DS is STILL learning initial sounds in Reception!!!!

[moonblushtomato]

DS has told me he is bored at school as he's learning things he's known for about 2 years - his letter sounds.

I think he should now be learning blends, ai, oa etc.

I don't want to come across as pushy or that I think my son is a genius (because he isn't) but I also don't want him switching off already in his first year at school.

What I need to know is the right way to go about talking to the class teacher about it??

Any ideas? TIA

Um, can't you teach him blending and further reading yourself? And send him to school with a book to read with the TA.

Speak to the teacher and ask how she feels he is doing. Does he have specific phonics lessons?

ai and oa are not blends - they are digraphs. Two letters that make one sound. Blends are two sounds blended together like bl, sl, cl, etc.

Speak to the teacher and ask why digraphs are not being taught yet.

Yes, don't call them blends, he'll get really confused!

Just to be clear ai, oa aren't blends they are single sounds represented by two letters. A blend would be st, dr, nd etc.
How many sounds does he learn a week? I would have expected him to have been taught ai ee igh oa oo ch etc by this stage in the year.

My daughter is still revisiting letters, but she is making good progress with reading and writing so I'm not too worried. I think it is about much more than just the sounds, they are writing them too and doing spelling of tricky/red words. They do phonics from r to yr 3, and they are placed according to ability not age, which seems to work well. My dd1 knew her letters at 3, but putting it all together and blending took much longer.

oa is interesting. It's one sound in the word toad but two in the word boa.

Yeah, go chat to the teacher- do they send a letter to say what they are learning at all/have a notice up on the classroom window? If not maybe you could suggest it! My son's class have covered the 31 first sounds and have also been practising blending. When they cover a sound we often get a sheet to practise it, both saying and writing- eg ch, oo, ee, ing, and a few more I can't remember right now! Whilst my son is further ahead than most of his peers in his reading he enjoys the phonics they do and I see it as excellent reenforcement (sp?) of his knowledge.

learnandsay, I think that's because there is no following consonant in boa to change the oa into a digraph.

Dd2 has done ck, ss, ff, ll, zz and qu too. They seem to do a whole lot, then revise them all before moving on, she seems to know ing too, but not sure if she has figured that out for herself. Maybe talk to the teacher about whether the class is split into groups, and also he may not be showing them the same level of understanding that he shows you.

Also, please bear in mind that the total amount of time per day spent doing phonics of any kind will be very small - there will be lots and lots of other play-based activities.

So if he is truly bored (as a pose to just 5 minutes here and there) it will be a rather wider problem.

Actually, I'm quite amazed that any child would be bored in reception - lots of play opportunities, lots of other children to play with and lots of opportunities for learning at their own pace.

im shocked they do formal learning in reception!i think its too early.Im all up for them learning to read as long as they are ready,but actually sitting them down and teaching them in reception?ridiculous.

Were you not taught when you began school Cuddler?

I don't think the kids see it as "formal learning". Saying a sound with your class mates, your wonderful teacher and a friendly chap called Fred too makes it pretty fun .

Thanks all Some good ideas here.

No barbarian I think its purely the phonic sessions that are boring him because he knows it already and isn't being stretched IYSWIM.

I'm going to be brave and set up an appointment to talk to the teacher tomorrow using some of the advice here. Thanks again

My DD claims to find her RWI lessons "boring" and I'm hardly shocked, as she is in a different group to her best friends and it doesn't involve dressing up as a princess or colouring in..

That said, she has learnt igh, oi, oy, ai etc..

I think you just need to be careful that you don't come across as a deluded parent who thinks their child is a genius - I am not saying that I think this is what you are, just it could perhaps come across as such. It always makes me laugh how often parents cling onto the "s/he is obviously misbehaving because they are bored/not being stretched" thing.. If it was me I would avoid those phrases, and simply begin a dialogue.

Which letter sounds does he know?

Hello mrz glad you've joined this thread, I know you're a bit of an expert!

He already knows all the single letter sounds.

What he doesn't know yet are sh, ch, th, ss etc.

I think I will start to teach him the digraphs that are usually taught through Letters and Sounds, do you know what they are exactly, e.g. ai, oa. If not what would be a good website to find out?

I do a bit of supply teaching and happen to teach Reception at another local school where they seem to be streets ahead in their teaching of phonics (although I don't actually teach Phonics when I'm there I know that they use Letters and Sounds as opposed to Jolly Phonic used at DS's school).

SLVC ironically I did go and speak to the class teacher and it so happens that he is getting bored when he can't do the activities he wants to!!! How embarassed was I?!

Having said that I am still concerned he's not being challenged regarding Phonics.

Sorry mrz, just re-read thread and realised you'd already joined it

Would still like your help!

'oa is interesting. It's one sound in the word toad but two in the word boa.'

..is boa an English word though?

He is in Reception - to be blunt I would stop fussing!
If you teach him stuff at home he will continue to be bored. When they do the same stuff at school, he will already know it and will be bored.
Id leave the school learning to the school.
If he learns school stuff at home by osmosis thats different but if you actively teach him stuff ime it just results in more boredom at school. I imagine that by the end of reception they will have covered it.

Teach him stuff he wont learn in school and have fun -knit, cook, whatever. Read read and read stories.

There is no rush...........
Truly sorry if Im being blunt

CakeMixture I know deep down you are right!!

......being a teacher doesn't help

Another issue for me is that DS1 had learning difficulties so always found school a struggle so now DS2 comes along, the poor little nipper, its so wonderful seeing him picking things up so easily that I want him to do really well!!

My dc both have learning diffs so I do know what its like.

My dd is 7 and doesnt know her initial sounds - I cant say with confidence that she knows any of them. (probable dyslexia) I was thrilled today when she worked out that bat and ball both started with 'b'
But Im not worried because she will get their in her own time :) and being home educated helps because she thinks she is super clever :)

Read read read fantastic fun stories, play for hours outside, dont bore him senseless with 'homework' :)

If he wants to learn them, teach him. The JP DVD and CD are fantastic and kids 'learn' without realising it

It is never to young to foster a love of reading.

Once he can read the world opens up to him so much he won't be bored as he can read his own books, write stories (in his head if needs be in boring phonics lessons ) etc

I cannot believe someone has said 'don't teach him stuff at home , he will only get more bored' - what about 'Every child matters' and 'individualised learning'

Have you heard of Mr Thorne Lots of literacy and phonics games and videos.

There are activities/ videos grouped in the different phases of the letters and sounds scheme. I would imagine your son is around phase three if he knows all his basic letter sounds.