bit worried about ds. in P1 (equiv of reception) - come talk to me parents and teachers please?

[leftmysociallifeatthedoor]

Ds is 5. He has been at school since last August and is one of youngest in his year (Dec birthday).

He can read by sight about 40ish words, sounds out really quite well. However, he still writes letters back to front, even some of the ones in his name - the worst seem to be a, h, n, b and d.

In terms of numbers, I'm not sure how he's doing at all really.

He's in rthe 'bottom' group of his class and its really stressing me out. I know he isn't stupid but he daydreams and fidgets and gets embarrassed easily so won't venture an answer unless he knows he's 100 percent right.

On the other hand he can tell you all about white blood cells, oxygen, the body, star wars, planets etc etc. He's learnt all this at home, he's very interested in sciency stuff, doesn't enjoy arts really.

Does this sound ok? His teacher is a bit hard to talk to, she ums and ahs and goes all round the houses before finally, possibly, maybe answering your question.

Sounds fine to me. My DD would never answer a question unless she was absolutely sure of the answer and plenty of children of 5 can't sit still for very long.

Thanks, I think I'm especially worried because he's missed A LOT of school due to illness (nothing serious just cpox, chest and ear infections, asthma, tummy bugs, lurgy, plague etc)

Just think about it another way - the best scientists and doctors always seem to have the worst handwriting!

Don't worry, he's obviously keen to learn, just doesn't want to do the boring stuff as much yet.

sounds fine to me

my summer born ds2 spent the whole of reception (aged 4) asking what the point of school was, but happy enough to go. He's come on loads this year (year 1) - i think for summer born boys it is especially hard. Mine is doing very well on reading etc this year but still muddles up b and d, his elder brother did the same so i assume it it normal

also i am assuming your in the scottish system, my friends tell me a lot of kids dealy starting so could he be a whole year younger than other kids in the class ( which happened to my friend's kids in edinburgh), and i assume is your implication from your OP. In the english system he would be one of the older ones in the class (sept to sept starting aged 4)

Thanks.

Yes Scottish system which runs March - Feb for birthday cut offs so oldest are born in March, youngest in February, he is late December. alot of people defer entry for kids born in January + February so he is one of youngest iyswim? We could have deferred him but decided not to.

Like the comment re the handwriting, his dads handwriting is atrocious. I think I find it hard as well because Ive always LOVED reading and writing and have a degree in English so I feel like its something that should come 'naturally' for him as it did / does for me.

DS is a late September birthday so one of the youngest in his year and in P1 was similar to your ds. Good at the things that interested him but poor at writing. His writing has improved dramatically (he's now in P3) but it's still not great. Fortunately his school is supportive.

I think in P1 the most important thing is getting used to school, following rules, making friends, and learning to enjoy learning. So if he's ok with those things I'd say he's fine.

Yes hes amazingly well behaved at school (how?!) and is very popular etc.

Then he sounds as if school is going well. Support his writing at home if required and encourage him to learn. If he likes science have you heard of the CDs by they might be giants? They explain letter, numbers, science etc in songs for children. The DCs love them!

oh no I havent heard of those, am off to google now, thanks.

DD a Jan birthday and not deffered. Was in the bottom group for everything in P1, but I didn't worry as she enjoyed school and the teacher didn't think there were any issues. It suddenly all clicked just after Christmas this year, in P2. She's now doing really well.

The only things I did was always have a supply of books from the library for me/her to read/look at and paper and pens lying around the house.

Thanks Ll, thats reassuring. He has loads of books etc and we go to the library etc too. :)