Is this normal for Year 2?

[littleredsquirrel]

I have been feeling guilty about not spending much time helping DS2 (6) with his homework and so have just sat with him and looked at the maths he has to do for this week. He clearly understood the questions but struggled to write down what he was trying to say. So with one question the answer was "E" he said "E" then wrote "5" then said "agh, E" and crossed out the 5 but wrote 5 again. He then said E again and crossed out the 5 but wrote 5 again. Finally he crossed that out and wrote "E"

Is this normal? It was very odd. He did the same thing with two questions then with another he kept saying the answer to the question 220/10 was 22 but writing 10. He repeated this twice

Does it sound like it might be an issue or is this a common thing? He also misses out words when he's reading aloud, generally smaller words. He's just skipping over them.

missing out the smaller words is quite common I believe - their eyes and brain are running faster than their mouth. it could also indicate a problem my daughter skipped words because she couldn't see them.

the number thing sounds like it needs looking into IMO. unrelated but similar sort of thing, my daughter tries to say sounds in words when she is sounding them out but due to a language disorder she thinks the right sound but says the wrong one. she does a similar thing and tries to correct herself but just can't. Obviously your son's problem wouldn't be this language problem but sometimes the presentation of a problem isn't quite what you would expect is what I am trying to say. We thought DD wasn't SEEING the right things but it was actually SPEAKING the right things that was the problem.

It isn't unusual for children to reverse numbers and letters until the age of about 7 I think it is but I think generally they aren't aware they have done it, this to me sounds different because he knows it isn't what he was trying to do.

I think you need to make an appointment to speak to the teacher to ask if she has noticed this, if she has come across it before, perhaps ask to see the SENCO. Could it be some form of dyscalculia or dysgraphia? I don't really know the ins and outs of either condition but I really think it is definitely something to get checked out. It must be frustrating for him, I have seen the frustration with my daughter and now we know what her problem is she is much calmer overall even though we haven't managed to cure the problem yet.

My Y3 still does similar, but it's about him not concentrating, wanting to rush things and not thinking before writing.

Sometimes I tell him to stop and wait until later. Sometimes I make him write it all out again. (depending on how harsh I'm feeling and how messy it is)
So, it's common and you can keep an eye on it.

My yr2 ds does things like this. He's got better recently but he still occasionally writes letters and numbers backwards. Often the number 5, b's d's and p's. He often skips over a word too. I think his brain is racing!

I wouldn't be too concerned, but I find a little chat with the teacher helps to put my mind at ease sometimes.

E is the 5th letter of the alphabet, could he have been confused that way?

Agree with others that missing out words when reading is normal at this age.

I would find the 5 / e thing slightly concerning. Not that he muddled them up once (again, normal) but that it happened 3 times even when he was aware he'd got it wrong. Maybe worth a chat with the teacher.

He might be a visual spacial learner. Very bright but learns things in a different way to the expected auditory sensory learner.
Either way, at age 6 it appears to be very normal to get certain symbols mixed up so a chat with teacher would hopefully give you a better understanding. But really don't worry - he'll be fine!

Thanks everyone. I'm going to have a quick word with the teacher on Monday since it was a bit odd. He does the reversing letters thing (particularly z,p,q,and 3) but this was different.

bluewisteria , I'm not sure he's that bright ( not meaning to do him a disservice!)