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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Joined up writing in Y1?

61 replies

zam72 · 16/09/2010 21:12

My DS is just 5 and has started in Y1 this term. Seemed to have taken to Y1 pretty well - very enthusiastic about going in and how the day's been. Yesterday at bedtime he ended up in tears saying how he prefered his old class as he can't do 'joined up writing'??? Do they really do joined up writing in Y1!!!??? I learnt that at 10yo?? Has my DS got it mixed up or do they really teach joined up writing (given his printed text and reading aren't brill to start with) at 5yo?? If so, why?! He said he doesn't know the words he's meant to be writing and the teacher's too busy to help (class of ~26).

He find reading and writing pretty tough - neither are coming easily to him but he is progressing. But he's a bit of a perfectionist and although we praise him and are happy with him he seems to know what writing 'should' look like and knows his isn't the exact same, so its wrong, so therefore will give up.

Any thoughts appreciated. I'm going to speak to the teacher tomorrow but just wanted to know whether DS could be right and they do teach it that early - or whether I just need to talk about him finding normal writing challenging at the moment.

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captainpig · 16/09/2010 21:15

Yes, your DS is probably right. Ours are going to start learning cursive writing in Y1.

Itsjustafleshwound · 16/09/2010 21:18

My DD in Yr1 is taught to do joined up writing.

Homework involves a worksheet with a few trace and try letters ... and joined up writing is encouraged.

I don't quite know what the appropriate age for trying joined up writing - I remember starting using pen and joined-up writing when I was 10! Though DD's pre-nursery started encouraging it!!

kathrynharriet · 16/09/2010 21:19

Hi, we've had this today as well. My Ds has just started Y1, TBH I think its a bit much, he still gets confused with some letters and his hand writing is fairly poor.
At the moment it is making things worse, as some letters he is trying to join and others are still back to front and in capitals!
I am hoping that with a couple more weeks he'll start finding it easier.
Not really much help! But he is not alone!
K x

MollieO · 16/09/2010 21:20

Ds started in reception. Nightmare as he learnt to write at nursery and had to re-learn. Apparently it is the norm now. Wasn't in my day but I am very old.

purpleturtle · 16/09/2010 21:21

I think that when DS1 was in Y1 they started cursive, and that it had been decided to start with cursive right from the off (reception). The thinking, IIRC, was that they would only have to learn to write once, rather than twice.

ruddynorah · 16/09/2010 21:23

yes dd is in reception and is learning to form letters with a 'joining tail' ready for year 1.

Original poster

zam72 · 16/09/2010 21:24

But But BUT WHYY??!! Why on Earth would they be asking them to do joined up writing so early. How about the old adage - don't run before you can walk???! Isn't it just madness? Oh dear....I feel a bit cross and sorry for my poor DS now.

OP posts:

mememe30 · 16/09/2010 21:24

It is something to do with helping with spelling. I was really shocked when my daughter started cursive writing in year 1 and was sure that they were too young and they wouldn't manage......I was wrong. Now in year4 the whole class has lovely writing.

singarainbow · 16/09/2010 21:27

My DD did joined up writing in year 1, it was completely abandoned in year 2 by her and it seems the teachers, now she is in Yr 3 and still no-one seems to care! I have no idea, what is expected, so I would take the lead from the teacher. Speak to your childs teacher and say they are getting upset, they may make it easier for him, and not expect so much at this point in the term.

Original poster

zam72 · 16/09/2010 21:28

Oh...by the way thanks for the replies....not cross with you all. Just a bit cross. But good to hear the reasons why. I can accept good robust reasons why.

Wonder how it helps with spelling though? (not being non-believing just wondering?)

Some of the children in DS's class are really good at writing. Neat, writing sentences etc. But my DS just isn't there yet. He's definitely the type to get put off something and digging his heels in too. Gah...

I guess there must be some books/online resources/worksheets where we could practise a bit at home to build his confidence if he wanted?

OP posts:

squeaver · 16/09/2010 21:30

My dd did it in Reception. I think it's fine to do it if that's what they learn from the off. I can understand it being frustrating if they've done something else first.

In her Y1 class now there are some really beautiful hand-writers (is that a word?)

mememe30 · 16/09/2010 21:32

I've been told once they're joining and used to writing the words then their hand will automatically write it. A bit like doing your signiture. I assume you have to be able to spell it right in the firdt place. LOL.

I'm not really sure about this as I think I'm a good speller and have never joined my writing.

My son is in year 2 and struggling with joining.

squeaver · 16/09/2010 21:56

Interestingly, they weren't bothered about spelling with my dd in reception. Have only just started it now in Y1. The writing was the top priority.

ShoshanaBlue · 16/09/2010 22:06

We started in in nursery (whole school policy) and it's never been a problem. When my little girl started school (age 3) we were given a sheet with information about the school's handwriting policy and how they formed the letters. They didn't really do any serious writing until the last term in Reception but seem to be doing loads more now in Year 1.

There's a huge difference between Key Stage 1 and the Foundation Unit. So for the OP's son, there's probably a lot of things that have changed. I know my child keeps saying that she wants to go back into Reception because they played most of the day and there's too much work in Year 1!

fadingfast · 16/09/2010 22:38

At DS's school they started joined up writing in reception - the idea being that although it may take them a bit longer to learn it, it was better that way than having to learn printing only to have to relearn how to do joined up. His writing is not great (v common in boys I think), but I think it's a good idea if they start from reception. It does seem a bit mean to teach them one way in reception and a different way in Yr1.

RosyBelle · 22/09/2010 13:39

Sorry just seen this thread... and am going to be v negative!
Had the same experience as you all with DD learning joined up writing in reception, yr 1. Now in yr 3 and its been abandoned...
Don't know how true this is but when I asked a teacher friend why she said its because when they sit their SATs at yr 2 end they get a higher mark for using joined up writing (and therefore the school achieves a higher mark in its ratings). And that is why it is not considered important from yr 3 onwards...
Food for thought.....

magicmummy1 · 22/09/2010 18:49

I am always surprised by threads like this, because I was taught to do cursive writing in reception - way back in the 1970s! - so I have always assumed that it was the norm.

My dd is in year 1, and they are learning to join up letters at the moment - in reception, they just learnt to write the letters separately with the tails for joining later. I can't honestly see a problem with it.

breadmaker · 22/09/2010 18:57

I also was taught cursive writing very young, as are my children with no problems. IMO your issue is that your child feels that the teacher can;t find the time to help - whatever the class size - my children are all in class sizes of at least 30 but don't feel the teachers don't have enough time for them. Sounds like you just need to go in for a chat - some children learn more quickly than others at such a young age but catch up later.

CupcakesHay · 22/09/2010 19:01

I'm training to become a teacher, and I know the school I was in do joined up writing in Yr 1.

Maybe speak to the teacher and see if they can print off a dotted line sheet for your child to practice on, so they can feel a bit more confident about it?

It is difficult, and I still see children in Yr 3 struggling, but with practice it can def. be "got"... the thing to check, is the letter K - every school seems to do that differently.

brassband · 22/09/2010 19:20

I thought the norm was joined up right from the beginning now?

jaded · 22/09/2010 19:29

Typical - they teach cursive writing for the SATs in year 2. It's not about whether the children are developmentally ready for it or whether they would enjoy it, it is just for the league tables. Bloody education in this ignorant country!

SE13Mummy · 22/09/2010 19:39

The schools I've taught at don't teach joined-up writing from the outset. My current Y4 class have a mixture of joined-up, printed and completely random. Personally I do feel it helps with spelling, in much the same way as practising scales helps with a musical instrument - your brain is trained to remember the word/scale as a whole so will recall the pattern necessary to produce the word/scale.

My Y4s are desperate to all have clear joined-up writing and it's something I'll be doing all I can to encourage.

jaded · 22/09/2010 19:42

I can see the need for year four children to learn joined-up writing but I think it is counter productive for 5 and six year olds. Don't they have enough to concentrate on? This curriculum is mad! Wonder which schools you've taught at, SE13 mummy!!

Teacher401 · 22/09/2010 19:49

A lot of schools teach joined up writing from Year 1 and it does actually work, mine does it in Reception. It is a struggle for the children when they are first doing it but by the time they get into year 2 upwards, they can actually produce brilliant handwriting. Otherwise, what happens is they start to learn printed, then have to unlearn that to learn basic joins and it is actually ridiculous and takes a lot time. It's like teaching someone to drive a car by letting them ride a bike, they are similar but don't lead to the other naturally.

jaded · 22/09/2010 19:54

Joined up writing in reception? Give me strength! What next, timetables at 2? I really don't understand the rush to do all of these things for such wee ones. Start later and they'll probably achieve it in much less time. It would save the children all the struggle and the teachers the huge effort of teaching them.

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