Six year old just learned to write a sentence.

clairemaddox · 2022-04-30T10:38:05+00:00

I would like to gauge an idea of whether my six year old needs more work or not. She has been concentrating on sums and learning how to write. She just turned six and she wrote 'i got a bag' on her own without help. This is the first sentence she has written all by herself in her book unaided. I know every child is different, but is this "behind" or not?

Thesearmsofmine · 30/04/2022 11:39

It’s really not healthy to compare your child with others on the internet. Is your child at school? If so ask their teacher how they are progressing.

x2boys · 30/04/2022 11:43

This is Mumsnet people will be telling you,their two year old is writing essays and reading novels
How does your child's teacher think they are doing?

JurasicPerks · 30/04/2022 11:44

Current 6 year olds (Y1?) have had very disrupted start to school. I wouldn't expect comparisons with previous 6 year olds to be valid.

Are the teachers happy with her progress?

Rummikub · 30/04/2022 11:44

Don’t compare. Encourage and praise and let her enjoy learning.
my dd1 started reception without being able to write her name. Didn’t read till part way through year 1. Still can’t tell the time but got top grades in A levels.

Sprogonthetyne · 30/04/2022 11:47

DS is in reception, but is one of the older ones, so only 5 months younger then your DD. This is about the level he is at, and he seems pretty average (not especially ahead or behind). I think the fact she's writing of her own accord is fantastic, and shows she enjoys what she's doing. That enjoyment of writing is far more important at that age then capability.

Original poster

clairemaddox · 30/04/2022 11:47

I am her teacher, she is home educated.

If she is not where she should be I would like to know so I can help her improve.

I have focused on the very basics with a view to her learning how to use "tools" as it were to count, add, subtract, and really hammered the letters in and now she is starting to use that all on her own.

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Original poster

clairemaddox · 30/04/2022 11:47

Sprogonthetyne · 30/04/2022 11:47

DS is in reception, but is one of the older ones, so only 5 months younger then your DD. This is about the level he is at, and he seems pretty average (not especially ahead or behind). I think the fact she's writing of her own accord is fantastic, and shows she enjoys what she's doing. That enjoyment of writing is far more important at that age then capability.

Thank you for this answer :) xx

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FairyCakeWings · 30/04/2022 11:47

If she’s just turned six, then I assume she’s in Y1?

Honestly, we would expect much more than that for a child to be at the expected standard at this stage in Y1. You can Google the expected standards to see what the government expects children to be able to do by this stage, but the most important thing you can do is talk to your child’s teacher. The progress that your child is making is more important than what they’re capable of.

Whatsmyname100 · 30/04/2022 11:50

I do think that's honestly a bit behind. My ds is also Y1 (5.5yo) and he is writing full paragraphs, this is normal compared to his peers. I think you should speak to her teacher to get a good idea where she should be and then you have an idea how to support her.

Thesearmsofmine · 30/04/2022 11:52

OP I home educate and really there is no set place they should be. You don’t need to compare her to children who are in school unless you particularly want to follow the curriculum, let her learn at her own pace and develop a love for learning. It’s a huge benefit of home education that you can follow the lead of your child and watching them progress.
Are you involved in your local home educating groups?

CinnamonJellyBeans · 30/04/2022 11:53

Why is she home educated? Are you her only teacher?

Original poster

clairemaddox · 30/04/2022 11:53

Whatsmyname100 · 30/04/2022 11:50

I do think that's honestly a bit behind. My ds is also Y1 (5.5yo) and he is writing full paragraphs, this is normal compared to his peers. I think you should speak to her teacher to get a good idea where she should be and then you have an idea how to support her.

Thank you very much for this helpful answer.

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Thesearmsofmine · 30/04/2022 11:54

Just to add my own dc range in age from 6-11. At 6 the 11 yea Rolf barely wrote, hated it but now at 11 he writes beautifully.

Apricote · 30/04/2022 11:54

If she is home educated she doesn't have to learn it by a certain time. Just keep practising with her, keep her enthusiasm up, and she will get it as she's ready. The blessing of home ed is you don't have to hit the government's targets about when your child should be doing what. The hard part is that the responsibility is yours and of course it can be anxious. Do you have a network/ go to any groups?

Original poster

clairemaddox · 30/04/2022 11:54

Thesearmsofmine · 30/04/2022 11:52

OP I home educate and really there is no set place they should be. You don’t need to compare her to children who are in school unless you particularly want to follow the curriculum, let her learn at her own pace and develop a love for learning. It’s a huge benefit of home education that you can follow the lead of your child and watching them progress.
Are you involved in your local home educating groups?

Yes we are but wanted an idea, which I think I have. I need pushes like this.

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Original poster

clairemaddox · 30/04/2022 11:54

Apricote · 30/04/2022 11:54

If she is home educated she doesn't have to learn it by a certain time. Just keep practising with her, keep her enthusiasm up, and she will get it as she's ready. The blessing of home ed is you don't have to hit the government's targets about when your child should be doing what. The hard part is that the responsibility is yours and of course it can be anxious. Do you have a network/ go to any groups?

Yes course, there's a large home ed community and she has many classes per week.

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Thesearmsofmine · 30/04/2022 11:54

Just to add my own dc range in age from 6-11. At 6 the 11 yea Rolf barely wrote, hated it but now at 11 he writes beautifully.

sorry for the typos, obviously it should say 11 year old

WildCoasts · 30/04/2022 11:55

clairemaddox · 30/04/2022 11:47

I am her teacher, she is home educated.

If she is not where she should be I would like to know so I can help her improve.

I have focused on the very basics with a view to her learning how to use "tools" as it were to count, add, subtract, and really hammered the letters in and now she is starting to use that all on her own.

Your daughter is where SHE should be if you've been working with her. Are you seeing progress? That's what I would look at. It sounds like it is all coming together well.

MangshorJhol · 30/04/2022 11:55

In the US where I am, this would be considered not just par for the course but exceeding expectations. But our kids start school at 5+ so a 6 year who can read and write is not common. The key is not about where she is but whether she is constantly improving and where you think she might be in say, in six months’ time. My 5.5 year old could do this a while ago and can now write a few sentences independently but most kids in his kindergarten class are just learning their letters.

Original poster

clairemaddox · 30/04/2022 11:55

CinnamonJellyBeans · 30/04/2022 11:53

Why is she home educated? Are you her only teacher?

Because we want to home educate. Not really, she has classes and does Rainbows and things but we will bring in tutors later on for certain things I expect.

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BlueOverYellow · 30/04/2022 11:56

At 6, your child would be in their last term of Year 1 in England. Honestly? I would expect most children in Year 1 to be quite a bit farther along with sentences than 'I got a bag.' unless there were special educational needs involved.

Original poster

clairemaddox · 30/04/2022 11:56

WildCoasts · 30/04/2022 11:55

Your daughter is where SHE should be if you've been working with her. Are you seeing progress? That's what I would look at. It sounds like it is all coming together well.

Show quote history

Yes to progress. She is most interested in science so we have subscriptions and she can put together models completely alone following instructions.

She wants to be a scientist so lots of our time is done on practical stuff and those experiment kits.

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Original poster

clairemaddox · 30/04/2022 11:58

BlueOverYellow · 30/04/2022 11:56

At 6, your child would be in their last term of Year 1 in England. Honestly? I would expect most children in Year 1 to be quite a bit farther along with sentences than 'I got a bag.' unless there were special educational needs involved.

Can you give me an example please of a sentence?

I carried my bag to the shops - average?

I took a pink bag to the shops with my dog on a lead - too much?

She works from books aimed at 5 - 7 currently but I've not left her to do things on her own much, maybe this is what I need to do.

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MolkosTeenageAngst · 30/04/2022 11:59

It’s behind what a child in Y1 would be expected to be doing in school, but presumably part of the reason you’re home educating is that you don’t agree with all or part of the national curriculum/ school based expectations? A y1 child will by now have had 18 months of school education focusing on reading and writing in a systematic way, if you’ve only been focusing on teaching her reading/ writing for say 6 months then it would be unreasonable to expect her to be where a y1 child in school would be. You’re following a different education pathway and will be pacing her learning differently, I wouldn’t expect a home educated child to be able to be compared to a child educated at school in terms of what they can and can’t do if they’re not following the same curriculum. In many countries children don’t even start formal schooling until 7, they will initially be behind children in countries who started school at 4/5 but by secondary age they are generally at roughly the same level. So honestly I really wouldn’t try and compare your child to a same-age child who’s been in school following the national curriculum, she can only have learnt what she’s been taught and if you’re not following the national curriculum she’s not been taught in the same way,

That said if you are home educating it probably is a good idea to reach out to others doing the same and try and get some guidance if you’re really not sure of where you should be taking her next or how you will teach her.

Original poster

clairemaddox · 30/04/2022 11:59

MangshorJhol · 30/04/2022 11:55

In the US where I am, this would be considered not just par for the course but exceeding expectations. But our kids start school at 5+ so a 6 year who can read and write is not common. The key is not about where she is but whether she is constantly improving and where you think she might be in say, in six months’ time. My 5.5 year old could do this a while ago and can now write a few sentences independently but most kids in his kindergarten class are just learning their letters.

Thanks. Yes I can see improvement. I came here because I knew the answers would be honest and somewhat harsh and I want to ensure I'm not slacking in what I'm having her do.

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