When does not being able to read become a problem?

[bgegmum]

My daughter is 6. Half way through primary two. She still can't read. Can't even sound out words properly. (Sounded out mog from the word cup) she has been at the same level for around a year now with absolutely no improvement whatsoever. Every time I have spoken to a teacher about it I get "they all learn at their own pace. It will come" but surely working on the same thing for a year with no improvement is more than just "it'll come". Teacher thinks it's a confidence issue but I beg to differ. Should I leave her to it and hope she clicks soon? Should I push for extra support? (The school is wearing extremely thin with additional support so it's hard to get) what if next year when she's almost half was through primary school she still can't read? Am I overreacting?
There is numerous problems going on in the classroom. Mainly lack of authority, kids running about everywhere misbehaving, this "learning through play" is not working with this class as to them it's play time all the time, the kids made the teacher cry they are that bad, non of the mums get told if their child is being a "problem" even my one could be but I'd never know because they don't let me know. These are issues I am currently working through with the school as with other mums. Is this maybe the reason she's struggling so much?

Yes they all learn at their own pace but they do have to be improving at that pace. Not staying stagnant. Hammer down the school door for support and guidance.

One thing to add is that although she will need to be read with every night at home, it needs to be a pleasure not a chore. I've always read to mine (hearing them read is harder work, 3x a week not daily) - when I was reading to them they would choose parts of the book to read themselves. It wasn't phonics, but would be a frequently occurring word in that book. So if it was Apple Tree farm, my DD would say Poppy every time it was printed, my DS would say Sam, then he might choose to say 'tractor' and she might choose 'train' and 'donkey'. I'd read the book except for those words which they would say. It makes sure that they are looking at the text when you are reading to them, but they can absorb it without having to get anything wrong!
I'd definitely be asking to speak to someone more specialised than the class teacher - I'm not familiar with the Scottish system but whatever the equivalent of head of literacy, or senco is (in a small school probably the dht or head). Good luck!

Sounds very much like she needs a specific and targeted intervention. I’d push for support in school and second the suggestion of dancing bears if the school won’t help.

It is behind. DD3 was a slow reader because she wouldn't have a go - if she wasn't getting it 'right' she wasn't interested. I would say this is the first year she has read for pleasure, and she's year 6. However, she's above expectations in reading now, despite her slow start.

DD1 has SEN, goes to special school and has just in the last year started to be able to read sentences. She's 14 next week. I'm telling you that so that you know it really is true that children can catch up later. DD1 is a long way off reading fluently, but she can look at signs and read the word, now, which is really fantastic.

I agree, spend 15 mins to half an hour every night to her op. Do you read bed time stories to her, pointing along with the words as you say them? Getting her to do bits? Make it fun and follow the suggestions on this thread for home stuff, and see how it goes.

I was in a governor meeting last night and our Head was saying that he is concerned when phonics haven't been mastered by term 1 of year 2.....(the phonics test is in Y1 - what score did your daughter get? If she didn't pass what help is she getting to support her now so that when she retakes she passed?) Definitely go back to school. But you also need to reinforce the work at home. Please read with her every day.

@Atalune you are so right about there being time to catch up. When my son started school he could read very well. His spelling and numbers were great. His teacher thought he was some kind of child genius and quickly spoke about moving him up a year. He stayed in the correct year and although he’s always been great at English and spelling, he very much levelled out. By the time he was a high school he was pretty average. Kids definitely come on in fits and starts.

I'll try doing some more things. I was reading with her not every night up until September when I started college. Now it's very hard to find 5 mins to even spend with her in general. Class work is reducing just now so I've got a little more time at night. It's hard as her younger brother always wants to butt in with homework and he most the time just says the right answer leaving her no time to think about it herself and he refuses to leave us be. Doesn't help that the homework we do get on are in pointless things. Homework we got 2 weeks ago is to track the moon, understandably it might be something they are doing in class but to me when she's so fat behind it's a waste of time.
Not sure if I'm better talking to her head or class teacher? Most people say if you want anything done in that school send a letter as they have to record it and unless it's on record it doesn't get dealt with

I was in a governor meeting last night and our Head was saying that he is concerned when phonics haven't been mastered by term 1 of year 2

That needs challenging, it’s way past the point where additional support should have been put in place.

As well as pushing the school for support, I’d get her vision and hearing checked, OP.

She needs glasses but not to the extent it would affect her learning. Optician basically said if she doesn't wear them it's not a big deal. She wears them in class but ends up leaving them there 🤦🏼‍♀️ hearing is perfect so no issues there

Don't panic because it can definitely come later and not be a problem. We moved to Germany when DS1 was just about to start reception so he skipped all of the learning to read. I did bits at home with him but he didn't get it until he was over 6. Then he was the only one in the class who could read when he started school at nearly 7 because German kids don't learn until they go to school. And they are all 11 now and totally fine. He just finished all the Harry Potter books last year.

Does she know the letter sounds by sight? I would start there, but yes, push for support in school. Have you thought about moving schools as you're so unhappy with this one?

Can she split the word up or blend it when you say it e.g.
Put M and An together.
Then m and a and n

I have thought about moving schools but it all goes down to catchment area. I'm on housing register so if it's far from this school moving schools will be a definite. don't know if it's just the area we live in but the schools surrounding are pretty similar. The better ones in this town are well out-with walking distance and I don't drive so it's out of the question.

She can split the word m-a-n but can't work out that it says man. Took 20 mins for her to get c-a-p to cap. Then instantly forgot it when I told her to read it again

I would push for support. My son was behind but could sound out cup in Reception.

Pointless homework- don’t do it.

Little brother- 2 episodes of paw patrol?!

As hard as it is, you need to make the time. Even if it means get to be up earlier in the morning. I’m a lark, and I used to read with Dd in her bed at 7am! I’d go in and we’d snuggle and have about 10 minutes just us. Bliss

Also-
Look at the pictures and talk about them
Read the stories then get her to be a character and do a tv interview
Guess the ending
Think of an alternative ending
Ask what if questions
Ask how do you know that questions
Do a race to find words with the same starting letter
Find common words

Children who read 5 times or more at home with an adult do significantly better then children who read 3 or less.

Can she do it if you say the sounds though? If you say m-a-n can she hear the word ‘man’?

bgeg

Sorry what you just have posted makes my spidey sense tingle... definitely push for targeted assessment and support.

Blending is useful but she needs to be able to recognise letter sounds before it will be useful to her in reading.

So for example does she know m says mmmmm (not Muh) - it can be hard to do the pronunciations right without that intrusive uh ending, look at bbc alphablocks for a good example. Plenty of stuff online is less helpful.

But if she is struggling with it support is totally warranted. I really doubt it's because you don't read enough at home. Yes it's good to make time for it but I don't think it's magically going to make her get it suddenly. So keep reading time as something fun, not stressful for her.

I started school at 4 and I could read already, my Mum taught me. Why not try teaching her yourself. There has to be aids to help you these days.

It’s not so much the order of the skills Bertie it’s that the ability to blend words when sounded out by an adult is a pretty reliable way to identify children who potentially have an underlying reading issue.

I should add I have downloaded an app called teaching monsters to read. My DS loves jt....

I'm up at 6am every morning so I'm certainly not getting up earlier than that. Not driving is the worst 😂 my boy wants to learn he's not interested in tv when there's words and numbers near him. I'm going to do word and sound cards with her. Made them up tonight. I know it's important to reinforce these things at home but regardless 6 hours at school 5 days a week for a year and a half and she's not doing anything near what she should be. And I've only been slacking for 3 months so it's not like I've never done these things with her. She has had similar homework about the ending and guessing the story through pictures but that doesn't help her learn to read just helps her memorise words she can already say.
As said previously she was able to break down batman into b-a-t and m-a-n yet can't recognise it on paper but knows he letters. I'm so confused with how she's doing some things. I'll see if I can speak to the teachers tomorrow and see what plan we can have in place.

Ah ok that makes sense rafals :)