I'm angry with the school that my son can't read

[Teamumizumi]

my DS is 5 and has just finished reception. Reading has always been a struggle and he has "progressed" to level 1. I've been trying to get him to read appropriate level reading books over the summer and have now given up. He can only read basic words like "and" " to" "for" "at"..... I'mwondering what the school has been doing for 2 years -he started in their kindergarten so he has been "reading" for 2years. What he does is get the teacher/us to say the word out loud, then he memorises it. Now that he has read a couple of books cold i have discovered he cannot read at all. WHAT DO I DO???????

Ummmmmmm teach him?

How much reading do you do with him?

Sounds like this has come as a surprise to you? Why have you given up?

It's taken you this long to notice he can't read? Do you read with him? Have you discussed his progress with the school?

YY Teach him yourself

so that's what the school have done..... what have YOU done about it? surely you realised before now that he was struggling? Why didn't you speak to his teacher about it?

Don't be angry, he's still little and at the start of his school life. Just nurture reading at home, practise and speak to the teacher when the schools go back.

I don't think you need to be too worried at the moment.

My DD started school in Year 2 as a non-reader and she was on the top table by half-term.

I think what you can do is keep reading with him - bedtime books, cereal packets, road signs...

he's 5. What does he report say? How much "reading" have they actually been doing, especially in the kindergarten? DS will do his 3/4 year next year at pre-school and I think they do some very basic phonics but that's all. Why have you not picked this up before now if you're so worried?

I think it's mean to say "teach him yourself." Very few people do that from scratch.

What sort of books was he bringing home from school, OP? Did you have to do nightly reading with him?

Friggin heck. He's 5 ffs. If he's level 1 already then he's doing well. Why is everything the school's fault?

I would ask for this too be moved to Primary, there are brilliant teachers, such as Mrsz, who can give great advice.

Just as an anecdote, i was a very late reader (it just didn't click IYKWIM), and once I learned I was prolific. Good luck.

So it took you two years to notice and your blaming the school.

I'd suggest you get some early reading books and practice with him twice a day. Have words stuck up around the house etc.

I would hope that at nursery/kindergaren level children weren't being 'taught' to read anyway. He is still only young and I agree with the others how come you have only just noticed this? How much do you read with him?

if you're not confident you can teach him phonics, try readingeggs.com or you could get phonics-based books for him at home though readingchest.com . I'd post on primary education as IndigoBell usually has something useful to say about this sort of post.

Give him a boost by helping him more at home.

Stop passing the blame onto the school when you, as a parent, have given up after a few weeks, he probably sees you have given up on teaching him because its too hard and will be wondering why he should bother trying to read if its too hard.

5 year olds don't need to be able to read.

But teach him yourself if it bothers you.

How about you get of MN and go teach YOUR son to read!

Is he a child with a later birthday?

My DS is 5 and he cant read, but this isnt the schools fault. What strikes me as this comes as some kind of surprise to you.

Don't be necessarily angry at the school, your DS might have a reason for not reading. There are a number of developmental issues which slow down reading, with my DS this was autism and ADHD. Other children have dyslexia, or dyspraxia all of which can or do cause issues with the devlopment of reading.
What does the school say?

My son only started reading when his ADHD was medicated, a friend of mine who has a son with dyspraxia had lots of support once it was diagnosed and then started reading.

I am not saying that the school are not to blame but if he is in a class of 30 children and the majority of the rest are doing well then it's unlikely to be their fault.

I'd be asking them if they are noticing any other issues.

Why are you only just aware/ concerned now?

First, make sure he isn't just reluctant to show you waht he knows.

Assuming he can't read, get thee a book on phonics and start.

You have a month to teach him some of the sounds. Make it fun fun fun. Spot them everywhere you can. Make posters with them on. Read read read, emphasising those sounds...

You can easily make some progress in hte holidays.

Um...this is a 50/50 partnership. It's your responsibility to encourage your child whilst he's at home and to listen to him read every day. Point words out to him, if you're in the Supermarket give him a list to read. There's loads that you can do, he doesn't have to just read books.

I taught my son to read. Once he knew the phonetic alphabet I taught him to say each letter in a word out, then to say them without the gaps in between. It's a lot easier then teaching them to recognise every word.

OP, if I were you, I would do what I could over the holidays and then take it up with the school in September. He may need to go to an intervention group at school or whatever they may be called.

It is a bit surprising that you have only realised now, though, that your child cannot read after two years at school?!

I don't think the issue is that he is 5 and can't read, it's that it took you 2 years to notice?!