How behind is my daughter? Year one.

[Failingyearone]

She’s in year one, but she is an older one. Six soon. She’s reading blue band fairly capably and I think she’s doing ok ish in maths. I’d say she is probably average to slightly below average ability overall but she has had - as they all have - pandemic disruption, periods of isolation and she wouldn’t do much with me at home so I think she is more behind than she might have been.

She wrote this independently- froo is through 🙄 and the last sentence says ‘He sinks in the water.’
Oh and scwishee is squishy. Apparently in the story the bus arrives in a sparkly present? I have read the book but cannot remember it.

Her brother is much more able than her and I know they all have their ‘ceiling’ but I am concerned that she is going to fall further behind.

How are you so sure her brother is 'much more able'?

Perfectly lovely writing for a 5yo!
If she was 11yo and still writing like that she might be in bottom set English in secondary. Plenty of 11yos do write like that and far worse too.
She's only a baby.
Teachers regularly read all sorts of spelling delights.
Wonsaponatim? :) (Once upon a time)
Froo for through is fine. Thr and ough words are year 2/3.

I think I should add. She will not be like that at 11yo. Seven more years before then.
Also I would say, given your attitude, please leave it to the teachers.

Honestly the way you have written that OP...

she is 6 and you are already determining whether shes behind or not! shes only been taught for 1 year! poor girl

Her writing is absolutely fine
Your attitude is not

That looks great to me!

My son is behind, so much so he has an EHCP he couldn't write much at all in Year 1.

She's doing well!

Better writing than my very bright year 2

It is absolutely great for where she is.

My behind year 2's recent writing. She is working at spring term reception level.

And your eye roll at her mistake is frankly horrible.

Did school not do a session with you where they explained the curriculum and expectations for the year?

We were told that the goal in year 1 is still phonetic plausibility - ie that you can see what they’re trying to write using their phonics and it’s a good attempt. So what she’s done is perfect.

So many good things here, good phonics knowledge, writing sitting on the line, punctuation and good letter sizing: consistent and in proportion.

I would not be worried at all and I teach year 1. Just be proud!

@crystal1717 Wonsaponatim is the sweetest thing I've heard all day.

She's 5 years old, she's hardly going to be writing Shakespearen poetry. I think it's a shame that you can't see your child's work for what it is, imaginative and legible.

My daughter is almost six and she couldn’t write anything like that. She can write her name and a few basic words, she can’t read a sentence. We’re abroad so they don’t start learning in year one but just to put it in context for you.

One of mine is yr1, summer born. Your DD's work looks like my DD's including the spellings, which is completely normal. I'v seen a few of her friends with neater handwriting but they are September/October born.
She's also on blue band which we were told meant she was below the expected level however my eldest started out quite slowly but is reading Harry Potter age 7 so I'm not worried.

Maybe I worry too much. I tend to think she’s not very bright and I know she’s much slower at picking stuff up than her brother.

@Failingyearone

Maybe I worry too much. I tend to think she’s not very bright and I know she’s much slower at picking stuff up than her brother.

Well if you carry on like this, she'll know that very soon too

I think she is a clever girl!

I would not say she is behind at all. Her reading level is fine. Her writing is tidier than my Dd's in yr2. Her spelling is a good phonetic go at it, which is what they want in yrs1 & 2.

@Failingyearone

Maybe I worry too much. I tend to think she’s not very bright and I know she’s much slower at picking stuff up than her brother.

I’m honestly shocked at how you talk about your child
She will be picking up on how you feel about her
Poor thing

@Failingyearone that is absolutely horrible. She is not even 6 yet. Poor child

My ds is year 1 (6 in April). I think he's very bright but a bit of a late developer with reading and writing. He's also reading blue band well and writing is very similar. On his recent report he was at the required level (rather than below or above) for everything. I would say he is middle of the class academically (but top for kindness and thoughtfulness!) so wouldn't say your dd was behind either.

Let us begin with the positives, that is amazing.

Her writing is lovely and developmentally appropriate. I love her description of the beans.
Ms DS (6 in January) would happily spend his day playing in the mud and cuddling worms.
They have a long time to perfect the art of writing. If her teacher isn’t worried, try to relax.

I suppose lots of people I know describe their child as ‘very bright’ and I think either they are deluded or my children are below average. Tbf ds is bright but he also has ASD and struggles socially so despite being bright he’s probably not going to do very well in terms of a career / having a relationship etc.
Dd isn’t as bright academically, but is better socially so will probably have the easier time of things.
I don’t expect either of them to do terribly ‘well’ but for different reasons. Obviously the main thing is they are happy.