Mrz and other primary experts: how can I get my DD to speed up? Reception work

[Greythorne]

Just got my DD's school report (Reception) and it is really good, but her one downfall ( :) ) is that she is rather slow at finishing her work. I can see this in her exercise books, there are lots of sheets where she has to match numbers or match words and then colour things and whilst the work she has done is accurate, she rarely finishes. 3/4 finished worksheets litter her exercise books and her teacher's comment was: she needs to work more quickly, make sure she finishes things in the time allocated.

How can we practise working more efficiently?

I'm no primary expert but I do have a daughter who dawdles. We hurry her up by offering rewards and mock races where the "winner" gets to choose a prize. It often works quite well. But it clearly depends on what kind of a mood she's in and how tired she is.

Is this is a very academic school? I don't think either of my DC went near a worksheet in Reception and certainly were not required to finish them in any specified time. TBH I'd focus on the fact she's getting them right and not worry at all about the speed at this age.

"Reception"
"work"
HMMMMM

I honestly wouldn't worry. It sounds like a lot of work to keep them busy. FWIW DS, now grown, brought home loads of quarter finished workbooks related to their reading scheme. I'm sure the more diligent children would have completed far more of the books, but in no way was completing them a prerequisite for learning how to read and write.

Very strange for reception. No worksheets here- well the odd sheet comes home, some are finished, many not.

As a teacher and a parent of a child in Reception I would question why she's doing worksheets. Reception are part of the Foundation Stage and that should be largely play based learning NOT sitting at tables completing worksheets! Sounds to me like she's doing well - don't worry about uncompleted work!

We are not in the UK, perhaps I should have mentioned that.

We are in France and there are lots and lots a fair number of worksheets.

It's stuff like:

Here is the word "chien"...circle the word below which matches (then a list of words containing the same letters as "chien" but mixed up, exceot one)

Here is a picture of a dog. What shadow would this dog cast? Cue various reflections of dogs which are not shadows, all except one.

And, underneath a picture of an elephant / dog / sheep / etc., the child is asked to draw in the number of dots which correspond to the number of syllables in the word. Elephant = 3 dots.

Etc.

So, I meant to say, short of doing more worksheets at home to practise this type of stuff, how can I encourage her to be a bit quicker? Almost every sheet has been done correctly, bar the last bit of the exercise which she has not had time to finish.

what age is your child?

She is 5.2.

aha - so what in the UK would be year 1 - which is of course when the real learning starts :-)

Er, no, I don't think so!
Last September she was 4, went into the equivalent of Reception, and turned 5 in December 2011.

What makes you say she is Yr 1?

I thought children started school aged 4, turning 5 in that year. That is what she has done!

Anyway, that is a bit beside the point!

I just want advice on how to get a 5 year old to be more efficient in her work.

Whether it is YR or Y1 is slightly beside the point!

This is not a stealth boast about "oh, my 5.2 y o is doing all these marvellous work sheets", I assure you!

5.2 is still reception. DD is 5y5mo and one of the oldest in her reception class. No exercise books but there are worksheets she sometimes completes. In general they can choose which areas they work/play in rather than sitting at desks.

If you encourage her to rush, I would guess it would backfire later. 5 yr olds aren't generally known for their efficiency!

The only things that you could possibly address are if she's apending aaaages doing colouring rather than the questions. Or lots of time rubbing out and re-writing?

Does she always have the same amount of time to get these worksheets done in? Is everyone else finishing them?

Sorry don't know much about the French system in the UK children are expected to complete some work with the teacher and would usually be supported to complete the set task. I would talk to her about why she doesn't finish her work perhaps there is a simple reason she doesn't finish... not enough time, doesn't understand, worried about asking the teacher what to do next ...

talkingpeace - interested to know why you think the 'real' learning starts in Y1??!!!

no "g"
because year R is still technically part of the foundation phase and KS1 starts in year 1

and of course no one learn anything for the first 5 or 6 years of their lives
The reason that it is called the Foundation stage is because it lays down the foundations of learning which is built upon in the following years.

mrz
too true
but the thread started with somebody hassling their year R child to work faster
do you support that?

The child is being taught in France so isn't subject to the Foundation Stage. I personally wouldn't teach how Greythorne has described but I have no knowledge of the French system/expectations.

Is it possible that your DD is 'struggling' due to the language thing I'm assuming your first language is English and your DD is bilingual - I don't think compared with the UK system she is struggling at all but the expectations are clearly different in france but it seems to me that she would be way ahead in English that the other DC in her class so if she's a bit slow at worksheets then tell her teaher it's the english way

Talkinpeace
sorry, but I have no idea what has got you riled up.

First, you say: "reception" "work" hmmmmm
Which I assume means you are sceptical about my post in the first place. I can assure you it is quite genuine.

Then you say DD would be in Y1 (in the UK) which is wrong. No idea where you got that or even what relevance it has. But she would be in Reception in the UK. You clearly are not keeping up :)

Then, most bizarre of all, you accuse me of "hassling" my DD. Are you quite sure? I just don't get you at all.

My Dd has had very positive feedbqck on all scores except finishing her work in good time. Clearly, there is an expectation that the children should be able to finish their work within the time allocatedd. And some children are finishing their work within time allocated. I was simply asking if there are any tips on how to help a child speed up. Where on earth do you get me "hassling" her from that?

Yes, my Dd is doing well overall, but I would like to supoort her in the one area where she is weaker; can you explain what's wrong with that?

Yes, the French system is entirely different to the UK system, but we live here and I have to work with the system. Rather than questioning every method and approach in place here (which will likely get me nowhere but cause my blood pressure to rocket), I am trying to work with them and help DD as appropriate.

I have no idea why I have got your back up.

avoidlibelaction
thanks for your constructive suggestion.

I don't think it is a language issue, as DD is, as you say, a balanced bilingual (French Dad) and all the feedback we get is that her French is of an age appropriate level, nothing noticeable. In fact, her teacher this year did not even know she was bilingual / had a second language at home.

Not sure what we can do, other than hope the school can advise as it is their criteria.

Might not help, but dd2 is just 5 and her only homework is reading, sometimes she just takes ages to read because the ceiling is more interesting (must get rid of those cobwebs!). One tip from here was to set a timer and that really works for her. I think she felt that if she messed around she would have more lap and mummy time (even if a grumpy one). I now give her 15 mins, if she starts messing I just remind her that she won't get anymore time and she then wants to read more. Not sure how that would help your dd at school, but if you're doing stuff at home it might help.

I know expectations in France are different, but it is worth bearing in mind for your own peace of mind that in England she would probably just be junk modelling so she may well develop that focus independently over time. (Yes, yes I know junk modelling has its place in the recycling bin )