ds in reception

[loosinas]

hi all !! my son has done half a term in reception so far and is about to start leanrning to read/write formally. im so eager to help him enjoy this process as its noted in the ofsted report for his school that boys do struggle after year one.... i want him to do well and to see it positively. theyre starting to use jolly phonics.. what can i do to help ?
thanks so much every one !

Read to him lots, so he enjoys books.

Encourage him to write at home (post cards/ shopping lists etc)

And don't forget to do his reading homework. But if he really doesn't want to read it, don't force him. The most important thing is that her finds reading/writing fun.

ditto to lynette

treasure maps he labels or you make and he reads things like tree(plus picture).

labelling toys, eg if he makes say a garage suggest he writes a sign for the front to tell people where to park etc. it can be his attempts at writing, even if this is just random letters to start. it gives him the idea that writing is more than just school stuff. you can gradually increase the challenge, eg asking what sound he can hear at the start of garage etc. best to do just a bit now and again and keep it fun.

Perfect time of year coming up - phonics to write Christmas lists!

Make sure he gets in the routine of reading to you every day so it becomes a habit he doesn't question. That is all i did with my ds in year R and now in year 1 he is a fluent reader and the teachers are amazed at his writing and grasp of phonics. He just knew punctuation without being taught. I put all this down to him doing lots of reading and us reading to him too.
I started off reading the stories to him first in his early reading books then he read them back to me. I know they just remember what you have read initially but eventually it sinks in and then they can do it all by themselves which is amazing.
It is such an exciting time.

thanks so much everyone what great suggestionsi feel so greatful ! i especially like the treasure map idea.. he would love that ! thanks !

If your DS likes colouring in, get a couple of the Jolly Phonics books. It's learning in disguise!

My DS like the magnetic words on the fridge (Reception pack). I put on the words that come home from school in his word book and he likes playing guessing games with them.

The labelling thing sounds like a good idea.

We've bought DS a magnetic calendar and he spends time every day working out what day, date and month it is from our kitchen clock which is really helping him.

Jolly phonics had actions that go with each of the phonic sounds. You could find out from teacher what they are (each has a photocopiable colouring sheet with the sound, instructions on how to do the action and a colouring picture connected with the sound) and practice saying the sound and actions when seeing the written phonic.

You can also put the sounds on cards and play games (make 2 of each and play phonic snap - have to say the sound when 2 occur rather than saying snap -or the pairs game - cards are face down you have to try and pick a matching pair. Lots of opportunity for saying "I wonder where that other "ssss" sound is" etc) You can use magnetic letters for practising sounds and making up words to sound out using the phonics he has learned. IME boys in particular often like it to be a competitive game (they get a point for each word they can sound out- can they get 5 out of 5 or beat previous score etc). You can adapt naughts and crosses games and things like snakes and ladders to involve practising phonics and sounding out words. (eg put sounds on o and x grid. If you can say the sound and say a word that has the sound at the beginning (then later end and middle) you can put your o or x on that square.)
BBC Words and Pictures has some good early phonics games on its website and you can try starfall if you don't mind the american accent.

You can chalk sounds in a grid chalked on patio (or carpet with tailor's chalk?!!). You say a sound and DS has to jump onto the right square. Then he can say sounds for you to jump!

Keep each session short and fun ( 10 mins ish?) better to keep him enjoying it and wanting to come back for more than getting bored or feeling pressured!