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Education

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Original poster

Boys and Reading

79 replies

rosie76 · 16/03/2007 11:28

Hello, does anyone out there have a boy struggling with reading?? My ds1 is nearly 7 and just finds it so hard.

OP posts:

maverick · 16/03/2007 11:41

Dear Rosie,
Lots of boys struggle with reading simply because the teaching at school isn't good enough.

Please read this webpage and take the necessary action to help your son:

Should I have my child assessed?

bigcar · 16/03/2007 11:43

Snap! Ds1 nearly 7, exactly the same. We just try to read as much as possible with him. Its slowly falling into place, although what will happen with sats this year im not sure. His teacher said maybe he wont sit the bit which he must read himself, it would totally destroy his confidence.

ArcticRoll · 16/03/2007 11:47

My ds(7)absolutely hates reading fiction and it's a real struggle to get him to read stories.
However he loves reading non-fiction, comics etc.
I think a lot of boys struggle with fiction.
Have you tried books about his hobbies/interests?

Original poster

rosie76 · 16/03/2007 11:50

I've started doing lots of reading at home after last parents evening when I was told he was getting a bit behind. All parents evenings till now I've been told he's fine, although I knew he wasn't. He'd rather be doing anything else in the world than reading.
I do wonder how he manages not to learn anything at all at school. We've managed to learn 2, 5 and 10 times tables this week, i had no idea he didn't know them!!
On the plus side, he's amazing at sport and has a six pack stomach. Its a shame schools are so focused on reading and writing.

OP posts:

cornsilk · 16/03/2007 12:03

My ds is 9 and has always struggled with reading. He has a high IQ but is dyslexic. I took him to Kip McGrath tutors - before I knew he was dyslexic- and he improved a lot as they have a phonics approach.

saffy202 · 16/03/2007 12:10

DS is now 8 but it is only in the past 4 months that he has discovered you can read for fun, not just something you HAVE to do for school.

He has now turned into a bookworm and is whizzing through books and even putting his own money towards them

DH is taking the credit for it as he decided to buy the Beano each week for him to introduce him to the joys of reading and it worked

Original poster

rosie76 · 16/03/2007 12:20

Glad it's not just me then. i know he hasn't got dyslexia, he's got none of the signs. He's on level six now, and since we got our pc last week is trying to read everything about skateboarding online.

OP posts:

scotlou · 16/03/2007 12:24

My ds can read OK - but won't push himself to read for fun. THe thought just doesn't occur to him! I have bought him every type of book under the sun - adventure stories, non-fiction. comics etc. but he just won't do it himself. Mind you, dh rarely reads anything, so I suppsoe ds may take after him.

Original poster

rosie76 · 16/03/2007 12:27

Yes ds is just like his dad, in eight years i've never known him to read or write anything. I don't know why I'm worrying, I was brilliant at both at his age, and I did nothing with it, whereas dp never went to school, and has own business and just pays someone to do all his paperwork!!

OP posts:

cornsilk · 16/03/2007 12:29

My ds loves all the flanimals books by Ricky Gervais and cartoon network comics. He'll also try really hard to read pokemon cards and the cards in monopoly. Apart from that he's not interested, although he loves me to read to him and can discuss Roald Dahl in detail!

frances5 · 16/03/2007 14:03

I agree with maverick that the teaching of reading is to blame. Boys are capable and can be taught. Sadly young boys are the victims of most attrocious sexism. It is easier for some teachers to say that boys are thick than to actually question their own teaching methods.

The webpage maverick suggested is an excellent place to start. It is also worth investing in the Jolly Phonics handbook. If you concentrate on teaching letter sounds and blending and leave books for a while then boys find it easier. When your son has learnt to blend then you can try him with some decodable books like the Jolly Readers or jelly and bean books (www.jellyandbean.co.uk)

Other good website are www.syntheticphonics.com
www.rrf.org.uk

or the promethan trust.

cornsilk · 16/03/2007 14:09

I read a theory recently that there is actually no such thing as 'dyslexia' - that it's actually something called 'NBT.'ie: not been taught!

Original poster

rosie76 · 16/03/2007 14:09

Our school does teach in the phonics method.
It's a horrible feeling cause i feel guilty that I haven't done enough with him, which I know is silly, as there are kids in his class who I know haven't had any help at home. You just feel like you're being judged by all those pushy parents, the ones who are always banging on at the teacher to move their children up a level.

OP posts:

cornsilk · 16/03/2007 14:14

Kids don't grow at the same rate, so why should they learn to read at the same rate?
I know what you mean about pushy parents.One of my friends is always going on about how well her son can read and how he always gets his spellings right.

christywhisty · 16/03/2007 15:45

My son didn't really click with reading until he was 7. Then he caught up all the boys that were reading fluently in reception.

I don't think its the way they are taught, it is just it doesn't all come together at the same age.

He is 11 now and is at least a year ahead in reading experience, even though with the exception of Harry Potter he hasn't read any story books or novels. He reads his horrible science magazines, his pokemon and yughioh cards and non fiction things

orderleysmile · 16/03/2007 20:28

Well this post made me smile cos i have a son who is turning 7 and i can relate with all of your comments its as if this post was wrote for me, because i have been worrying about my sons reading for months. I have a parent in our class who is forever
in my face as to how great her child reads and my son is just plodding through however i do feel he has improved a lot
thankyou for making me smile x

glyn · 16/03/2007 20:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

frances5 · 16/03/2007 20:41

Lots of children find reading hard and it is demoralising if they compare themselves to other children.

My son finds writing extremely hard and its frustrating as he doesnt even want to try.

Part of the problem in schools is that many of them use a mixture of methods. Many kids get confused. A lot of children are given books before they are ready and end up failing.

christywhisty · 16/03/2007 21:06

English i actually one of the hardest languages to master for native speakers to master the basics of reading and writing. Read somewhere it actually takes over a year longer than most other languages.

I don't agree the mixture confuses the child. My husband didn't learn to read until he was 12 because they refused to teach him any other method than Look and Say. He is now and electronics engineer and got top marks in the country for an exam so he is hardly thick.
I also remember many in my senior school were in remedial class because they had been taught the ITA method, then had to be retaught basic reading and writing.

I believe if son had not been taught a mixture of jolly phonics and others he would not have caught on when he did. He does have problems with spelling, even though, like his dad he is very bright.Got adult scores on a TROG test at the age of 5.

All children learn differently (my daughter just seemed to absorb reading and I actually think when they started to teach her phonics it confused her a little) and just using one method handicaps many.

christywhisty · 16/03/2007 21:08

Apologies my first sentance does not make sense!
Should read

English is one of the hardest languages for natives to master the basics of reading and writing.

fizzbuzz · 16/03/2007 21:15

But if he is reading Skateboard stuff online, isn't that reading?

My son didn't like reading stories (but did like being read to!) but would always read comics, toy instructions, Pokemon books (it was a few years ago!)

Buy him some Captain Underpants books. They are horrid but all boys like them.......ds (now 13) tried to take one to private reading at secondary school , until I intercepted it.

Original poster

rosie76 · 16/03/2007 21:23

Yes he' just started to try reading the skateboarding stuff. I can't believe I didn't get a pc sooner, it's so helpful. If he wants to search for something I've told him to keep trying till he gats the thing he's looking for.............(had to put the parental control thing on pretty quick though!!)

OP posts:

fizzbuzz · 17/03/2007 10:07

Definitely get hold of Captain Underpants, boys love them.

Original poster

rosie76 · 17/03/2007 13:31

These captain Underpant books, what level reading would they be equivalent to? any ideas?

OP posts:

fizzbuzz · 17/03/2007 14:27

I think they are from age 7 and up. Ds now 13 and still loves them

I think they are in cartoon form, and have names like "The Toilet of Doom". Toilet sense of humour .....need I say more?

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