Please tell me DS will just "get" reading

[PeterParkerSays]

DS is in Reception and an August baby, so one of the youngest in the year.

I admit that this concern has been caused by the mother of DS' friend saying how she was surprised the her DS has just jumped up their reading scheme from level 9 to 16, having started on level 2 in September, but DS is just toddling along with level 2 books - he's only had books with words in since Christmas, has no interest in reading, says he doesn't know what words say, makes no attempt to read, and just doesn't "get it".

I think I naively thought that DS would jump at the chance to read because we've read to him loads from being a small baby, and he loves being read to, but he just has no interest in reading at all.

If you had a child who couldn't read when they started Reception, when did they start making notable progress? Also, if we try to push this with him, are we just going to put him off reading altogether? I don't know whether to just carry on with him as we are, and wait for it to click, or to try more intensively to get him to read.

I know that he's only 4, and won't get to 18 still on his level 2 books, but I'm just concerned that other children seem to be showing progress in their reading level and he's not.

proudmama - if you go on the home ed board there are lots of amazing stories about home ed and dyslexia. Ignore the haters :)

He may very not be bothered yet. My DS made zero reading progress last year in Reception, apart from letters and sounds, and his teachers were absolutely chilled about it and assured me he'd get it when he was ready.

He started off on level 1 ort in Sept in Y1 and just finished level 6. I'm thrilled with his progress.

There's some unwritten law on MN about how every child should be able to read a Dickens classics by the end of the EYFS..."or else." Ignore that noise!

I've had lots of success with dyslexic children - but I wouldn't call being unable to read until 16 years old a success story - poor child

Not sure why you would translate scepticism as hatred. Odd.

But yes, should you ever come across anyone who 'hates' dyslexic children or home ed then do ignore them - very good advice.

Feenie - please leave me alone. I have reported you.

That's fine - you are entitled of course, if you genuinely think I have broken terms and conditions.

I would say that politely answering a post which says 'ignore the haters' probably doesn't though. But by all means go ahead.

I don't hate either dyslexic children or home education of any sort. But I do find it hard to believe that somebody went from not being about to read to a B in GCSE in less than a year.

And I also, I have to say,have my doubts about completely autonomous education for a dyslexic child............

Autonomous h.e works really well for children with SEN. It's one of the reasons many parents choose it.

The thing with not being able to read is different in an autonomously ho edded child. Because no one will test them or force them to read, often they are slowly building up their skills before they are ready to show them.

I know autonomous education works well for some children with SEN.

But can you really say that being unable to read until the age of 16 'works well'?

Think of all the poor girl missed out on

No because her mum (who is my son's maths tutor) read everything she wanted to know to her. The stats show that HE children do better than their social counterparts in school. There are amazing stories about kids' progress once they come out of the school system.

But childhood pleasure in reading is so much more than being read to. And what about the lack of independence? Reading is a life skill.

It's not about progress though in this case, is it?

So not really autonomous, then.

If a child was in school and behind with reading or unable to do it at all, it would cause all sorts of self esteem and mental health issues. That's why the HE thing is great. To get back to the main point - even if you did only read age 16 then that is still in time for exams etc if such things were important to you. The girl in question did get some GCSEs (don't know how many) and is now training to be a decorator at college. She seems happy to be which is why I mentioned her in the first place.

There are indeed many fantqstic stories of the progress HE children do when they come out of school. But as far as I am aware there are no stats that show they do better than school educated children. I'm not saying that some don't, obviously. I just don't think there are any stats that show it. Happy to be proved wrong.

Martorana - autonomous education is a whole different way of learning. Parents will read to their kids etc but only if the child wants it. The child is in control of what they want in terms of their learning. I don't follow it myself but many do with great success.

I had some stats a while ago on my face book page. I will see if I can find them.

But reading isn't just about tests or exams, you seem to be missing the point. And of course she's not miserable, she has no idea what she's missed out on - a whole childhood of pleasure that isn't the same with just your mum reading to you. It's really sad.

Just googled and found this: www.pjrothermel.com/research/Researchpaper/BERAworkingpaper.htm

I know what autonomous education is.

Mum reading to you, if you can't read yourself sounds pretty good to me.

Then you'll know that the parents read to their children.

Reading for pleasure can't be measured using stats!

Is this a normal home edder 'thing' - to be so hung up on facts and figures?