There is no way I could ever be a teacher!

[scaryman]

You must have the patience of saints. Honestly, it drives me mad trying to help my ds, I just don't know how you do it.

So am I the only one who finds it totally frustrating helping ds with his reading?

He has the attention span of a gnat and constantly wriggles around and looks anywhere other than at the book. Even his teacher told me that the during the first week of term she thought "Oh my God, I can't get him to do anything".

scaryman - this is a common problem, so please don't think you are alone in this. Your ds is obviously not enjoying reading - what stage is he at and what books is he being asked to read?

Scaryman, I am a teacher (well, not practicing right now but I have done it all before) and I still feel the same way as you when it comes to doing any school work with my children. They just don't want to hear it from their mothers, even if their mothers are teachers! It is easier teaching as the child comes to school expecting the teacher to teach IYSWIM. Just try your best with ds and comfort yourself that the teacher is the one being paid to get your son reading! You are doing great just trying to support that work.

He is in Yr 1, he is reading the Oxford Reading Tree books and is on green stage at the moment.

The trouble is I just end up getting stressed because he just doesn't want to know. I'm sure that me moaning at him, isn't very helpful. To get him to co-operate in class the teacher uses an egg timer and tells him he must write down whatever, before the sand runs out otherwise he will have to sit outside the classroom to work.

It's doing my head in, I'm finding it hard to summon up some enthuiasm to help him, although he is obviously struggling and needs extra help.

Also meant to ask if it is worth getting his eyes tested.

Don't give up - you are doing a great job in trying to help your son. It has obviously turned into a nightly battle ground so you need to try engaging him in other ways. Maybe try using magnetic letters to make the words in his book or finding other word games to play? I know it is difficult, but give him plenty of praise and encouragement for any small step and tell him (through gritted teeth) how much you enjoy reading with him!
Have you any other reason for worrying about his eyes other than the fact he doesn't want to read?