Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

how can I help my 9 year old son (year 4)

4 replies

elliejjtiny · 20/01/2020 12:59

Dc3 is in year 4 and has just turned 9. We were told when we took part in a research study aged 3 that he was very bright and he is in the top group for maths in his class now.

I'm not sure if he's struggling or just can't be bothered but his writing is very slow and messy. He is always bringing home work he hasn't finished in school. He loves to read but only certain books. He won't touch the school reading books and dh has been trying to persuade him to read the maze runner and harry potter without success. He likes david walliams, the jacqueline wilson younger readers books and the treehouse series.

When he is interested he does really well. He spends ages writing his own stories at home about him and his friend being secret agents with super powers. Homework requires a lot of nagging to get it done and he moans a lot about it and says it's boring. He is happy to practise the piano and now he is a free reader he will cheerfully read a chapter of his reading book to me. His teacher says he will take a long time to get started and often doesn't listen to instructions. When he brings home work he hasn't finished from school, he either doesn't know or can't remember what he is meant to do.

He was diagnosed with glue ear aged 4 and finally had grommets put in aged 8. He is also left handed, I don't know if that makes writing harder.

Is there anything I can help him with? I'm not sure if I'm doing the right things to help. I'm trying to make homework fun by practising spellings as part of a game. This helps but I'm not sure if its the right thing to do or if I should be stricter with him or encourage him to get it done quicker.

OP posts:
gran75 · 20/01/2020 19:27

Ellie
On the reading front your son seems to be doing really well.
His spelling is like that of many bright boys who are good at maths, like to learn to understand things, or to work things out for themselves. They are not fond of learning to spell English because it involves much of just learning by rote, without rhyme or reason. Making it fun is absolutely the best way you can help.
And don't worry. Most bright kids learn to spell reasonably well in the end. The fact that he is an avid reader and loves writing his own stories will get him there. Relax!

Mandarinfish · 20/01/2020 19:33

He's a bit young I'd say for Harry Potter and Maze Runner - my DC (good readers) were more like 10/11 for these (assuming reading himself rather than having it read aloud to him?). Maybe try Tom Gates?

It's brilliant that he's writing his own stories. Much more fun than homework but just as good for his learning!

My DSs are also good at maths but have messy handwriting.

He sounds like he's doing fine OP.

suitcaseofdreams · 20/01/2020 20:39

Sounds like he’s doing fine, I wouldn’t worry at all
If teacher is concerned, ask them for suggestions of things to practice at home
Is it a private school? My twins are yr 4 and their state primary would never send home work not completed in school - they make time for the children to finish it in school instead

Re reading, my two are currently enjoying Tom Gates, Alex Rider, Diary of a Wimpy Kid as well as David Walliams. The more keen reader also likes Artemis Fowl. Try some Roald Dahl too? But as long as he’s reading and enjoying it I wouldn’t worry too much what he is reading, plenty of time for Harry Potter :-)

elliejjtiny · 21/01/2020 14:30

Thankyou, that's really helpful. The Tom Gates books look really good, I'll get him to try those. @suitcaseofdreams He's at a state school.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread