DD’s writing and guessing age

[Witchinghour1]

We’ve done our best during lockdown but out of interest, how old would you think dd is? I have noticed that spelling patterns and HFW are tricky for dd2 to remember. She has written about the sorcerer’s apprentice after reading the story with me. Any responses greatly appreciated!

[Harrysmum2020]

My sons about to go in to yeAr 2 and is no where near as neat

[KickAssAngel]

Or the parents who are genuinely anxious (and causing emotional damage in their kids) because at the age of 13 they can't yet write a PhD thesis paper.

At least this is one more example of why teachers should be respected - thousands and thousands of writing examples give us good knowledge about what is 'normal' and how to support kids to grow, instead of stressing about spellings. Encourage, encourage, encourage.

[Babyfg]

@tennisbutterfly I was thinking exactly the same. No harm to the child but it's like the parents on parents evening telling me their kids can count to 100 but have no clue when I ask them to get me three pencils!

[TennisButterfly]

I'm a primary teacher, I would have put that at top yr 2 bottom yr 3. Based on the current co-hort at our school, in other places it may be higher or lower but I would be very surprised if that was independent year one writing.
What people sometimes don't think about is what a child can produce with 1 -1 parent support about a subject they enjoy can be very different to what they produce independently on a prescribed topic.

[betteliefsen]

@Witchinghour1

Thank you for all of the replies- she’s about to go into Y2.

That's bollocks.

[betteliefsen]

Year 6.

[Broadbeanflatbean]

[nopenotplaying]

This is the epitome of stealth boasting

[Atalune]

What a dick post.

[Changemyname18]

End of year 1 after a part year of lockdown...😮 my DCs weren't writing content and quantity like this until they were year 5 at least, and then with all the spelling mistakes to boot. (TBC, my teenage boy's handwriting still isn't this readable😂). However, both in selective schools now, so OP you need to chill, else you'll just get more comments like the one above this...

[MiddleClassProblem]

faux-modesty is a bit awful

This. You’re not asking for advice on how to help her, you’re just not so stealthily boasting.

You’re DD is doing great. Just say that and you are proud and want to share with strangers because you don’t want to seem like you are boasting to people you know.

[Stuckforthefourthtime]

Oh yes, just looking for some advice on spelling and not at all acknowledgement that your teaching is amazing and/or your dd is a genius?

These posts are fine if genuinely posted ("I think my 6 year old dd is a genius! Is she?" Or "my bright 6 year old struggles a bit with spelling, how can I help?") but faux-modesty is a bit awful.

Fwiw my ds1 would have done this at 10, my ds2 at 5 or 6. All kids are different, creative writing like this varies hugely, and it's not a good sign when parents need emotional affirmation from strangers on the internet.

[IncrediblySadToo]

I'd have said 7, so for going into Y2, I think she's doing ok. Her actual writing looks good.

[gower4]

I'd have said 7. Looks about right for an able early Y2.

[BGirlBouillabaisse]

That is hugely advanced for Year 2.

[KickAssAngel]

I teach secondary and have quite a few yr 6 children who still write like that!

Spelling is hard to teach - I've yet to come across a method that really works. Reading lots seems to help the most, or just learning by rote, once children have grasped how different letters/blends make different sounds. (Unless there are hearing issues)

Sentences - talk it through with her. Read it out loud and do exaggerated pauses for each period, then ask if that sounds like a real sentence. Try to build up a sense of how a sentence should sound (assuming that English is your primary language) as often people know, even if they can't explain subject/verb/object etc.

Paragraphs - the ability to organize in logical sequences is developmental. Children are able to do paragraphs well around the same time that they are able to tidy their own bedroom and keep a planner without help. They need the frontal lobe development to be able to sort and organize effectively. You can still teach it (or they'll never learn) but don't expect them to be able to do it independently.

And remember that encouragement, enthusiasm and engagement will get children a lot further than worrying about being correct.

[Ihaventgottimeforthis]

That seems very advanced to me.
Her handwriting is much better than my DS9's, she's written a lot and it is relatively coherent.

Well done to you and your DD!

[Witchinghour1]

Thank you for all of the replies- she’s about to go into Y2.

[tiredanddangerous]

8

[CuppaZa]

I’d say 9

[BGirlBouillabaisse]

You guys know some genius children - 7????

OP I'd guess 10. DS1 is 7 and struggles to write half that much (although he does have ASD). He is exceeding KS1 targets.

[ShyTown]

The handwriting is quite neat but based on the sentence structure and spelling I’d guess 7?

[Witchinghour1]

I’ve found it so hard to know how to help
her with all of the things that go into writing. Spelling, punctuation, words...
Thank you for your reply:)

[Samster45]

I’m not a teacher but have children and was reading through my nephew’s books that he brought hone from school the other day.

He’s 7 and writes with a similar sentence structure but less spelling mistakes (intil instead of until and placing d’s instead of b’s or krown instead of crown) so I’m going to guess 6 or 7?

[StarStarTeachMe]

9 or 10