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Y3 help?

119 replies

ihearttc · 15/02/2013 19:07

Sorry didn't quite now how to word this!

Just wondered if any teachers could help if possible? DS1 is in Y3 at a Junior School (this is relevant I think). When they did their SATS last year he got 3's across all the subjects. It wasn't written what levels on report but teacher said he was 3B in Maths and 3C in literacy.

When they assessed them at the start of Y3 he was apparently 3C in Maths and 2A in literacy...fair enough to be expected after holidays I suppose despite the fact that he did reading and maths in the holidays. They have now been assessed again and he is now a 2A in Maths and a 2C in Literacy. He is a little boy that takes everything to heart and is so upset and I don't quite know what to do to help him.

I totally understand about different teachers and with it being different schools (they are linked though) then obviously there will be variations but is it really normal for him to both fail to improve and in my opinion fall quite drastically in that period of time?

He isn't fond of writing I will say that but Im a bit stuck as to why this has happened? He is "free reading" if you can call it that...school books are a bit short on the ground (well the ones he enjoys!) so he is reading some Michael Morpugo ones (Billy the Kid etc), David Walliams and he has just finished Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. What sort of level is a 2C?

It honestly doesn't matter to me what level he is on...just want to make that clear but Im surprised that he has "fallen" this much and he is bothered by it and I want to help him.

Oh and if anyone can point me in the direction of some more books he might enjoy that would be great!

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jodieland · 21/02/2013 13:19

My job role changes and evolves from school to school and week to week really, Feenie. It confuses me too at times ;-)
I do whatever schools need based on my expertise. Anything outside of my expertise I pass the work on to someone better placed to advise on it.

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Feenie · 21/02/2013 13:21

Ah, so no one 'allowed' you to become an advisor after 6 years - you are self-appointed?

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jodieland · 21/02/2013 13:21

Sorry mrz - never meant to confuse anyone! :-) I don't have one specific job role but to try and explain everything involved would take forever and would change again tomorrow I expect so will leave it there!

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jodieland · 21/02/2013 13:24

Yes I guess Feenie. I was often asked to go and support other schools within my own borough originally. My headteacher was always happy to allow that where possible. But gradually the need outside my own school grew and so I decided to take the move to working from home - mostly as I didn't want my class to keep having a supply teacher but also I didn't want to keep refusing help to schools. It felt like the right decision. Time will only tell and I suspect I will find a different role at some point when demand dies down!

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mrz · 21/02/2013 13:26

curiouser and curiouser

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jodieland · 21/02/2013 13:34

Hehe mrz and Feenie. I am just bemusing myself as I spend most of my online time chatting to other people doing a very similar role as myself so it is the first time I have tried to explain it to people outside that network. Never realised I was so curious! Grin

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jodieland · 21/02/2013 13:38

Back on topic for a second though I notice ihearttc wanted book recommendations. I haven't used them personally but hear a lot of good things about the Rising Stars collection All Star High collection which is aimed at struggling or reluctant readers www.risingstars-uk.com/all-series/all-star-high/ if that is the kind of thing he may be interested in? It says interest age 9-11 and reading age 7-8 so may have some words higher than 2C level but might be worth seeing if he may be interested in them?

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mrz · 21/02/2013 14:00

I think the overall literacy level may be lower due to lower writing levels if the OPs son is reading Dahl, Morpurgo and Kinney for pleasure.

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ihearttc · 21/02/2013 16:48

Crikey...I haven't been on for a few days and wasn't expecting that many replies!!

Yes I think mrz is right...the reading and overall comprehension etc seems to be absolutely fine and Ive come to the conclusion that its the writing that its causing the problem which I assume will have a fairly drastic impact on the overall level?

There is no way I could get him to read those books Jodieland but thank you for the suggestion though...what he actually wants is to just read information books which is absolutely fine Im pleased he is reading but Im sure thats not going to help his writing much! He loves David Walliams and Roald Dahl because they are funny so need something to appeal to his sense of humour. The Michael Morpugo books he has read have been football related as he loves that as well!

I can't remember who else it was that asked but just to reiterate...I never told him his level at all. The teacher told the whole class in front of everyone.

I know that its probably not a great idea but got some English/Literacy exercise books from WH Smiths yesterday and looked at them with him to see what he could/couldn't do mainly if there was anything I could do with at home...I actually picked up a Y4 one and he has whizzed through it no problem at all. So I think he knows what he needs to know but cannot get it down on paper in the form of a story or whatever...for example he knows where to put speech marks,punctuation etc but its the imagination and story telling part he is struggling with so thought I could encourage him to try a write a short story and try to write a bit a day so that he is really thinking about what he is writing?

No idea if it will work but its worth a try!

Many thanks for all your help everyone...it really is much appreciated!

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Tidypidy · 21/02/2013 17:10

I found the Laurence Anholt books very popular with yr 3/4 boys. Most are based on traditional stories with a twist so cinderella becomes cinderboy who wants to play for royal palace united! Might be worth a go.

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Feenie · 21/02/2013 19:44

Ah, back on my pc now as opposed to my phone, and have reread the thread - Taffeta, I am really concerned that you found jodieland's post of Tue 19-Feb-13 09:27:16 9.27 the most helpful and informative you have encountered, since it contains such a huge amount of misinformation. It's hard to find anything in it which is accurate, actually, starting from the opening line (Am a teacher) and ending at the 'Lastly' point.

Seriously - massive pinch of salt.

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ihearttc · 21/02/2013 20:18

Oh Tidypidy...have never heard of those before but they sound great and just the thought of thing which would appeal to him! I did let him make a book list on amazon at the start of the week but it was literally full of football books, horrible histories and stuff like that! Will try to steer him in the direction of those I think...very gently though as if he thinks I want him to read it he won't!!

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Feenie · 21/02/2013 20:23

They are here, ihearttc - as a collection and as singles.

Little Horrors are also popular, and Mr Gum books are never in our library as they fly off the shelves the second I get them in.

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teacherwith2kids · 21/02/2013 20:24

DS - another football boy - loved the Jack Stalwart series, and I used them very successfully with a Year 3 class.

There are also some good short historical fiction books by Terry Deary and others that may be sufficeintly 'Horrible History-like' to be acceptable but are actually fiction IYSWIM? A search for 'favourite period in history' (e.g. Victorian / Egyptian / whatever) in Children's Books > Fiction in Amazon is usually worth a try!

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teacherwith2kids · 21/02/2013 20:25

Mr Gum also a favourite. And as you probably know, Rob Childs and Tom Palmer have produced many, many books of football fiction ... at least better than reading the various football encyclopedias!

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ihearttc · 21/02/2013 20:37

We have had loads of the Tom Palmer ones but not Rob Childs...will add those to the list and I had no idea Terry Deary did fiction ones as well. Theo Walcott has written some football ones as well but no idea how good they are!

I think its much easier with girls books I have to say or maybe I have just got a boy who is difficult to please...I did suggest he read The Enchanted Wood the other day mainly for my benefit as I loved it so much but he read 3 pages and pronounced it "rubbish" apparently so am going to read it to myself!!

Thanks once again!

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mrz · 21/02/2013 20:46

Our boys love Mr Gum Jack Stalwart Astrosaurs, Axel Storm

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Feenie · 21/02/2013 20:50

I have met Tom Palmer a couple of times - very nice bloke Smile

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