Ds2 is struggling at school

[Ulysees]

Ds2, in year 1, just doesn't seem to get numeracy and struggles with literacy. He reads ok but spelling isn't good.
What makes it worse is his teacher taught DS1 who's top of everything. He's in year 4 now.
Strangely I don't worry about ds2's future as he has so many attributes, he's practical, good at art, sporty, funny .
But I'd love to be able to help him more at home only he doesn't want to do it?
Any advice greatly appreciated.

I seem to have a habit of putting posts in the wrong place Put asda coupon in travel the other day

I wouldn't worry about him at such a young age and I definitely wouldn't compare him with DS1. Some children are late developers (DH did not do well at primary school but got the top GCSEs in his county and now has a PhD)

Trying too hard with formal learning at home might just put him off altogether and do nothing for his confidence. Could you try more subtle ways at home, such as playing games where counting and reading/writing are part of the game? And do the shopping list together, count how many oranges you are putting in the basket, ask him to fetch you four potatoes and how many more do you need to make 6 jacket potatoes, etc etc.

He is so young and he sounds delightful, it would be a shame to put the pressure on him now. Maybe have a word with his teacher about how she engages him and how she sees his progress.

Does DS2 like computers? If so it would be worth getting him to learn to touch type which is a great life skill and, if you start him practising on the 500 most common words, children learn to spell without realizing it while learning to type. There are lots of great typing programmes - my son used Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing and really enjoyed it.

As for numeracy I agree with the subtle approach initially to build confidence. Is there one thing in particular he struggles with? Sometimes children get a mental block on a vital concept which then blocks future learning. Being confident with the number bonds and times tables is vital for giving children confidence in handling more complex ideas, and some children even manage to get to GCSE level without being confident of number bonds and times tables!

DS2 sounds terrific and you are right not to worry about his future - but I can see why you want to help him with this and I'm sure you will find a way.

Are they meant to be able to spell in year 1? I would have thought that a boy who had good spelling at that age was the exception rather than the rule.

I find that various of the traditional board games (ludo, snakes and ladders etc) are fairly good for numeracy - lots of dice throwing and counting on from where you are ("what number do you need to throw to get onto that ladder?")

Ds1 is just starting cursive writing (and hates writing with a passion). I asked his teacher for a chart of how they learn to do the joins (as the are a number of ways that you can do f or s or b say) and she has now sent a handwriting practice book home.

I like the typing tip though. Ds1 tries typing out stuff sometimes but it is sooooo slow.

Tbh it sounds as if ds1 was just well ahead of the norm, but ds2 is closer to the norm. If he is reading and writing then he might even be ahead of the norm for boys.

dd is year 1 and can't spell well yet when she writes (test lists ok on the day), funnily ds is Year 4 and also struggles. Having a bright or even average first child may accentuate the other's weaknesses even if you don't; mean to compare. Try computer games and things like making lists, silly sentences/stories and games but above all try not to worry and remember it is still early days.

Thanks for the tips, I was just thinking of trying to get him to touch type. I may try the bbc dance mat typing?
I know it sounds like I compare them but I don't. He's sporty and DS1 is last at sport in his class even though he has an athletic build? They all have their strengths and weaknesses. Ds2's artwork is quite amazing, even his teacher comments on this. He was putting small details in way before his peers. I think his teacher was a bit surprised at first at the differences between the 2 of them but she is a new teacher. They are so different yet both adorable.
I'll stop trying so much at home although I don't pressure him. I do play games with him. In fact just yesterday I mixed up words and got him to put them in small sentences which he managed. I also got 50 pieces of pasta and tried to get him to put them in groups of 5 as that's his homework, counting up to and back to 50 in 5s but he didn't manage it. I'll tell teacher I tried just incase she thinks I ignore his homework.

Ulysees - sorry I misread your post about age of DS2. The dance mat typing sounds ideal - I wouldn't get him trying to touch type on a keyboard until he is at least six (and even then it depends on the size of the child's hands as they have to be able to keep fingers on the guide keys).

yes I thought that about the keyboard. I may look into getting a child's one with phonetic lettering?

Have you looked into a kid's laptop. ds had a Vtech Challenger one which has lots of really simple numeracy (such as number bonds) and spelling type games with varying levels of difficulty.

hi lizs, I've just been looking online and can't find anything, except in the US! I'm going to texas in July so think I'll wait until then to get one. In the meantime I'll do a search for the one you mentioned, thanks.

Wordshark and Numbershark are very good pc programmes to help with literacy and numberacy. My children are dyslexic and have found them very useful.

LOL @ 'numberacy'.

cheers crispy, I'll have a look at those too. Glad your kids found them useful My bf's youngest is dyslexic so may suggest something for him, although it'd have to be US version with all their different spellings!

Just ordered the Vtech challenger from amazon with free delivery

Now I'll have to get ds1 something?? Probably a new nintendo ds game or pc game?