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Original poster

Should I speak to ds' teacher about words he was given to learn

34 replies

saadia · 13/11/2006 13:05

Ds1 started in Reception in September and a few weeks ago (before half-term) was given a sheet of words with a letter saying that he should learn to recognise these words, which he did. The letter said that when the children learnt these words they would be given a silver pencil.

Anyway two friends with daughters in another Reception class at the same school mentioned a few weeks ago that their daughters had got their silver pencils, and one of the mothers said today that her daughter was now on her third sheet of words.

I am wondering why ds has not been given new words to recognise. It may be that he fails to tell the teacher he knows them, or that the teacher is for some reason going at a slower pace. Anyway, I was thinking of asking her about it this afternoon but wasn't sure if I was making too much of it. Would be grateful for any input.

OP posts:
morningpaper · 13/11/2006 13:06

does he know them all?

morningpaper · 13/11/2006 13:06

oh you said that he does

speak to the teacher then

Enid · 13/11/2006 13:08

yes speak to teacher

it may be that he faltered over them for the teacher

HATE the silver pencil idea though, would complain about it if it were my childs school

LIZS · 13/11/2006 13:09

Do you have a communication/reading record book -if so put a note in to say he knows them . They may not routinely check each child frequently or if he is floundering on a few particular words the teacher can tell you which to practice.

Original poster
saadia · 13/11/2006 13:15

Thanks everyone, LIZS we do have a reading recod book which I fill in with comments but there are never any comments from the teacher. I will ask her about it today.

OP posts:
Uwilalalalalala · 13/11/2006 13:56

Yep, I'd mention it too.

Original poster
saadia · 13/11/2006 14:08

Thanks Uwila, the teacher isn't terribly communicative so I find I end up babbling to fill in the conversation gaps, which isn't good.

OP posts:
Uwilalalalalala · 13/11/2006 14:40

But, you have to, don't you. I mean if you think your child is being overlooked (even though probably not intentionally) you have to step in to set things back on track. And it might just be oops they forgot to give your child his/her pencil. Or it might be that your child knows them at home, but hasn't done very well to say say them to the teacher. Either way, proactive parent want to know.

Original poster
saadia · 13/11/2006 17:02

thanks again everyone - quick update - spoke to teacher and it turns out ds isn't reading them to the teacher, even though he reads them to me, so she said she will test him again tomorrow.

The problem is he sometimes clams up and gets shy when people talk to him, which I've seen him do in school. Also he has a tendency to get a bit spaced out, at home I have to really push him to concentrate. Anyway, this has been a wake-up call, I think I need to spend more time working in his reading at home.

OP posts:
Original poster
saadia · 13/11/2006 17:27

you're quite right Uwila, it's always best to know what's going on In fact dh is on hols for a couple of weeks so I think I'll volunteer in his class to see what actually goes on - normally I wouldn't be able to as have ds2 to look after.

OP posts:
Uwilalalalalala · 15/11/2006 07:34

Glad you git some feedback.

Original poster
saadia · 01/12/2006 13:13

OK well after I started this thread, teacher still didn't give ds any more words for a week. The following Monday dh went to collect ds and still no words so he tells the teacher that ds is getting fed up of doing the same words over and over so she gave him the next sheet and a couple of days later another one, which he learnt. This was last week.

Anyway this week we have had no more words - he knows his existing ones really well and can even write them out if I give him a spelling test.

Am going to request a meeting with the teacher but would appreciate suggestions on how to word my concens as I don't want to come across as too blunt and critical, which I fear I will.

Also just as a guide can I ask what level of the Oxford Reading Tree people's children were on in the first term of Reception? Ds is currently on Pink and I wondered whether he was falling behind there as well.

OP posts:
Glassofwine · 01/12/2006 13:19

saadia - my dd2 also started in reception in Sept and hasn't been given the words at all, although I've got them from posters here and am doing them with her. The school is fab, they just have their own methods. She has just moved up on her reading and this level isn't ORT, but the previous level was the ones with words in speech bubles for the children to read and the story for parents. This level is very basic frequent words for them ie. todays is My Hat, My Cat, My Head etc one phrase on each page. Hope that helps.

ComeOyefaithfulVeneer · 01/12/2006 13:20

DD is a new reception child too and they just have a reading book, no word sheets. I am not sure which "colour" her book is, I'll check her bookbag this evening.

nearlythree · 01/12/2006 13:23

I agree with Enid, the silver pencil thing sucks.

Original poster
saadia · 01/12/2006 13:23

Thanks GlassofWine that is helpful.

I know every school has its own method and philosophy - a friend has a Reception child in a different school and he only gets two words a week and that school gets excellents results. But the thing is I know that other children in ds' class are further ahead and even though I teach him a fair bit at home he is ATM very eager to read and learn so I'm just wondering what happens - is he overlooked (as has happened to other MNers kids) or maybe he isn't that responsive at school.

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Original poster
saadia · 01/12/2006 13:24

I should clarify, it's not actually a silver pencil. I didn't know originally because ds had never got it, it's just a large sticker on a kind of reward sheet.

OP posts:
nearlythree · 01/12/2006 13:26

My dd1 reads the Oxford Books, I'll have a look at what colour she is on. I wonder if there isn't some stereotyping going on here as it seems the girls are getting rewarded?

If your ds is keen to learn and the school aren't facilitating that then you are right to be concerned.

PamiNativity · 01/12/2006 13:27

Pink is the first level with words in ORT and totally normal for first term of Reception. Loads of kids in dd1's year were on pink for nearly the whole Reception year.

nearlythree · 01/12/2006 13:28

So they were told they would get a pencil and got a sticker?

I love mty dd1's school but they do the jar thing whereby the class have to fill a jar with balls in order to get a treat. As if they aren't going to get their Christmas party! Really annoys me.

Original poster
saadia · 01/12/2006 13:54

thanks everyone. nearlythree it was a sticker of a pencil. I was expecting an actual pencil but ds didn't seem to mind. You are right, that is my concern, that his interest is not being fulfilled. TBH it doesn't bother me where he is placed in the class but I do want him to achieve his potential.

OP posts:
maverick · 04/12/2006 15:48

I don't understand why your child is being given lists of words to memorise by sight. The fact that he is being given ORT books to read is also evidence that his school is using the completely discredited whole-language way to teach reading.

All schools should be using synthetic phonics to teach reading from this September. The synthetic phonic method never includes learning 'sight-words' and reading books should be decodable.

JennyLeevesmilkandcookiesforSa · 04/12/2006 16:57

are they fry words ? as you can get the whole lot off the internet and do it at home

hana · 04/12/2006 17:06

maverick - they are the most frequently used words on the lists being talked about here - there are 45 for recepton, a list for year 1 and another one for year 2 - in the NC for all schools in the country, it's not jsut the op's school

these are in addition to cvc words, etc etc
students do learn them by sight, memorization it's not phonetic at this stage,

EniDeepMidwinter · 04/12/2006 17:08

maverick I think they can still teach ORT

IIRC dd1's school teach both phonics and see and say in reception

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