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Primary education

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Original poster

Worried about ds.

27 replies

PBandJSandwiches · 07/04/2012 15:14

Ds is struggling with reading and I have been supporting him in this. No progress yet but his teacher said he was doing ok. He can't even recognise a word he has just sounded out on the previous page.

Anyway, he was just trying to write a card to his Grandma and it has become obvious he doesn't even know how to form letters that are not In his name. :o

This is not good for a child entering the last term of reception, is it? Do I say something to the teacher? And obvs I will work with him at home but wanted to gauge just how far behind he is. :(

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Original poster
PBandJSandwiches · 07/04/2012 15:16

That was meant to be a shock, not a grin. He literally asked me how to do an I, a v and an e. (Plus others) :(

OP posts:
3duracellbunnies · 07/04/2012 15:29

Not to say that there isn't a problem, but dd2 also in reception will ask me how to write a letter though I know she can do it and has been for ages. I just ask her to write it how she thinks it should be, and she does it no problem, it is almost a habit that she asks. Is he 4 or 5?

pinkyp · 07/04/2012 15:32

I wrote almost an identical thread last week, my ds is 4, 5 in July. Can not read / write anything except his name either

crazygracieuk · 07/04/2012 17:56

When mine were in Reception they had an alphabet mat available for use. An alphabet mat is a small laminated card with all letters and digraphs that they had learned. Ds2 needed an alphabet mat at this stage of Reception but stopped using one within a month of y1. He's considered average for literacy btw.

Campaspe · 07/04/2012 19:01

Have you tried to discuss the issue in any depth with your son's teacher? I think if they have concerns, they will have started to raise them with you by now.

I have a DD in reception. Her reading is progressing slowly, but like your DS, she does have difficulty with forming some letters. I asked her teacher about this, and was told that children are not generally considered to be writers in YR, and that a greater focus on handwriting begins in Y1 and this is when many children make more progress.

I think the fact you are sensitive to any problems actually means if your DS does have a problem, you are well placed to get some support in quickly. Have you thought about trying a "fun" computerised learning programme such as Reading Eggs to boost his skills?

mrz · 07/04/2012 19:14

As Campaspe has said it really depends if these things would be considered a concern in your child's school. If letter formation hasn't been taught you can't expect your son to write unsupported.

RosemaryandThyme · 07/04/2012 19:49

How much reading is he doing at home?

It might help if you time how long he is trying to read as at our school they suggest 10mins which if the child is doing this, sounding words out non-stop for 10 mins really is mentally exhausting for them and does progress them quite fast.
They recover quickly and can do another 10 mins an hour or so later.
If you can do 10 mins of him sounding out, five times a day for the rest of the hols he will have read for around 7-8 hours.
He will easily be able to read school pink and most red level books by the time he goes back to school.
Might seem a bit intense but to be honest that is what I do woth mine (very pushy parent !)

RaisinBoys · 08/04/2012 15:04

My DS just didn't really get it for most of reception.

He loved books, we read to him daily and played lots of letter games and number games. I remember him trying to sound out words and not being able to. We tried not to worry, tried not to communicate any worry, had a brief word with the teacher (who said there was nothing to worry about) and we carried on reading to him and just enjoying stories and books together.

Anyway, in his last term of Reception it just clicked. He got it. He understood - he could read. He recognised words and could sound out words that he was not familiar with.

Fast forward to Y4 and he is a prolific, enthusiastic reader. Current reading matter - HP & Deathly Hallows.

The writing will come with the reading. Promise. Do some fun writing games if you want, get a letter mat (or make your own) if you want but don't panic.

Speak to the teacher if you want reassurance.

RaisinBoys · 08/04/2012 15:11

Should read "proficient reader", not prolific.

AwkwardMaryHadAnEasterLamb · 08/04/2012 15:31

My DD was like this...it was hard during year one but she suddenly got it in year two and now she's in year three she is avid...her spelling is n the top 6% of the class and her reading age is around 11-12. Go figure. I think some take longer and that's all...obviously some have difficulties for good reason...but others only need time.

wigglywoowoo · 08/04/2012 15:36

I agree with Campaspe I don't think you should be too worried by this. My daughter is in reception, while she is reading well her writing is quite poor so at the start of last term i mentioned it at parents evening and the teacher said this was perfectly normal and that she had no concerns regarding this. She also said that they did a miniimal about of work on this in YR, it was more a focus for Y1. The best person to assess your son's progress is the teacher, so have a word with her when he's back at school.

mrz · 08/04/2012 15:49

I think if a school is giving the message (either directly or implied) that writing is Y1 why would a child put much effort in reception

wigglywoowoo · 08/04/2012 16:25

Mrz do you do much letter formation work with your class?

My dd's class does some work on letter formation but this is only once a week. While there is some expectation that they should write generally, if they don't that is fine too. When they do write anything, spellings and reversals should not be corrected. dd now chants some of the words to the formation rhymes to remember how to form the letters when writing.

Given the teachers response I have done nothing to improve her writing but i can see that there has been progression as I can actually read words now.

I think the best thing to do, is to talk to the teacher if you have any concerns. Until i did, I had no idea that they did anything formal other than Numbers and Sounds.

mrz · 08/04/2012 16:28

In reception all children are taught correct letter formation for 5-10 mins a day. In Y2 I teach handwriting for 10 -15 mins daily.

scummymummy · 08/04/2012 16:31

Lots and lots and lots and lots of children don't start reading and writing fluently till quite a bit later than this, honestly. Please don't worry too much.

RedHotPokers · 08/04/2012 16:32

I wouldn't worry too much. My DD was pretty clueless (harsh i know, but true!!)and disinterested in YR. Totally not bothered about learning anything, didn't see the point, just tended to look a bit vacant if you tried to tackle any kind of schoolwork with her! Would repeatedly read the same word incorrectly, despite being reminded what it was 10 times.

However, she has come along leaps and bounds in the second term of Y1. Its like she's suddenly realised why writing and reading is handy Grin.

ContinentalKat · 08/04/2012 17:55

Judging from my 2 (Y3 and Y1) and their friends, not many children will know how to read or write "properly" before the 2nd term of Y1. From what I was being told by teachers and parents I thought that mine were both massively behind. I started volunteering in school and found out that mine were actually doing ok, my expectations were just far too high. If the teacher thinks that they're doing alright, then they probably are.

gafhyb · 08/04/2012 17:59

Please don't push the pencil/pen. If you want to focus on letter formation, do finger-writing, in glitter, sand or shaving foam, writing in the air or on your hand or your back. Make it fun.

gafhyb · 08/04/2012 18:02

mine quite like this as well

gafhyb · 08/04/2012 18:04

When he does write - keep a careful eye on his pencil grip. It's really hard to correct later on. IMO even in year 2 it's hard to change it.

gafhyb · 08/04/2012 18:09

mrz - thanks for that link. I can think of a few DCs who'd love that. The Force is Strong With You

mrz · 08/04/2012 18:10

We have light sabres and sparkly fairy wands both v popular. I use Jedi writing in Y2 and 3.

AngryFeet · 08/04/2012 18:23

My DD couldn't do anything until the 1st/2nd term of year 1 and she is a very good reader now and her handwriting is neater than DH's! She is in year two. DS is in reception and not getting it at all but is very interested so I am not worried.

bestemor · 10/04/2012 14:01

Some years ago an experiment was done (in the USA I think) where a group of children were assigned randomly to either of 2 nursery schools: one where they were started on the 3 Rs, the other where they mostly played.

They were followed up into adult life and it was found that the ones who got an early start on the 3Rs had NO long-term advantage, but the ones who got the rich play experience had better social outcomes: they were less likely to be divorced or have addiction problems, and more likely to be active in their communities, etc.

As for making 4 & 5-year-olds write, most children don't develop their fine motor skills at that age; why waste good playing time struggling with something that they will pick up much more quickly and easily a year or two later?

Let's remember that in most European countries children don't start school till they are 6 or 7, and their results are better than ours!

It's not DS that's the problem, it's the system!