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Lockdown learning

Related: Coronavirus forum, discuss everything related to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.

Struggling with engaging yr 1 child in home learning

11 replies

Jrg128 · 01/02/2021 13:21

Hi, I am new here but am desperate for some advice. I am really struggling with homeschooling my 5 1/2 year old. She doesn’t really engage with any of the lessons and refuses to do most of the activities. She is bright but I think the work is at the right level. My main concern is her handwriting, as she doesn’t form her letters correctly and her writing is barely legible. If this will just come in time then that’s absolutely fine, I know she is still young but I’m worried that every time she writes she is practicing incorrectly which is Just going to make it harder to correct further down the line. She hates me correcting her. I’m feeling so much pressure trying to do the teacher role and we are both getting stressed by it which I know isn’t good for anyone. Anybody have any words of advice?

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fruitbrewhaha · 01/02/2021 13:25

Handwriting at this age can be pretty awful, it's normal. Get her doing lots of things which exercise her hands and fingers, eg colouring in, playdough.

Print off some handwriting sheets for her to have a go at forming each letter.

Talk to school about whether they are happy with her progress, they may say its fine. Also talk to school about her not engaging with the lessons, they will help.

Jrg128 · 01/02/2021 13:34

Thank you, I have got handwriting books and am trying to do more fine motor activities, I feel guilty that I didn’t do more of that when she was younger as she didn’t show much interest but she is my first so I was a bit clueless. I have messaged her teacher twice and had no reply, although back in November at parents evening she said she needs to work on her handwriting. I think part of the problem is that they are now doing joined up but I don’t think she is ready for that yet.

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Peach1886 · 01/02/2021 13:36

handwriting in my son's Year 1 class varies hugely, from nearly perfect "pre-cursive" to barely legible characters, so I wouldn't worry about that at all.

his class teacher has said to us not to worry about trying to do the teacher role, it's difficult for the kids to move between our mum role and a sudden teacher one hence they mess about and won't engage. DS is EXACTLY as you describe, and he generally loves school.

the head teacher has said to fit in a few lessons each day to keep the formal learning habit intact, and then add in a bit of fun learning, which might be related to the formal stuff, or it might not. so making biscuits would involve recognising numbers and following instructions, or reading their favourite books you could look for particular letters or words, or a treasure hunt outside (when it's not sleeting!) to do nature stuff and physical exercise.

That last thing - exercise - really helps with DS, and we fit Joe Wicks or KidzBop or Kids Cosmic Yoga (all of which they do at school) between learning tasks, apparently at that age they have 20 mins attention span max, so breaking the morning up is essential or they just can't stay focussed.

I am no yummy-mummy with hours to spend schooling or crafting, I work full-time and so our days are all of the above squashed together, some days it works and some days it just doesn't...and then there is Kiri and Lou on repeat on the TV to learn about emotional relationships.

try not to be too hard on yourself or your DD, just do what you can and that'll be good enough Smile

SleepingStandingUp · 01/02/2021 13:39

Handwriting books for practise (bribe her to do them. I don't care of its "bad parenting", it's frigging compulsory home schooling) but yy to lots of just fine motor skills stuff. Threading beads, drawing, play dough, lego.

3JsMa · 01/02/2021 13:52

First,take a deep breath,make yourself a cuppa and repeat like a mantra ''I'm not a teacher,I'm doing my best''.
It's only year1 and it's just a start,we a dealing with really difficult situation and we can't expect to do exactly same stuff as if they will do while in classroom.
Pushing her to do stuff coupled with your stress and anxiety will have an opposite effect.
Is your teacher in regular contact?My girl is almost 4,5 and still in Nursery but the teacher is amazing and totally understanding.
I would suggest wipeable little board and wipeable books where she can practice letters and numbers etc.

Jrg128 · 01/02/2021 18:20

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond and for your reassuring comments. This lockdown homeschooling is so tough isn’t it. Especially when you have a teething baby and a 3 year old too! I’m just going to try and make it more fun and not stress if she doesn’t want to do it, I realise the most important thing is my relationship with her and I need to prioritise that above all.

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KeyboardWorriers · 01/02/2021 19:19

Colouring books and things would all be good for developing the skills needed for hand writing

And read her lots of stories as these will be fabulous for her vocabulary.

I pretty much gave up teaching my year 1 last summer as it was just too much conflict and so I mainly just let her play with her toys and we did lots of art and exploring.

In the end I got her a tutor for maths and that was so much better as she would listen to the tutor.

When she went back in September she was behind for phonics and near the top of the class for maths. So I asked her tutor to do phonics and English as well this lockdown.

I have also used Outschool for some lovely fun classes about science etc and most at their age involve a lovely colouring activity and it has just lifted her mood to learn with other children.

This link will give you a free class Smile outschool.com/?signup=true&usid=oJXLafjD&utm_campaign=share_invite_link

Twistedlogic · 02/02/2021 23:25

Could you perhaps practice letter formation in other ways? My DS is in reception and school have suggested writing in the air, in a tray of flour, on the ground with a stick etc as a separate activity to phonics/writing. They've been focusing on a different letter family each week and also recommended these videos: www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zgjj6sg

BestZebbie · 03/02/2021 21:32

My most successful Yr1 motivation tactic today was suddenly and enthusiastically singing “No limit” by 2Unlimited and dancing along to myself the 487th time my polite request to do something was met by “No”.
It startled DS into at least twenty minutes of actual productivity and can now be held as a future threat as apparently it was “very embarrassing”.

KeyboardWorriers · 04/02/2021 00:39

@BestZebbie Grin

Our tactic today was that DD has a sticker chart for working and today DH claimed he would be really annoyed if she got any more stickers as he would have to buy her toy for completing it sooner. All of a sudden she knuckled down and insisted on doing bonus work to get another sticker Grin

Jrg128 · 04/02/2021 07:41

Thanks for all your suggestions, the rest of the week has gone much better and I think taking the pressure off has really helped, we were all having a bad day on Monday I think!

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