Parents Evening - DD YR1 not concentrating ..advice please?

[ShazGriff]

Hi,
My DS is 6 yr1 and last night the feedback we got is the she is progressing " steadily" but could do better, but she is not concentrating when doing work at the tables. Too busy worrying about the person next to her is doing etc, she is good listening, answering questions in all other areas but does not seem to focus when doing the work. My DH is dyslexic, which they know, and they said do not think DS is. They asked can she concentrate at home, is she eating well, as it the concentration levels comes and goes. My DS is a bright and quite independent girl, and is not one to easily follow other people, so she does want to be in charge a lot.

They made me feel like they were looking for other reasons to blame (ie tiredness, not eating, etc..) rather than they were finding it hard to teach her ?? Anyone had similar issues ? xx

My dd2 was like this in year 1 and year 2. If she's on the ball she's very quick, but loses concentration, particualrly if she felt she can do it easily (not always right there though). I think the watching others was not because she was following them, but either because it was more interesting, or so she could check they were doing it right.

However she seems to be much better in year 3.

PS. Ds=son dd= daughter

Oh my ds just growing out of this in year 2. Very 'silly' in Reception and 'easily distracted' in year 1. Apart from few blips doing much better in year 2- developmental thing with him I think.

Another "same here" - DS was exactly the same in Y1 and Y2, but at last parents' evening Y3 teacher said he "is very focussed and works hard" (nearly fell off my chair). With him it was definitely a maturity thing.

Another same here!!! DD was "easily distracted, away with the fairies and unable to sit still" for YR,1,2..... Yr 3,4,5 we had "she does not listen to a single word we say...." Y6 she is being asked to sit the level 6 SATs papers.... so if she wasn't listening how EXACTLY did she learn...?

They are quite right to discuss factors like diet and sleep. They have a huge impact on a child.

A cooked breakfast will keep her blood sugar far more even than coco - pops. They might as well ask.

Indigo, what did you have in mind for inclusion in this cooked breakfast. I could maybe get my daughter to eat a boiled egg in the morning, but anything much more would entail a struggle.

An egg would be great. They just need more protein than carbs.

Made a massive difference to my DDs energy levels. I wish school had spoken to me about her diet

My DS (five and a half) is similar, or was at the last parents' evening. Have to see if he's improved but from his behaviour at home I highly doubt it! Very absent minded frivolous little thing. Can't think where he gets it from.

Is it fair to say that a child doesn't concentrate? Doesn't it depend on what's going on at the time? And don't the really young ones have bursts of concentration, bursts of silliness, etc? My daughter is completely out of control some of the time. But, give her a pen and a pencil or a box of wooden letters and she becomes an angel for about ten minutes to half an hour. Isn't the point that you have to give them what they find interesting not what you find interesting?

Oops DD it is..
Anyhow, my DD eats well at home and sleeps well, only bit I don't know is if she eats her school meals. When she is engaged in a task at home, she does focus. If she does not see the point of what she is doing, then she does not. She has always wanted to be involved in things and see what is going on with others even in nursery, so it does not surprise me she is interested in seeing what the person next to her is doing. You just need to know how to handle her, in my opinion.

All sounds pretty typical and I think generally improves with maturity. My DS2, also in year 1 is absolutely in that somewhat tedious zone where the gap between his oral carpet work (so to speak) and his written work is vast, because he just doesn't apply himself to the latter unless he is really interested ("I don't want to write about Goldilocks; she is just a nasty little criminal"). I am hoping that a work ethic will blossom soon.......

Ds2 is the same but being child number 3, I feel more confident feeling that he's only 5 (6 in August) and as long as he doesn't disrupt others when not concentrating then it will hopefullycome with age.