So what happens after phonics?

[LynetteScavo]

DS has eventually "got" phonics (after being a slow starter). He now writes everything phonetically.

He doesn't like to read. I'm trying not to force him, but he is currently struggling though Diary of a Wimpy Kid - a couple of pages a day. We buy him football magazines in the hope he will read them to himself. I suspect he just looks at the pictures and reads the footballers names.

So how do we move on to spelling correctly? His teacher has given him 20 spellings a night to learn. (Yes, 100 spellings a week). DS has taken on this challenge, and is doing OK. Each set of spellings has a theme, ie -same, take, shake...he just has to remember there is an a in the middle and an e on the end. I'm not convinced he will remember and apply in his writing.

Is reading lots the way forward?

He's Y5.

Perhaps a local youth worker or a vicar could let explain a bit about community groups to him and show him that it's worth putting more effort in to reading and writing now than leaving it for years and years and then regretting it later.

L&S what are you drinking talking about????

OP is he in to anything in particular? My DS doesn't really like reading fiction (he's 8). He's attempted lots of different stories but gets about a third of the way through before the book ends up in his bookcase collecting dust. But, when I take him to the library, he always heads straight to the non fiction section. I let him borrow whatever he likes because I know at least then he'll be reading something.

It may be worth asking his teacher if he's applying the spelling to his writing? Our school have abandoned spelling tests for that exact reason. They now just spend the week focusing on a 'rule' or two. It seems to work and stays in their head IMO

Hi Lynette.

I'm no expert so just chipping in with by tuppence worth but I don't think a child is helped much by sitting and struggling with a text. I would roll it back to books he can read with comfort whatever that may be. AFAIK spelling tracks with reading so I wouldn't stress to much about that either.

Do you use the local library? You can hire 20+ books at a time if you have several cards. I used to borrow a bag full at a time of a whole mish-mash of types, non-fiction, stories, very easy to read and so on. I would only include one or two books where the text might be 'tricky' for him. I would then get them out at bed time and say 'here you go, here's a lovely bag of books to look at' and then leave them to it. I would be inclined to try that for a week or two to get him back into thinking reading=pleasure.

Hth

He now writes everything phonetically.

Can you read what he writes?
If so correct what he writes with him - yes that is how you write those sounds but in this word * sound is spelt # type thing so that he sees the correct spelling and doesn't reinforce the mis spelling of words.

Yes, I can read what he writes. I will start to correct some words... almost every word is mis-spelled, so I don't want to go in heavy handed and upset him. Although, tbh, he never writes at home (apart from birthday cards). Homework is workbooks with comprehension questions, so mostly has to copy the text, and one word answers, ie find the correct verb to go with the picture - which is why I had been able to overlook his spelling for so long.

He's spelling words such as they, thay, which I find worrying.

I will take him to the library after school tomorrow, as we haven't been since before Christmas! He's never loved reading. He could barely read a word until he was nearly 7, then it just clicked one day. I've always read to him, as I thought this was the way forward....I'm getting a bit nervous now, though.

learnandsay - DS goes to a Catholic school - maybe I should get the priest to show him it's worth putting the effort into reading and writing now.

Praise his good attempt ...yes that is a way to write that sound but can you think of another way to write it ?(that way he's doing the work not you)