August born DS in Y1 struggling

[KwaziiHunt]

I think this is just a rant but if anyone can offer any words of encouragement/sympathy they would be gratefully received.

My DS is in Yr1 and is August born. He is really struggling. They stream for numeracy and literacy and he is in the middle group for both. I am happy with that and I know that means he is not struggling as such, but I have just attempted to complete his homework with him and I have had to write that he didn't understand it and there was no point in completing it.

I have spoken to his teacher and she says that he has difficulty concentrating and just wants to play (not surprising really, he is not yet 5.5!). He complains about finding school hard and that there is too much learning.

I spoke to his teacher today and she says that she is doing assessments at the moment and he has not progressed much.
Then she says that when she talks to him he knows the answers and that she thinks he isn't listening, but then he will know the answer to a question.

I just feel so frustrated as he is capable and is interested in the world and makes things and asks soo many questions. Yet - he cannot concentrate at school and is not making progress. He is overwhelmed and I am getting cross with him because I sit and try and do the work that has been set for him and he just does not understand what to do even when I take him through step by step.

Homework is just awful.
It is always complicated and rather then being something that cements his learning, it is something that causes stress and anxiety and always seems to be pitched that bit too high for him.

Crap. I could cry for him.

Is it causing your DS stress and anxiety? If it is, then you need to work something out with the teacher, I think. However, if he's not unhappy, I would be inclined to ride it out until he's ready to engage a bit more with the formal side of learning at school.

DS2 is the same age, and I have never really bothered much - although things have just recently 'clicked' for him and we are not facing the same problems you are having. Homework is his own effort - even if I have to send a note in with it explaining why it looks a bit odd - and his teacher is happy with this.

I think it is me getting stressed, although he does complain about learning and I am concerned that he is not concentrating.
That is what I am finding frustrating. He is not even trying.

He does enjoy school. He finds the formal learning hard and does require a LOT of input. He has never been very independent and finds it hard to work by himself.

I would question the benefit of homework. I would not expect him to have homework at this age, it is important that he spends his free time playing. It's early days in Year 1, children do not progress at a steady rate they usually plateau for a bit and then move on. The teacher has recognised that he has a short concentration span in the class environment and she will have strategies to deal with that. I think you should just give him some time for now and see how he is in the Spring term.

My ds similar. He's a July baby. Doesn't like the 'work', just wants to play. The teacher is aware but after expressing concerns we have accepted that as long as he's happy to go to school we'll go along with things, although we know the set up is too formal for him. From what I can gather I think summer boys get a bit short changed in yr 1. Your ds sounds totally normal! And we get homework but only do it if we catch ds in the right mood, it's not really going to benefit him much at this time.

The school didn't get a great ofsted (kids not making enough progress and not being pushed enough) and I think that homework is done for the benefit of parents and is a bit tick boxy.

I would also question the benefit of it.

Thanks 40notTrendy! So glad to hear I am not the only one.

I think I will talk to her again. And look at his books and talk the homework through with her.

He does come home and want to write. He spent quite a lot of time this weekend drawing pictures for a book and labelling them using his phonics. It was neat and he took great pride in it.

I then sat him down to do his homework and it was untidy and he put no effort in to it and we both got fed up.

Actually I think I will take the stuff he does at home in with me so she can see it.

I wouldn't worry about this "making progress" business. Children don't develop in all skills areas in a linear fashion. Remember when he was a baby and spent 4 weeks practising standing up, staggering around and falling over? Then suddenly he could walk, and he'd concentrate on something else - climbing up slides, learning words, playing with a new toy etc. Similarly your son might not be making progress in some areas, but might be developing other skills and competences, such as socialising, being more independent, etc.

In some countries, a child your son's age would not be in formal education - maybe you should be asking the school how the day is structured to take into account the varying needs of the children in the class. Other younger children might also need shorter spells working on literacy/ numeracy, or intervals of more physical activity mixed in etc.

At home you can support him by continuing to:

• read books for pleasure - your reading to him will improve his vocabulary and help him to understand longer narratives, use of humour, characterisation etc.
• recap sounds and letters - having a few 'graded readers' and flashcards to help him learn his sounds, practice blending - and move onto more challenging reads when he is ready. (Also, consider looking at texts that might be more attractive to him, e.g. DK Star Wars early readers, be warned, level -1 is still about Level 3 on ORT.
• get him doing craft activities, using scissors etc. to improve his manual dexterity and concentration levels.
• use opportunities for reading numbers, counting, adding numbers up to 10 etc., for example helping you share slices of pizza, giving him his own 'shopping list' with a number and a picture of various pieces of fruit (if you've time in the supermarket!)
• answering his questions about the world in as much detail as you can muster and he can handle!

Don't worry too much about what the teacher says - you say you have an inquisitive child, who wants to find out about the world. Your teacher may well be responding to the constant demand of school management to provide evidence of all children's 'progress'. When she says he's not making progress, ask her clearly what she is doing about it. It's her job to differentiate activities for children of all abilities.

And personally, I would tell the school that you will not be doing all or any of the homework as you are finding it unhelpful. See if you can break down the tasks they set into something more appropriate for your child; you are his mum, have confidence in your own ability to set work for him that he can achieve and which challenges him sufficiently (but not to the point where he is 'turned off'). FWIW our school don't set homework in KS1, the kids get sent home with books and you return them when they've read them. That might be 5 a week, or it might be 1. Much less pressure for all involved.

Hope this helps.