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Primary education

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Writing and spelling tips for 8yo / year 3

8 replies

Coffeeforus · 08/06/2023 12:38

DS(8) is very behind in reading and writing and the school is supporting him in a few ways including specialised support 3-4 times a week. He is making great progress with the reading (Grey level, Read Write Inc scheme) but is obviously behind.

Initially the SENCO and his teacher thought he had dyslexia traits at the start of y3 but with the specialised help he has progressed enormously and we all no longer feel it is due to dyslexia, and rather that for Reception & Year 1 he flatly refused to engage with reading, hence he is so far behind (also both years he was caught in lockdown which didn’t help)

Anyway, Reading is progressing well and his writing is much slower which I am told is to be expected and will catch up as his reading improves. I am just looking for some more strategies for him to try at home with his writing and particularly his spelling ie he is still spelling phonetically sometimes:

When = wen
With = whith
Could = culd
Came = cam
Eating = eting
Fine = fin
Chicken = chiken

This is something that we would like to keep up with over the summer and just do a little bit most days. Is Twinkl good for this sort of thing a has anyone found? His teacher says not to worry and just encourage him to write at home.

OP posts:
cocksstrideintheevening · 08/06/2023 13:55

I would be getting him tested for dyslexia. Dts are only now being tested in y 7 and they spell the same way.

yorkypuds · 08/06/2023 14:01

If he is learning phonics- those examples suggest he isn't sure with split diagraphs (the e at the end changing the vowel sound). The rest are all phonetically plausible and not way behind year 3.
Your school might have access to online Read Write Inc if they have the portal. But just read and write for fun! Shopping lists, postcards, scrapbook of days out!
Get comics of current interests! Make it appealing to read rather than a chore!

yorkypuds · 08/06/2023 14:01

Current year 3 missed a lot of early learning because of covid!

Foxesandsquirrels · 08/06/2023 14:37

What do you mean by specialised tutoring?

Coffeeforus · 08/06/2023 16:46

@Foxesandsquirrels by specialised support I mean that DS is assessed by his teacher regularly and then where there are significant gaps in his knowledge/ability etc re phonics this has been given to the other teacher who runs support groups of 2-3 pupils. This teacher then provides phonics lessons of 20 mins at a time (3-4 times a week depending on staffing levels) and she provides targeted support to pupils who have the same/similar gaps.

This is a state school too.

OP posts:
wtd22 · 09/06/2023 08:12

The evidence I’ve seen suggests the best way to become a good speller is by reading a lot. So long term it’s probably better to do two reading sessions a day than one reading and one spelling. We all do these endless spelling lists with our kids at school but the evidence on their effectiveness isn’t great.
But if you’re really keen to practice spellings then as yorky puds says I’d focus on types of spelling. Split digraphs for a couple of weeks then question words (who which why when) etc so they see patterns.

roundcork · 09/06/2023 08:17

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the request of the user.

titbumwillypoo · 17/06/2023 11:13

I'd highly recommend toe by toe, I've used it as an intervention for my year 3/4 children with really good results.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toe-Structured-Multi-sensory-Reading-Teachers/dp/0952256401/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DO1VLQN7DW4U&keywords=toe+by+toe&qid=1686996714&sprefix=toe+by%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1

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