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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Reading stickers

20 replies

2383E · 06/12/2022 22:47

My daughter came home with large phonics sounds stuck to her uniform. One on each cuff and one upside down so she could read it on her jumper. I’m caught between two contrasting feelings. I really want my daughter to close any gaps she has in her phonics knowledge & glad the school are on it - but also felt a bit uncomfortable that only a minority of children (according to my daughter) were given these large stickers to wear. My daughter tells me she ‘must learn them’ so has to wear them. To me, I feel it displays her learning needs for all to see - or am I being over sensitive? Is this normal practice?

OP posts:
SeenAndNot · 06/12/2022 23:00

Never had anything like that with my kids. Is it helping her?

Original poster
2383E · 06/12/2022 23:08

Yes, seems to be helping but when I went to take them off her uniform before adding to the laundry she said, ‘mummy don’t throw them I have to wear them until I learn them’ and it just felt ‘off’ to me.

OP posts:
WishIhadacrystalball · 06/12/2022 23:08

I’ve never used this strategy with a child but I myself have worn the sounds. I understand where you are coming from but I assume she is quite young and things like this don’t matter so much in an early years classroom. Tbh the kids without them are probably jealous! As long as she isn’t unhappy or feeling uncomfortable and if they are helping her I wouldn’t worry too much. Is it a specific part of phonics she is finding difficult to retain? Eh single sounds, digraphs?

WishIhadacrystalball · 06/12/2022 23:11

Oops meant eg 🙈

Aw no, that doesn't sound right maybe she has taken what the teacher said literally. I’d be a bit worried if they expected her to stick them on once she’s dressed in the morning!

Original poster
2383E · 06/12/2022 23:12

Three separate diagraphs. She doesn’t seem unhappy wearing the sounds. It’s me interpreting them as labels - thanks for the reassurance.

OP posts:
WishIhadacrystalball · 06/12/2022 23:18

No I completely understand that and don’t think it would be a strategy I would use for that reason. I’m sure her teacher has found this technique to work well hence her using it.
On YouTube there are songs available for digraphs if that might be something that would help her. You could search for the specific ones and see if anything suitable. Jack Hartman (drives me mad 😂) but the children always seem to enjoy his videos.

Original poster
2383E · 06/12/2022 23:25

Thank you! I’ll definitely check this out. I’m still on the fence feelings wise about this but focusing on my daughter’s feelings is far more productive than mine!

OP posts:
WishIhadacrystalball · 06/12/2022 23:35

Definitely, now being a mum as well as a teacher I see a lot of things very differently! Sometimes best to let their feelings guide us and if it’s not a big deal to them then try not to show it is for us. Definitely something I need to work on, mama bear comes out so easily!

soundsystem · 06/12/2022 23:36

I don't think it's related to ability/learning needs.. my Y1 is a confident reader and often comes home with a large OO or CH stuck to him which he's very proud of 😂 If it gets then talking about the sounds and excited about reading then all good?

ACynicalDad · 06/12/2022 23:37

Sounds Dickensien, Dunce hats next... urgh

babybythesea · 06/12/2022 23:48

I’d say they have just bought in a new phonics scheme. We’ve bought it too. This is a recommended strategy - put the sticker on the child and everyone they see can test them on it. I’ve refused to do it. Labelling them with the problem sound so everyone in the school can see they are struggling? No thank you. Everyone they meet asking them about it? What a way to damage their self confidence. It’s only one step away from a dunces cap. I watched the training video and emailed my head straight away saying I wouldn’t be doing this bit if the scheme. Fortunately my whole school feel the same.

Original poster
2383E · 06/12/2022 23:49

I think if it’s a strategy used with the whole class it feels more inclusive. If just with weaker readers, I feel a mixture of gratitude that the school are personalising learning but do hope that it’s being handled sensitively with children who don’t understand why they have to or don’t have to wear their targets.

OP posts:
PollyPut · 06/12/2022 23:50

@2383E not sure how I feel about it but get a piece of paper and write these phonics on, put it up where she can see it at mealtimes. She'll learn them soon. Is she year 1? If so they have a phonics test around May so school making sure she knows what she needs. Better than not teaching her I suppose.

if you don't like it then just ask the teacher for the list of where she is behind and make sure she knows them by Jan

Original poster
2383E · 06/12/2022 23:51

It is a new scheme! It’s just left me feeling uneasy…

OP posts:
babybythesea · 06/12/2022 23:55

If it is the scheme we’ve bought, it is only done when a particular child struggles with a particular sound. So children who get it and aren’t struggling won’t ever get a sticker. Children who find learning sounds hard will end up with them nearly every day, and everyone will know pretty quickly it’s because they are finding learning hard. I can’t imagine that having that advertised to all the other children, plus dinner ladies etc, and having them randomly’test’ you at playtime etc, is going to do much to make kids want to be in school.

PollyPut · 06/12/2022 23:58

@2383E we used to practice all the phonics (taught so far) every night. Are you doing that? If not, it helps

whatwhhat · 07/12/2022 00:02

My reception aged son can home with tricky words stuck to him. I planned to stick them up somewhere (like on a bit of paper on the fridge) so he could see them.

As soon as we got out out of the school gates he ripped them into tiny pieces because he didn't want his older brother knowing he couldn't read them. His older brother wouldn't care or notice so no bullying at home but it was obviously something ds was conscious of at 4.

I think it's a nice idea in theory- but it could potentially be quite upsetting to some children like mine. My son isn't struggling and is quite confident at school but the stickers made him very conscious.

Bluebell2024 · 07/12/2022 00:13

As an experienced reception teacher this idea has probably come from an advisor or after a 'deep dive' in phonics. Children mostly go into phonic groups and I got asked how do I know every child in my class has learnt their sound of the day if they are in 5 groups. It was suggested if a child has not learnt their sound of the day they have a sticker so all of the reception staff know which children need reminding of the daily sound. Phonics is seen as very high priority now with the expectation that every child is making accelerated progress. I found that most of the stickers had fallen off after break time! The head and reading lead would check children had stickers on.

soundsystem · 08/12/2022 12:18

babybythesea · 06/12/2022 23:55

If it is the scheme we’ve bought, it is only done when a particular child struggles with a particular sound. So children who get it and aren’t struggling won’t ever get a sticker. Children who find learning sounds hard will end up with them nearly every day, and everyone will know pretty quickly it’s because they are finding learning hard. I can’t imagine that having that advertised to all the other children, plus dinner ladies etc, and having them randomly’test’ you at playtime etc, is going to do much to make kids want to be in school.

This definitely isn't how it's applied in our school. DS is a free-reader and still comes home with stickers! He does really like stickers though and I guess I have no proof they were originally stuck to him (I could see him trading sweets or something for other kids phonics stickers!)

Lurpackintheback · 08/12/2022 12:50

YABU your daughter doesn’t seem to mind and they’re helping her learn.

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