West London Chat Summer/Autumn

[vbus]

ooh the excitement of starting a new thread

thanks sfx I do have that link - my confusion is really about how DS can be ahead in one type of reading but averagest pf the average in the other but a few people have been really helpful oon the specific thread.

I'm going to speak to th eschool about the books they're using. Apparently they shouldn;t really be using classic ORT for beginner readers.

I did have a look at the specific thread, I must admit I am very laid back because dd just got on with it I am aware of the weird and assorted reading stages but I pay no attention to them, she reads and likes reading so fine by me
however people do get awfully competitive about which stage their precious child is at

not directed at you KewC but to the loud playground level 7 well done must read quickly and get you to level 8

Ah now you se I am not bothered what level he is reading to as long as he is reading (or learning to) but he hates ORT - really struggles with it and the whole word thingie and as a result really doesn;t want to read.

Think I am going to find out if I can get the phonics version of ORT from the library.

dd biff and chip bla bla bla boring

Ds1 now seems to be on 'better' reading books but still ORT. I'm going to ask about it next week at school

I don't know anyone who likes those books

Hello!

I know somebody who likes Biff and Chip. DS2 will read just about anything, and I guess anything is a step up from toilet paper packaging.

ORT books get "better" at higher stages - in quotes because there are some really odd ones, and some seriously scary ones.

But I really miss the Story Street books. Those ones were good even when there were no words...

sfx - The white cross. Will post on the other thread.

Is that the pub we usually meet at? Must pop over to the other thread & catch up! There was a slight panic when dh said he was out that night but we've rearranged his schedule so I'm still good to go

Ds1 is struggling with the ORT books & is losing his interest in reading , reading the other thread has made it clearer as to why that might be! Am going to see if I can find some other books in the library. At least he enjoys his maths!

hello

vbus will email but seems there will be spare ticket for the gig in October, sorry this is a last minute thing as it was not my plan to have an evening course, also missing the PTA AGM, not Tuesday night fun for me for the next couple of months

first day of course today, apparently I am the only person who does not watch Dragon's Den, it is my homework
Interesting group of people very mixed

I am tired and I have a cold must get some sleep

tilly whatever you do, do not stop reading to him and read things he is interested in, it builds vocabulary and it keeps him keen, the rest will come, so sad to make it a chore and watch them loose interest in reading

Good morning!

tilly - I'm sure it will come. DS1 was quite reluctant reader until middle of year 1 when it all suddenly clicked. But it takes the right books - for us it was the dragon books and beast quest. Any number Enid Blyton just gets "I'll read them next time"...

sfx - Dragon's Den as homework? Is there a point to that? I can't watch it ... But I think it's probably less bad than Apprentice. DS1 was set "homework" from football club - watch a match. So far we have not managed ...

Dictionary fun #2310: overheard DS1: "Be quiet, DS2, I'm looking up heebie jeebies."

We still read to him, won't ever stop that (until he tells us to!). I'm letting him pick the books now, he still prefers the picture stories (Julia Donaldson, Harry & his Dinosaurs, Mr Men etc) to actual books but I don't see the point in pushing him. I know it will come one day!

Sfx, shame about Tuesdays!

Looking forward to Saturday night!

Tilly - we still read all those books you mentioned, I think they're good stories. But it's true the trick is to find something they're really interested in. For DS1 his real passion is for reading car book/mags, encyclopedia, space books and even yellow pages. This is all we read for ages (and still do!), DS1 loves it although I am bored to tears looking at this stuff, obviously I don't show him that and I try to encourage and share his enthusiasm for Top Gear etc

Copper - DS1 said this ORT book was scary even though he liked the story. He had a few story street ones too and they were better than Biff and co. LOL at latest dictionary tale!

Sfx - didn't get email, but pity you can't make the gig Do you know anyone who wants the ticket? Shall I ask around as well?

Temp kitchen should be ready by end of today, I can't wait to do some laundry tonight. Now that's something I never thought I'd hear myself say

Hi!

Tilly - DSs are still reading the picture books. No harm in that. In fact to be greatly encouraged. And they are mad about the beano. We've got them delivered every week. Not sure about grammar/spelling/manners, but it's reading, init.

vbus - we have Richard Hammond's Car Science. The kids think Richard Hammond is more famous than Jeremy Clarkson.

Also one of my favourite picture book: Comic adventures of Boots.

Copper - This is one of Ds1 fave books and has had it out of the library 3 times, might get it for him for his b'day! There is lot of Jeremy/James/Richard worship going on in our house even by DS2

vbus sorry forgot email but have sent it now
I too am longing for doing laundry, it has been 4 days since my last wash and it is piling up new machine delivered tomorrow

must pick up dd and take to pool, would rather curl on on sofa watching a video or reading a book with dd

I think I might have to hide that thread 'is it too late to have a baby at 43'
oh dear just when I think I am over it

we got some of the ORT first phonics books home this week - hurrah - DS can actually read them. His problem sfx is not that he finds them boring he just can't deal with the "whole word" system and decides he is "rubbish" at reading - cue scremaing and moaning when we have to read. Proper phonics books build up his confidence and mean he is keen to read next time - the difference is dramatic! Mind you DS is definitely a child who lacks confidence and decides he is rubbish at everything until proved otherwise.

Time for a chat with th eteacher I think - especially now I realise that they do have proper phonic reading books as well as the classic ORT

luckily I haven't seen that thread sfx.

Do you ever "get over it"? I haven't yet.

DSs out to play on their own with neighbourhood kids. AIBU to go and peer from the window upstairs every 5 minutes?

copper it is up to you, mine is not allowed to play on the street with neighbourhood kids, it is not the children but some of the parents scare me.

KewC I don't really know what the proper ORT books are like, dd has some similar confidence issues but more related with physical ability and also approaching a group, I observed it very clearly this morning

• and no it seems never get over it, it still sometimes hurt, sometimes just aches

I might cheer you all up on Saturday relating the business ideas I heard about last night

sfx - don't actually know the parents. I probably should. Usually say hello to grandmother. Don't think it's conventional nuclear family or straightforward extended family though. Kids are boisterous but generally polite and well-behaved, at least in public - sometimes overhear fruity language but not from those particular kids. They don't go in houses, just play out on the green next door. Window half way up the stairs overlooks green.

Ah ds has confidence issues with everything - he needs "coaching" in how to approach friends in the playground (even sometimes with his own class where you would think he would know how to join in!). Biazarrely he even needs to be buoyed up in the things that he is good at. Generally after a few weeks at the things he's good at he does settle down but not always even then.

I accept that he just needs a lot of reassurance and positive reinforcement until he gets it.

For a child deemed to be confident by school, he is socially very awkward in groups of children. If there is a general game (lets all fall over in a big pile seems to be the current one ) going on in the playground instead of just joining in, he approaches the least pleasant of the boys and asked "can I play" which invariably results in the answer "no". Cue running to me crying. So I am coaching him in A) just joining in playground games unless they are fixed team type games B) not being "friends" with the people who are mean to you.

Its a persistent slog but we do get there in the end. I think he forgot some of the playground dynamics over the holiday! Glad I have been able to observe them myself - it does help me in spotting problmes and heping deal with them. (not always successfully but at least I'm aware of whats going on!)

It is hard work this parenting lark, sometimes heartbreaking too, I hate the idea that dd will be too much like me and as a consequence be hampered by my shortcomings

anyway waiting for washing machine to be delivered 7-2 that is a wide window, forgot to check if they disconnect the old one and connect the new one, they are supposed to take the old one away
so boring