To be feeling so upset about DD failing year 1 phonics screening

[whoneedssleepanyway]

Got a note from Dd's teacher today that she failed the phonics screening test she wanted to let us know before we got her end of term report. She got 29/42.

Feel so upset, DD thought she did well (she obv doesn't know and I won't tell her). Her teacher said in her note that her reading is within level for year 1.

i work and am always worrying I don't have enough time to read witH Dd and do her homework and it just feels like this is reiterating this and I feel like I am letting her down.

Tell me this test doesn't mean anything :-(

Is this phonics test carried out in special schools as well as mainstream schools? This is the first I've heard of it!

So if they failed it last year, should they have done it again this year? If my son has, nobody has told me about it. I would expect him to pass this year;

My dd (10) is useless at phonics and can't spell worth beans. However she was recently assessed as reading at the level of an 18 year old.

Mumsyblouse - unfortunately standardised national testing has been introduced recently, although no league ables yet. I don't think that there is the level of angst about them as there seems to be about SATs though.

NZ's education system isn't all milk and honey, whilst our too and middle do very well when compared internationally, we do have a long tail.

Ignore the test results. Do try and support your DD 4 or 5 times a week to read though. I know it's hard to squeeze it in what with working. But just 10 or 15 mins does make a difference.

It's a screening, and it shows she needs more support in the specific skill of decoding. It's not a reading test.

Have the school yet informed you what support they will be offering?

Honestly, like others have said it's a load of tosh and that test shouldn't even be done!!!

Don't be upset, don't worry, she's year 1!!! I also wouldn't tell dd about the result :)

Hi whoneeds. Please do not worry.

I am a teacher and this week, I administered the phonics screen to all our Year 1s and the Year 2s who did not meet the benchmark of 32 out of 40 last year. I also administered last year's screen.

I will not bore you with my views on this particular assessment for such young children. But I have a few points to add.

Firstly, scoring 29 is fine. Maybe your dd confused a couple of the digraphs (such as or, ar, oy, oi). No problem. Her teacher can easily address any confusions over the next few weeks.

Your daughter will take the screen again in Year 2 in all likelihood. Again no problem, as she will meet the benchmark next year.

There is also evidence that higher ability readers do sometimes score slightly lower because they automatically search for meaning. For example, "osk" being read as "ask" which is scored as incorrect.

The school should simply continue teaching phonics into Year 2, as they would be doing anyway. This is likely to be Phase 5 phonics (or equivalent if your DDs school follow a different program).

Keep reading with your daughter as often as you can. As a parent as well as a teacher, I would only be concerned if a child was scoring below 15 in Year 1 (or didn't meet the 32 benchmark when reassessed in Year 2 despite 3 years of phonics teaching).

Enjoy reading with your dd.

Oh, forgot to add. The school is legally obliged to infirm you of the score. So the teacher was probably just trying to give you the heads up.

Inform!

DD1 failed too...she is really happy though as her teacher for phonics told her she did really well (she is in the bottom phonics group and did better than expected) she got 25.

DM has tested her reading and emotional age (DM is an ex teacher so has lots of her old tests at home) and DD1 got age 6 on each test, so I am not too worried. Her school will test again next year, but if they fail again they don't re test for a third time.

so 80% to 'pass' and she got 70% - just a little more learning and practise to go, not an epic fail where she doesnlt get it at all.

You work hard so you can pay bills, feed her, clothe her, give her fun and treats - this is worht just as much. I feel the opposite at the moment as I liost my job and I feel she is getting sick of just me instead of after school club that she lioved three times a week. I feel bad cos I can;t do more 'stuff' with her! but I remember this time last year feeling like you did - we are born to feel guilty....

Assessment when used well is about finding out the bits kids need help with and that what your school has done and it souds liek teacher is good and cares. And that yo care too which is MASSIVE ad much more important than one ltitle test