wasn't dyslexic to be honest. But he is not, I still think he may be, but just too young to tell. I paid £500 to be told that he shows no indicators though so will have to trust that report for now.
I just pissed off its the same book 3 times since November and I have commented on it each time. It's really one or two words per page, why is he getting stage 5 books home if this is all he can manage? My 3 year old could read these books, really basic books. It's just making him feel stupid, why can't he pick free readers with the rest of the class?

I think you should request a meeting with both teachers present. If you are willing to go in at an awkward ime (like the middle of the day rather than at pick up drop off) I dont think it should be difficult to arrange.

Dont make him read the book if its easy and he has read it three times. Write in the diary has had the book before so read 'The Magic Finger' instead. When dd was getting the same blooming books over and over again and hating it I wrote that and as I gt more irritated starting writing 'Had this book previously on x date and y date so read something vaguely interesting instead'

special teacher obviously has wrong end of the stick. You need to speak to her. Have his oxford reading tree book, and his bbay book with you so you cna show her and ask why.

I assume she is supposed to be helping with writing, not reading

OP just go in and tell them what you've said here. My DD aged 8 was very like your DS,,,,she was on reading cards for ages when all her friends had books.

She's now got a reading age of 12...tears through them....I had to go in and have a moan at one point as she was so bored by what they were giving her.

Having said that, her writing took ages to catch up....she still has help now...not because she's way behind but because her reading and writing don't match up.

I'm happy she has the help.

Why waste your energy being pissed off? Can't a discussion with the school solve this?

like littleducks, I write things like that in the reading record.

I'd ask for a meeting with the class teacher before trying to find the 'special' teacher. Class teacher should always be the first port of call with any concerns, especially as it is likely to be her decision whether he goes to these special classes or to the library.

Do you know anything about this special teacher? Is she a teacher or a TA? Is there any other possible reason that the class teacher might prefer to have you ds away from the rest of the class during library sessions, as in is there a chance he's disruptive in class?

No he is not disruptive at all, at his last patents meeting husctescger told us his behavior was fantastic. I know it is he is very well behaved at home and always was.
He has a short attention span though, he needs you to stand over him when he is working and obv the teacher can't go this.
The report said he has a slight attention deficit which is age related and will sort it's self out over time and Is self regulatory.
He is lazy too, often forgets things like coat and hat etc, very disorganized but very creative. All of these and more things are the reason we thought he was dyslexic but the report argues this is not the case it's just he is young for his age and young in his year group and a boy. The physiologist kept taking about Switzerland and how we would be better off letting kids be kids until they are 6 and not start formal education and he just thought the school were expecting too much.
I do agree but the rest of his class can manage fine.
I'm asking to speak to his teacher ASAP and will tell her our concerns and ask her why he goes exactly if its for writing then can he please have the same reading books as the rest of his class and be allowed to choose a free reader. Also asking to see more written work he does in school without me standing over him.
Thanks everyone

Just don't read the book. Read whatever you want at home. Go and talk to the teacher.