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!!!!

So you would ask " Can you see "ay" cat?" not "Can you see a cat?" Or in a sho you would say "I'd like 'ay' packet of cereal please"

Yes, I would ask for "ay" anything.
Or "uh" anything.
I wouldn't ask for (flat a) anything.
Is this one of those weird inter-cultural tests I'm about to fail?

Really mrz? I would pronounce it as a shwa. Definitely not with the same sound as the 'a' in cat.

yes CecilyP I would say can I have a cup of tea /glass of wine/ new car ... not uh cup of tea or "ay" glass of wine ...I would articulate the vowel sound.

Well, I have never heard anyone do that before, but I suppose there is always a first time.

I know lots of people who say "a" not "uh" ...

How do you say "the", mrs? I would say it with long eee sound or with an uh sound.

Is there another word in English where e makes an "uh" sound?

I would say it with the "uh" sound (very occasionally thee)
The "uh" (schwa) is the most common vowel sound in English and is represented by in lots of words (as well as other vowel spellings).

Can you give a few examples of sound using plain letter e?

ten, went, sell, web, best, red, beg, hem, step, less, debt, hexagon, elephant ...

That would be a kate.

pronouncing 'a'

here

I would never say uh book

apart from the 2 ways he says it in the link, I can't work out how else you could say it!

I say "a"

well yes, but that could be 'a' as in cat or fart, or either of the ways the man in the link says it.

there isn't an "a" sound in fart and I've already said I wouldn't say "ay" or "uh" but "a"

. With the flat a like Americans would say in the word "flat".

"ten, went, sell, web, best, red, beg, hem, step, less, debt, hexagon, elephant"

Most have a different e sound from e in the, in my head. And in RWI. More like an "enh" sound? .

e in Sell and first syllable of elephant is kind of in-between the others.

Beg sounds like b"ay"g to me, Not applicable. Doesn't rhyme with meg or keg.

The second e in elephant is the only e that makes the "uh" sound to my ears (like it an in "the").

www.jollylearning.co.uk/wordpress/audio/a.mp3

I would say "a" exactly as it is in the RWI video

www.jollylearning.co.uk/wordpress/audio/e.mp3

I think the "e" sound is down to accent because beg in my accent most definitely rhymes with Meg and keg. and in elephant I would say "ee" not "uh"

I am a Reception teacher and it sounds to me as if your child is having a little trouble blending. I wouldn't worry too much about the books at this stage but instead try playing some blending games, for example: 'can you touch your h-e-d?' 'I have got a d-o-g behind my back. Do you know what it is?'

Make sure YOU read to her everyday, this is what will make the difference in the long run!

Finally, please please please can I beg all parents not to focus so much on the reding books your child gets from school. Most schools will only send home books they know the child can read fluently (so they can gain confidence!) You child will LEARN to read in school and PRACTISE reading at home. It is so frustrating when you know what you are doing and a parent asks you to change the book!!!!AHHH sorry rant over!!!

Use your library- a wonderful resource for free.

I don't know why parents attach so much importance to the one book that comes home with the DC.

It is so frustrating when you know what you are doing and a parent asks you to change the book!!!!AHHH sorry rant over!!!

	I don't know why parents attach so much importance to the one book that comes home with the DC.

Is it just me or is there a total lack of empathy going on here? If the school didn't ask me to read these books with my daughter and record what we've read in a reading diary these stupid scheme reading books would go straight in the bin. She was reading more complicated stuff than this when she was two.

HAVE YOU GOT IT NOW?????

Perhaps it would be better if schools didn't send books home

I think it would- it seems to create so much misunderstanding.