Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Are Y1meant to revise for this phonics thingy? [hmm]

40 replies

orangeandlemons · 15/06/2012 14:49

Because she is only 5, and I am not a big fan of homework for this age group at all.

Had a letter home this week saying please go through stuff with your child for phonics screening.

I don't have some of the "stuff" and not sure that I would do it if I did. But will this disadvantage her? I am a teacher, and she is our 4th, but just can't get worked up about this. But there will be those that do, and this may affect her confidence. She's very bright, so shouldI push her more, or just leave her to read lots which she loves

But she's 5...5fgs!Where can I find this phonics stuff online? Do I really need it?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Greeata · 15/06/2012 14:55

We haven't been asked to. I thought it was a check to make sure that the school is teaching phonics well not a test on the child as such.

wigglywoowoo · 15/06/2012 14:57

I didn't think you were. \if she is reading and sounding out well then she should pass.

Original poster

orangeandlemons · 15/06/2012 15:39

Well, we definitely had a letter encouraging preparation.

Thank you for putting it into perspective. The school is very pushy and competitive, so it figures.

OP posts:

becstarsky · 15/06/2012 15:46

We had a letter too, and they've had spelling tests every week plus ten sheets of words to practice 'look, cover, say, write' with just this week. Add it to his book to read and the bits of practise they tell us to do during parents evening to help DS reach his 'targets'... DS is luckily oblivious to it all and just gets on with it, but one of his friends got very upset about the first spelling test they had and was vomiting with nerves before school. Our school is near the bottom of the SATs results tables in our area - it was near the top four years ago with previous Head and I think this Head, who has been there two years now, is now doing a sudden mad push... I'm not very happy about the school at the moment.

Greeata · 15/06/2012 16:03

it's not good when little ones are put under so much pressure they become ill.

mankyscotslass · 15/06/2012 16:04

Our school is also pushy and competitive, but even they have not mentioned anything to us about the Phonics Test for DS2 in YR1.

They are only little, the pressure is wrong.

Original poster

orangeandlemons · 15/06/2012 16:09

Well my ds 18 couldn't even read at that age. He is about to go to uni with some A* A levels. So it must mean nowt!

I am leaving her to play and have fun. Benign neglect

OP posts:

Popcornia · 15/06/2012 16:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

becstarsky · 15/06/2012 16:19

BTW in answer to the question in your post orangesandlemons we aren't doing any extra preparation with DS because I want him to remain oblivious. I know that the kid who was vomiting before the test last time, the parents had the best of intentions, just trying to follow what teachers had told them to do, but they'd got him practising those spellings and doing practise tests etc. and for a nervous child it was just too much.

Trying to get them to 'cram' (which the letter kind of encouraged) is getting them into bad study habits anyway. At the age of FIVE/SIX fgs! I do his reading book and encourage interest in science, books, using everyday maths etc. That's should be sufficient for a little boy who only turned 6 recently!

Original poster

orangeandlemons · 15/06/2012 16:25

Yes, reading is the way to go. These poor kids, ds's generation were meant to be the most tested generation, but it seems this lot are going to worse.

She has just discovered some phonics games online and is happy playing them

OP posts:

mrz · 15/06/2012 16:33

No they aren't meant to revise. The check is to show what the child knows now and what they still need to learn and which children need some extra help. Cramming for it will hide the children that need support... but possibly make the school look good.

EdithWeston · 15/06/2012 16:35

This is a decode test, not a wider reading test.

You can't "revise" for it. If they can decode, they will have no problem at all (so don't worry popcornia it's not something that goes off).

If they cannot decode, then no amount of "revision" is going to help, they need proper support.

All you can do is keep reading - them to you if they can, and of course you to them.

ContinentalKat · 15/06/2012 16:45

We have been given phonics "flash cards" as well as examples of words to expect at the test. We have also been told in no uncertain terms encouraged to practice.

I have flicked through everything with dd once or twice, and otherwise completely ignored the whole thing.

They seem to be doing an awful lot of practising at school, that should be more than enough.

Elibean · 15/06/2012 16:49

Our school isn't doing anything it doesn't usually do

Elibean · 15/06/2012 16:49

The was at any schools trying to do extra practice or 'revision'!

EdithWeston · 15/06/2012 16:59

BTW: I've just been watching the proper old Batman on ITV4: during a fight scene, amongst the all the "pow!" and "biff!" they had "zlonk" and I thought of this thread.

ContinentalKat · 15/06/2012 17:08

Edith, I know.
Dds teacher seems to be very panicky about the whole thing and is also teaching them the proper terms for everything.

We are supposed to practice stuff like: write down a word with a digraph in it.

I let them stress about it in school. Luckily dd doesn't seem to be stressed, and I couldn't care less!

Orchidskeepdying · 15/06/2012 17:18

Im a year one teacher and I have done nothing more than my usual daily phonics lessons. I don't actually know how parents could practice with the children - some of them will not know the sounds themselves...

To be honest - I would have done a phonics assessment with my class anyway but it would be for myself so I know next steps. It feels a bit SATs like!! I am starting to get quite nervous even though I know my children are good at phonics and can read!!!

Oh well, it'll be over soon.

mrz · 15/06/2012 17:29

I find the number of panicking Y1 teachers slightly alarming and although I keep saying there shouldn't be a need for a national check because good schools will assess pupils decoding ability, the panic seems to indicate there clearly is a need.

Elibean · 15/06/2012 17:32

Yes. I suppose, arguably, some of the panic - for some of the teachers - is simply a reaction to the feeling of Big Brother Checking On You?? Most of the human beings I know, teachers or not, can't help some sort of internal reaction to tests/checks.

Although translating the panic into flash cards is another matter altogether

ContinentalKat · 15/06/2012 17:39

In out teachers defence I have to say that she is fab and all the kids' reading is average or above average. She just tends to panic, hence my very relaxed attitude.

I am a parent reader and I know that they will all be fine. Poor teacher though is a chronic worrier.

rhinobaby · 15/06/2012 17:54

Do the parents get their child's individual result? Our school has not mentioned the test at all.

Toaster24 · 15/06/2012 17:56

orangeandlemons "leave her to read lots which she loves"

^ that.

DilysPrice · 15/06/2012 17:59

Flashcards!

redskyatnight · 15/06/2012 18:43

DD's school hasn't even mentioned the phonics test. We are reading as normal but that's it.

Flip

1 2