DS 7..reading, memory, handwriting...HELP!

[Howstricks]

DS is 7 1/2. School says he is struggling with reading and phonics. Also memory skills and handwriting. Fine at everything else! He hates handwriting with a passion, has great memory skills for Match Attax for example, but obviously not longer instructions! Reading..we read every night at bedtime, his reading age at school is 8 years 4 months, but this is low in a high achieving school. Lovely year 3 teacher coming up, we are very happy to work with them. Can anyone recommend some books he can read that are going to boost his confidence..preferably not huge chunks of text..pictures would be good and interesting subject matter (to a 7 year old boy)? Also any tips to improve handwriting without it being an enormous chore? We have a list of memory games but any suggestions gratefully received. He desperately needs his self belief boosting and we are happy to help as much as possible, but do not want it to become a chore/big issue. Year 2 teacher was not approachable and rather irritable with him and DS has kind of switched off from school this year...school is aware and everyone working together so no problems there, just need suggestions on how we can help.

My DS is the year above yours and loves reading to himself now, but it is really quite recent. The thing that really helped him make the transition from us reading to him to reading on his own was Tintin! He loved the combination of pictures and text and would sit for ages just engrossed. I don't know if that is the sort of thing that would appeal to your DS? Some of the books are a bit of their time (ahem) but there are lots that are great. And I know it is easy to say but try not to worry - he sounds like his reading level is great for his age.

Handwriting on the other hand I have NO idea, that is what we are struggling with.

Thanks..I will take a look at TinTin...the handwriting is a problem. We'll try the old..'do a holiday scrapbook'..suggestion that comes up from time to time, though I can see DS will not find it terribly appealing! (Very good at condensing his day into 3 words or less when it needs to be written) I guess bribery is an option?!

My son is just finishing year 3 and has really loved the Wimpy Kid books this year - I think he's read all of them now, including one about how the films were made, which he particularly enjoyed. The text is broken up by lots of cartoons and pictures, and they're easy to dip in and out of.

With regards to writing, my son also usually hates it with a passion, but I've just got him the Wimpy Kid "Do It Yourself" book, which has lots of cartoons, quizzes and questionnaires to fill in, and a section to keep a journal, and he's been avidly scribbling in it for the last few days. It's about the first time he's ever voluntarily done any writing at home, so that's been a big success.

Instead of a holiday diary he could do a research project on something he is interested in. Or research something locally or a famous person.

DS really liked the Wimpy Kid books. Also the Train your Dragon series. He might like the 'Bare Bum Gang' series too - DS couldn't stop laughing at the title - and its written in a very clever way with speech actually feeling as though it is appropriate for the speaker - this is quite unusual in books for this age group.

Thank you..all great suggestions...I'll head to Waterstones with him at the weekend and have a look at them all.(never heard of the bare bum gang but sounds marvellous!). Yes..a research project is a fabulous idea..he loves finding out about volcanoes and deadly animals..so off to Pompeii and the Rainforest!

see if you can get hold of one of those make your own volcano kits. they are great. then he could write about it.

ps volcanoes are great - I specialised in volcanic hazards.

howstricks

it is entirely possible that your son has no cognitive memory problem. He may get distracted and not remember some concepts such as phonics taught in the classroom because he is not focused and some schools don't integrate it xtimes daily in their lessons. Also he may struggle to concentrate and focus.

The phonics cards (also a sort of memory game) worked for my daughter who is still struggling with phonics at the end of YR 2. She can tell you what a digraph is - she explained it to me - and can pronounce -u-e correctly but struggles to remember to use it when reading words like 'unicorn'. She is still developing decoding skills she should have had by the end of year 1. Some schools are still coming up to speed with the recent phonics changes - so I wouldn't worry too much.

Yes..I was wondering if he was getting distracted. Talking of distraction, how do you specialise in volcanic hazards? That sounds epic!!

haha - part of my geology degree. sadly no jobs in it in this country but I loved it (I didn't love looking at thin slices of rocks through microscopes though which I also had to do)

I'm still impressed..I would love to be able to say that I specialised in volcanic hazards..very cool!

To boost phonics bit, if you look in MN Book Reviews, "children's educational books and courses", you should find the Oxford Phonics Spelling Dictionary. This is an attractive and easy to use book, and should cast some light onto Phonics for him, and yourself. It will last him right through primary school and into secondary, first couple of years anyway.

You can see sample pages from it via the review, and purchase if you wish.

I will look back sometime to see other replies, and how you are getting on.