Reception levels for maths and reading - am I being paranoid?

[mumrocks2]

I need your help. My DD just starting reception and whilst keen to learn doesn't have the confidence with reading - she's switched on and v aware of what is going on around her. She sees others better than her and it knocks her confidence. I read to her a lot and we read the 2 (very dull) reading books she brings home every day but she won't do them herself. Teacher says to not sit down and read with her but to bring it into every day life - but I only have an hour by time we get home with DS (2.5) to contend with too. Am feeling paranoid that she's being left behind when I know she's bright and can do it. She knows all the phonics, can sound words out but doesn't seem to be clicking with it. That and she hates numbers. I don't know what to do to help the situation apart from making hte weekend like being at school. Help!!!!

I really would not worry. My DS did not read fluently until 7 and is not a level 6B in Year 8 and in English and top of the school. Some just kick in later than others and reception is no guide as to who will do well later on in school. My DD hated reading so I used to play games with the books. Can you find the word 'like' for instance. The best thing I did was to stop trying to force it. Better to read to them yourselves.

Maybe get some more interesting phonics books from the library that she is more keen to read...

What type of books does she bring home??

The songbirds pack of books (from the book people) is fab for children who can blend at a basic level and building up their confidence...

I agree that they all seem to 'click' at different times, but you could try free ebooks here or try Reading Eggs website. If you google 'free trial' there are normally codes where you can try it out - both my DD's have loved it.
Also recommend the library, but can be time consuming and difficult if you are already pushed for time.

Thanks Simpson - will go to library and Songbird books sound good. Books she brings back are mixture of pink level from school - "this is the robot's leg - thank you. This is the robot's arm - thank you" I feel like saying excuse me whilst I die of boredom!!!

Makes me feel much better - thanks SizzleSazz and Losingtrust - just need to stop worrying about it. I'll try those ebooks - they sound good and the games are a good idea. Just seems to be a lot of pressure from school (plus I'm probably piling it onto myself as well). She loves school and is very sociable and I can't teach her that so should be pleased!!!

Phonics Songbirds free ebooks so you can check out if she likes them

Reading Eggs free trial

Sizzlesazz - this website is brilliant - thank you so much. Also helps it's on the computer - bit of novelty!!!

There are also some free ebooks on the MN learning section...

You can also check out the reading chest but you have to pay for it but you get sent books each month....

Hi mumrocks2:

Oxford Owl has free e-books by age groups and a lot of advice on how to support learning to read.

Link here: www.oxfordowl.co.uk/Reading/

Like most childhood milestones everyone develops at their own rate and it can be disconcerting to see others way ahead (which was definitely our case with DD1 - now Y5). All I can say is that you are on the right track to have identified that this is an area where your DD is struggling and to be seeking to help where you can. I agree with those that have posted above - it will all equal out in time.

Some reading whilst busy ideas:

1. Have DC read out loud to you whilst you cook or do light chores (laundry/ ironing/ dishes).

2. Have DH or partner bath DC2 whilst you read with DC1.

3. Make a point of a longer reading session with DC at the weekend.

4. Have DC1 read to DC2.

5. MEGA READING SESSION: When DD1 was in YR we'd get both DD1 and DD2 and just read all together at the end of the day. DD1 got her school reading done and maybe did a drawing or wrote a sentence or two in her reading diary and DD2 (in nursery at the time) was also read to.

In terms of reading during daily life - when you're out and about have her spot words she can read on signs, products, magazines, etc.... Have her sound out signs specifically targetted toward children - e.g. Santa's Grotto this way... Cereal boxes can be great and children's magazines can also be really useful - unfortuantely a lot are wrapped these days - but have a look and see what's out there - CBEEBIES or CITV related magazines probably are a good place to start. I remember DD2 went through a Charlie and Lola phase and it was a lot of fun - certainily a lot of craft ideas.

Make it fun?

I sometimes write out a silly sentences for DS to read. The dog did a wee on the ball and a poo in my hat. Or mum put her head in to the pot of jam. That really gets him going.

I did use the equivalent of a sentence maker which was quite good for those of us old enough to remember them. I loved using those at school but don't think they use them now.

I reckon the silly sentences will really help actually - anything that's just a bit more interesting. Am going to try all these ideas this weekend to see what works - it's raining this morning so that helps!! Thank you all for your advice. I've never used MN before and if I knew how to do a smiley face I'd do one!!

Another reception mummy here, thanks for the links, I will try them too! :)

DD loved the Usborne Easy to Read books, (Frog on a Log, Pig on a Dig, etc.), when she started to read.

The ORT 1/1+ books are easier to read and shorter than Usborne Frog on a Log, et al. I'd buy a set of Biff, Chip & Kipper first stories levels 1-3 from thebookpeople. They're relatively cheap.

Am I the only Reception mum who doesn't expect their DC to click with reading until the middle of yr1? It's what I did with the others & they've turned out fine.

DS knows the phonics for about half the letters of the alphabet. I wouldn't expect any more at this point in reception. We're working on five non-phonetic words, I'll be pleased if he mostly gets them by Christmas.

Can I ask which words are non-phonetic?

RWI, red words, e.g.: Are, To, Said, The, Was, A.

How can A not be phonetic? Who said they were non-phonetic words?

lljkk all those words are completely phonetic.

Under simplest version of RWI rules, which is as much as my 4yo can manage to learn, it makes sense to me to call those words non-phonetic.

Can you explain how the word "a" is non-phonetic when he knows the sound "a"?

I would assume because he would have been taught the sound "a" as in cat which is not the same sound as "a" in the word a.

How do you say "A cat"? I would say both sounds exactly the same way.

I would say "a" like ay from say

and cat with an American accent. Like we say the "a" in bath and mat.

Or I might say a as "uh" (like the hesitation sound). "Uh cat"

I wouldn't ever say a the word with the same sound as the a in cat.

To start, I struggled with the RWI sounds, tbh, hearing the difference between their "o" and "u" was hard for me, for instance. Think I've got it now, though.