How to help dd aged 5?

[lostlalaloopsy]

My dd is 6 in October and is in primary 2 - we are in Scotland. She is currently on Oxford Reading Tree Level 4. Teacher told me today that she is very immature compared to rest of class and she will on level 4 for the considerable future as she can't cope with anything more difficult.

I feel completely gutted for dd, she hasn't had the easiest start - health problems, speech delay, glasses for a squint. She has been crying that she wants to move to Level 5 with the rest of her friends but this obviously isn't possible.

Anyone got any tips/advice to help improve her reading skills? We read to her every night, do school books every night. Is there anything I can do to improve her maturity levels?

I just want to cry for her!

I would ask the teacher for a meeting. Her telling you that is pointless unless she is able to tell you what the school are doing to support her and anything extra you can do at home.

I did ask her what I could do to help, but she told me that there was nothing to do apart from continuing to practice at home.

Oxford reading tree aren't great because there is no link between the order phonics should be taught in and the content of the books (at least not when I worked in literacy last - 3 years ago), most schools had them and they are expensive as the 'tree' is so big. They are limited from a literacy point of view especially if you have any sort of issue. Ask at the library about books which follow the letters and sounds system. Ask the teacher to give you suggestions - see if they know their stuff

Have you tried the songbird phonics series? I didn't find a lot of difference between level 4/level 5 on those and that might give her more confidence. They focus on the sounds and blending etc rather than lots of text/difficult concepts. You can usually get good deals on them on amazon.

In terms of maturity - I'm not quite sure what they mean, is it in understanding the text? Do you read her books other than the school books? Ds1 reads v well but his ability to read the words is way ahead of his understanding sometimes and so when I read to him then if there's a new word or a concept I stop and ask him if he understands it and then we talk about it. Eg we came across 'jealousy' the other day and talked about what it meant. He gets frustrated if I try and do this with books he is reading but if I do it when I'm reading to him he doesn't mind. Have you tried this sort of thing? Also pointing out and talking about things when you're out or in newspapers etc so you can talk about the concepts/words used etc and get her used to slightly more mature/complex language.

When my dd2 was in infant school I didn't take much notice of the school books. We read them and penciled in the reading record that s about it. Then every week I took my dd to local library to borrow books that she enjoyed and often borrowed the higher level books. Try feel more relax about the levels and develop the enjoyment of reading. My dd didn't started reading and writing before y1.By the end of y2 her reading was age 9 and spelling age 10. However my dd still has concentration problem. Just keep going.

Thank you so much for the replies.

In terms of maturity, the teacher said she is struggling to follow instructions in class and is very immature compared to rest of class. I'm actually quite annoyed with teacher now, I only stopped to speak to her about dd's missing homework diary and she came out with all this - I mean if there was a problem surely she should have contacted myself or dh before? I am worried that she is now going to be written off completely by the school.

We have been reading the Rainbow Fairy books before bed, I think I will try your approach littleoaktree and get her more involved in the stories/words. We will also start going back to the library every week - this has fallen by the wayside.

I will also speak to teacher again for advice on other books we should be reading, although I don't think I'm going to get much of a response.

Don't worry about your child being written off by the school. I had 2 immature girls in my class last year. They bounced off each other and had no self control. I set my stall out early with these two and consistency paid off. Both parents were supportive of strategies in class and both made vast improvements. 1 used to bite when people took her things like pencils etc so we worked with given phrases she could use because she explained she bit because she didn't know what to say or how to deal with the situation. The other was daft as a brush but didn't know where to draw the line. We worked with rules and expectations and reasons we have these. Both parents commented on how much progress they had made socially and emotionally at the end of the year. One made such a turn around she made two years worth of progress and won awards at the end of year. Do not be put off with what you have been told and work with the school to enable the best strategies for her to make progress.

Thanks dangly you sound like a great teacher, unfortunately I don't think dd's teacher will have the same approach. She was quite specific that there was nothing really to be done to help her .

I'm going to speak to her at pick up today and ask about improving dd's phonics and what other books could help - I also want to see if she has anything positive to say about dd as she was extremely negative. If I get nowhere I will go to see the head teacher although he is retiring soon so who knows if he will be interested.

My DS struggled with reading until P3. In P2 he struggled to read the basic words eg the, but, and, of etc. I made up word snap using all these words and also words which he would find more exciting. We played snap and this really helped him with word recognition. I also bought a large a jotter with lines at the bottom and space at the top for pictures. I would write and adventure which he teddy bear and got up to that day, had he would draw a picture and then read the story back. Both these activities helped him.
Do remember she is very young. My DS struggled in P1 and P2 and really started to flourish in P3.

How did you get on at pickup? I actually think that is not the best time to speak. You would be better to phone the school and ask for a proper meeting. This would also give the teacher time to look at your dd work first.

It sounds like you felt you had failed. I did this too when they said my dd had gone backwards over the year - my first response was to ask what I should do to help. However, once off the phone I got cross; that was their job! Yes I should support them but if my dd was falling behind then they should be telling me what they are doing to help! Don't ask what you should do; ask what they are doing to identify her areas of difficulty, what support measures they are putting place and does she have an individualised education plan?

I think that a book that could helps her, and she would probably enjoy as it seems quite 'grown up' is in the MN Book Reviews, in the "Children's educational books and courses" section.

The Oxford Phonics Spelling Dictionary can be used by children on their own, or with adult support if they wish. It builds on what children this age SHOULD be taught about Phonics, but schools and teachers vary considerable, so some do it better than others.

The MN review gives a link to see sample pages from the book, and also to purchase if you so wish. As a primary TA for twenty years I consider it one of the most reassuring books for young readers.

Bilberry that is completely how I feel, a total failure. How is your dd getting on now?

I spoke with teacher who was much friendlier and had much more to say! She said dd was very immature and had poor concentration, dd finds it difficult to stay on one task and her mind seems to wander if she is finding something difficult. The teacher thought it would have been better if dd had deferred starting school until this year, although I don't find this particularly helpful as she is now in primary 2.

The teacher said to continue practising reading and writing with her, she then brought up dd's health issues at this point I got quite upset and had to leave. Nothing has been easy for dd, I feel so bad that this is yet another hurdle for her.

Doublethecuddles thank you for telling me that! My dh thinks that it will all eventually click into place for dd, but I am a worrier. I like your idea of the stories and pictures, I will try that at the weekend with her. We already have flash cards so can start playing snap with her as she struggles with the same basic words.

Ferguson thanks for the info on the book, I will order that tomorrow.

Parents evening is in 2 weeks so teacher said she will have a better update, and I will go sling with a list of questions. I am going to ask for a weekly updates, this could easily be done through her homework diary - not sure how agreeable the teacher will be though!

Thanks to everyone for your replies, it makes me feel more positive for dd!

Give Reading Eggs on the computer a try - there are usually free trials to be had. A different way of approaching reading might be the little spark she needs. Oh and I agree that songbirds are the nicest phonics books.

Is level 4 bad for a 5 year old, just started in P2/Yr1 though?

I know my DS is not great at reading and I just looked up an example of a level 4 ORT and my DS (6 in Nov) would struggle to read it without help. He would get the words but very slowly and with a fair amount of sounding.

The teachers haven't mentioned its of concern yet?

Hope you are feeling better op.

There's a code knocking about for a 5 week free trial for reading eggs. That might help.

Tbh she needs to understand the books she has are right for her. What her friends are on is irrelevant. dd is in year 1 and has an ort stage 4 book in her bag, the school she's at seem to split them between blue and green reading level . My daughter is doing fine, I wouldn't ask for her to move up to orange because a friend was ahead of her.