DD Reading - when to worry?

[Thegrandoldelf]

DD is 6 (early October birthday) and in Year 1. She has always loved books and is always keen to do her reading book. However, she just doesn't seem to be able to 'get' it She did phonics at nursery for 2 years before school and still struggled to know all her letters until probably halfway through reception. She is in a very small class at school so gets lots of involvement there e.g. reads out loud every day. We read with and to her every day but it just doesn't seem to click for her. She's still on red level books whereas for contrast her twin sister is on turquoise and a very fluent reader. We have tried to take a 'relaxed' approach to it as I'm keen that learning to read shouldnt become a source of anxiety for her or a battle. She's however becoming more and more aware of the gap between herself and the rest of the class and this upsets her . I know children all learn at different rates but how do I differentiate between she's just struggling to grasp it and there's a greater underlying problem? Thanks

What does her teacher say?

Her teacher seems reasonably relaxed about it. We had parents evening in early October and whilst it was acknowledged that DD was finding it difficult the teacher didn't seem worried.

I’d relax then
My dd 6.5 (7 in March)

It all came together about 3 months ago. Suddenly stumbling reader to full on free reader and I did very little.

It will come

At 6 it's difficult to say. For some kids something just clicks and they get it or they just need an alternative approach for it to click. In a years time it would definitely be time for an assessment. What is her issue? Can she blend? Does she read correctly but too slowly? Is her comprehension OK when she has books read to her? Have you had her eye sight tested? If you're concerned you could pay for a private Ed Pysch appointment but it may end up being a waste of money and she'll just click later. How is she in other academic areas? How's her Vocab?

She seems to struggle to sometimes correctly identify letters (e.g. b and d but I think that's still quite normal when they're little) and very rarely will realise two letters are a digraph. Her day to day vocab is good and pretty extensive (she described our car as 'dreadfully dirty' the other day , her mathematical ability is good along with her comprehension. She had her eyes tested a year ago and is due her next appointment in a couple of weeks time. So there's nothing else that particularly jumps out in terms of her development. It just seems to be her reading that's a struggle

The b d thing is, like you say still fairly typical - can she remember the sight words OK? She sounds like a bright girl in general so I wouldn't worry too much. If there is a particular problem with reading it sounds like she'll be well supported and if not it'll just click one day and she'll be catching up with her twin sister in a few months.

She sounds a lot like my friends daughter who has quite severe dyslexia. The teachers were all very relaxed, then insisted it was her eyesight despite eye tests being fine, then insisted it was her hearing but that was fine too. My friend is dyslexic herself and could see the signs but was told her daughter was too young (yr 1 too) to be assessed. In the end they got a private assessment and lo and behold, dyslexic. She is very intelligent but the way she sees written letters makes it really hard for her. She also struggles to see the difference between certain letters and sounds - not hearing the difference between sounds made phonics really tough.

Given her twin is doing so well in comparison I'd consider, if you can afford it, a private dyslexia assessment. Either now or down the line. You don't want to make it 'a thing' for her of course, but sensitively done there's no reason it would need to become one.

My friend suffered tremendously over the years until diagnosed at 12, and only then because her high school did a screening programme. Everyone thought she was over the top doing the assessment for her daughter so young but she felt strongly she wanted the support in place early if it was dyslexia.

I do more at home for the minute -

www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/accounts/sign_in - this is free and often goes down well.

www.soundfoundations.co.uk/product/dancing-bears-a/ - Dancing bears 10 minutes a day may be worth a look

or www.nessy.com/uk/

We were concerned before teachers were and I really wish we'd step in sooner with our oldest child however many children do suddenly make leaps in reading so hard to say - 7 is an often quoted age they don't seem to want to asses before- so probably another year.

Thanks everyone for your comments. We are fortunate that we can afford to pay for a private dyslexia assessment but am also aware that they don't like to test before 7. It's reassuring that other people think dyslexia might be the issue as that's my main line of thinking too. She desperately wants to be able to read like her friends. I'm worried that the gap between her and her peers at school will grow so wide over the next year she'll effectively get left behind.

If you can afford it I'd do the assessment. You might not get a definitive diagnosis and will need to pay again later but it will be helpful to identify particular areas of weakness or if she's just likely to pick up reading soon it'll be reassuring.

I would give it until about March, half way through year 1 and if things haven't improved significantly ask for a meeting with her teacher already possible dyslexia but diagnosis in our case was year 2 because they have to allow for normal variation in learning. Lots of reading, flash cards etc at home won't hurt!

Ds 24 is dyslexic, his reading "clicked" at 7. He couldnt do sight words at all.
He is has short term memory problems and spelling is an issue as well ie same word spelt 5 different way on the page. He couldnt remember a sum between looking at the board and copying to paper. Or bringing a number forward from previous page.
He never got a formal diagnosis as he always got a lot of help at school because he was obviously really intelligent and was top set all the way through secondary.

OP- The teacher is relaxed because 10% of kids are Dyslexic so there are probably other kids struggling and above all else it's not their kid. I do think that by 6 you would have expected her to make more progress with reading. I get on one hand you don't want to reinforce the image in her mind that she is a bad reader but on the other hand you want her to learn to read.

This is probably worth looking at as a screening test for the indicators of Dyslexia and then you can go from there. dyslexiagold.co.uk/DyslexiaScreeningTest

If you want to help her yourself before having her assessed, listen to her read for a while (helping her out if she likes it, letting it pass if not) and note down the words she struggles with, stopping after about 7. Then look at those words together. You will probably find that they are all phonically a bit tricky. Explain this to her and go over them with her again a few times. I hope this will help. Some words may keep tripping her up and need repeated attention.

Also listen to audio books together as a family. I suggest this to families of all my struggling readers. This way she can access books her sister/peers may be reading and be exposed to the wonderful language without the pressure of trying to sound out/ blend all the time!

I get confused with the colours - but if red is the equivalent to level 2, and she has good spoken vocabulary and is engaged in class then I would be concerned.

We use reading eggs app for my kids, which is phonics games and less dull than constantly doing the same reading book from school.

They do a free 4 week trial so maybe try that for 4 weeks and see if it helps.

Some kids do just click at a later stage, but personally I'd be trying to help (subtly) as much as possible now, without obviously appearing concerned.

She has a twin who is doing rely well so it will be obvious to her.

My daughter is 6, nearly 7 and has been comfortable with red level 2 readers only for the last month. She took ages to learn colour names and recognise letters but we took it at her pace and now things are really clicking. We're reading a book a day at a comfortable level for confidence, she is really excited to have books she knows she can definitely read to herself and I extend her through a harder book at least once a week.

She used to get really angry with herself at not being able to recognise letters so we eased right off, concentrated on a few, played loads of games and so on and kept reading to her all the time and pointing out the letters she knew, simple words she knew. Home educating gives us the space to do that.

When she was ready, the difference in her spirit was obvious - so much more cheerful about trying and not so discouraged by mistakes. She's got a long way to go, and I do suspect something like dyslexia is in play, but now we're moving and the difference is noticeable daily!

She's my youngest. The oldest also took ages to move into security with phonics and moving through to reading fluently. For him it was about the same age that it clicked and he's unstoppable now. My middle child clicked much earlier but hasn't liked or enjoyed reading (apart from the rare perfect fit book) until the last week when e's realised he can get ahead with Harry Potter himself. He's 8.5.

There's time for her to click yet, but keeping the conversation open with others who work with her is wise.

Oh, and yes to Reading Eggs, and Oxford Owl does online books which are fun for extra practising.

I've love to help.

What we'd do is something very personalised (but researched) for your daughter. Children love seeing the progress they make.

This would probably take a couple of phone calls and can be completely anonymous.

Apart from supporting parents I train specialised teachers. I don't charge parents.

If you're interested pm me.

What books do school use?
I would think many of yr 1 might be only on blue band or red.
It may just seem worse as other DT is on band 7 and they are old in their year.

DS is in year 1. We are also concerned about dyslexia/dysgraphia, and his reading is less behind than your DD.

At this age his school won't test, but they are keeping an eye and logging evidence to support a case for assessment later. I would make a note of any things from your DD's preschool years and year R which rang alarm bells (with DS, the alarm bells included late talking, late "getting" rhyme and rythm, a mental block for sequences like days of the week despite having a great memory generally, picking up maths easily and loving books but being baffled by letters, and some awesome 3D spatial manipulation skills - his dad's dyslexia superpower). Also try to notice and record the type of errors she is making in her reading, and what she is trying/succeeding with. If you share that with the teacher you can ask what specifically you can do at home to support with specific next steps or issues, which gets past the generic "we're not worried" reassurances and focuses on supporting her progress.

DS didn't like Reading Eggs but clicks with Nessy, which is designed for dyslexic learners. Maybe give that a trial on a week's free subscription and/or try the Nessy "hairy phonics" apps if she isn't secure with all the letter sounds yet (you mentioned digraphs are a problem). The app really helped DS learn the letter sounds last spring - it combines visual, auditory and kinaesthetic techniques to help it all stick, and as much repetition as needed.

Early October is early in the school year for a parent's evening. The children and teachers are still negotiating the transition between YR and Y1 and assessing where children are at.

I would ask for another apt in the next few weeks, highlight your concerns including that your dd may be dyslexic and see what the teacher says. It might be useful for you and teacher to speak with the SENCO about a plan going forward.

It may all 'click' although it's worth the school having a plan about what they will do ie assessment in case it doesn't.

Do dancing bears for ten mins a day. In my experience makes much more difference than spending those ten minutes reading more books. Really really good.