Should I be worried about my six year old's first spelling test?

[Holdingoutforholidays]

Hi my 6 year old has just started year 2. He had his first spelling test today, he came out delighted with himself and said he had done well. When he went to bed I got his books out to have a look and saw he only got 2 out of 10 right. It’s his first test and both his dad and I are dyslexic, should I be worried?

Well, had he practised the spellings at home?

Yes, four times.

My dyslexic child would get 10/10
each week but the week after would have forgotten how to spell any of them. So, no, I’m not a fan of spelling tests. We usrd an App called Squeebles, which allows you to say and record the word. We would record the word and add any hints eg, “Beautiful, B E A U ti-ful.” We even used it through to GCSE revision when DC would say the word and add the meaning.

4 times is not enough practice for a test if he could not spell these words previously. He sounds pleased to have completed the session and so he should be at that age!

I used to use duplo and write on the bricks for spelling/reading/putting together sentences.

My DS struggles if there is a time limit applied but this is in relation to SATS where they put a lot of pressure on them. When he was in infants he was not aware of 'tests'. They were just monitored in class.

It’s hard to tell if there’s a bigger problem from one spelling test.

How is his reading and writing?

I'm sure you and your DH do fine for yourselves so you shouldn't be 'worried', but I think there's an element of genetics in dyslexia, so I'd keep an eye on it and let the teacher know.

In my experience, at primary school children don't need to have a formal diagnosis to qualify for interventions/ adaptations (e.g. use of a computer), so you shouldn't rush to pay for one.

If it's looking likely he does have it, I'd find out about eligibility for access arrangements in exams (e.g. extra time), and make sure there are no barriers to getting those. If it's serious enough that he's e.g. unable to learn to read/ keep up in mainstream, the SENCo should be able to advise you.

Thanks he can read and write. He got high marks in his end of year 1 tests for English and maths and passed his phonics test but it that result wasn’t as high as English and maths. We can certainty try some techniques at home to help him along. He only received the spelling book with the words last Wednesday. Given that only left 5 days to prep for yesterdays test how many more should we have been doing? Is 2 out of 10 very unusual for a first test? Thanks!

I don’t know whether it matters that it was his first test. What the 2/10 is telling you is that he either had insufficient time to learn the spellings thoroughly and retain them (likely), or your method for helping him learning them wasn’t the most effective for him.

Either way, I’d just work on trying to find a small amount of time every day going forwards to work on them and try a few different approaches to see what works best for him.

To directly answer your question: no, don’t worry.

My ds an average intellect but excellent at spelling, like me. It just sticks.

My dd who is 16 is a very bright girl expected to get all 8s and 9s in her GCSE’s and her spelling is shocking. Oh and before you ask she’s a huge reader - she reads several hours a day (not kidding, she’s given up streaming TV and just reads and reads).

The spelling will come with practice. Go back over words you think he knows regularly

1. He's 6.
2. He's 6

3...... He's 6.

There's a big genetic element to dyslexia, so the fact that you and your DH have dyslexia means it should be in your radar for your DS. One spelling test on its own (especially at the start of the year for a 6yo) doesn't mean anything but I would speak to his teach and just ask her to keep an eye out, then have a further chat at your first parents evening.