to consider a tutor for dc who is working at a year below ?

[SeptemberFlowers]

DH and I had a meeting with dd's teacher today and we expressed concern that she was working below her year level.

The teacher agreed and said pretty much in all areas that dd was working at the year below. DD is working in the lowest set for all areas and she is aware of it. She is an avid reader though and enjoys reading stories every night.

We have suggested a tutor however her teacher felt this was perhaps not the best idea and just to keep with current concepts over the summer and said he would be happy to provide some extra resources and pointers.

I understand where he is coming from however we both feel that DD would benefit from a tutor over the summer months to help her prepare for the next year. As I'm conscious that the more she moves up at school the bigger the gap will get. The school have put steps in place for her so she doesn't fall behind further and the gap doesn't widen but I'm just thinking surely we can help her get that bit of extra help to help bring her up to be working at an average level ?

She is quite an anxious child and is getting a bit upset at the thought of being so behind and 'different' to her peers.

[RubbleBubble00]

Mine love iPad apps and have brought do maths on so much. I would schedule half an hour every day iPad time, sit together and do puzzles.

dc1 did a phonics app and maths app through reception and yr1 every night and it put him ahead in his class after a slow start.

[Kariana]

I thought she was going to be 12 not 6! Absolutely not to a summer tutor at that age. The teacher is right (I'ma former teacher of KS1 as well) An August born girl of that age is more likely to catch up over the next couple of years anyway, particularly if she is a good, enthusiastic reader. It's way to early in her schooling to worry. Let her enjoy her summer, recharge her batteries (they need this at her age so much!) and start refreshed in September having spent the summer enjoying her childhood which she will never get back! If she's still a long way behind going into year 6 that's when you should consider tutoring.

[Newtothis2017]

I am in Ireland and my dd1 started junior infants last September. By Christmas she wasn't keeping up with the other girls in her class for reading and sounds. I got a tutor to come twice a week from January. Best decision ever. She has caught up and on a par with her classmates. She is thriving in school now and her teacher is delighted with her progress and the support we have given her at home by doing this. Her teacher is excellent but with 20 kids in a class there was only so much time she could give. I would say if you can afford it do it!

[LittleReindeerwithcloggson]

My DD was behind at end of year 2 but will finish year 3 where she should be partly through work we did with her ourselves. I would advise the following over the summer:

Sign her up to libraries reading challenge (they get sticker and medal) which makes reading fun.

Install Hit The Button app - great fun for learning times tables and kids love trying to beat their own score

Get her to make a summer holiday scrapbook about places she's been with some writing in. Kids love sticking (and she won't realise she's improving handwriting, learning punctuation etc)

Get her a watch to help with time and also have fun doing silly things like how many peas can everyone pick up with a straw in a minute etc. Draw tables/bar charts with results.
Helps Maths and time telling immensely!

My personal opinion is that a tutor is best saved until much later on