Does it always make a difference?

[AbsolutelyEmma]

I posted recently about my year 4 child who is a bit behind. Dc has always struggled but has made a lot of progress since reception.

Every evening we do 10 minutes times tables
10 minutes spellings
10 minutes reading.
Also try to do 10-20 minutes from a workbook so either maths, English, handwriting practice. Not all in one day but alternate. If there's something in maths dc isn't sure on we will go over it.
5 minutes practicing telling the time.

I'm just hoping for a bit of reassurance that it will be making a difference.

Dc will get 10/10 in spelling tests for then forgets the spellings afterwards. Handwriting always seems to slip back to being terrible.

It will be making a difference. Even if he doesn't appear to be catching up, you may well be helping him not fall further behind.

I know it's hard to keep going at these things with little feedback in terms of "progress", but you really will be helping. It will help performance wise, and shows your child that academics are worth working at, and I stills a study habit that will be invaluable later.

Hi op.

It definitely makes a difference to us but not within weeks. Patience and perseverance are keys here. I can see a hugh difference in 6 months or 9 months. Sometimes there will be a set back but it is still a progress.

I agree. It will be making a difference. Learning progress is never linear. Sometimes it seems like no progress for ages then something suddenly clicks.

Thank you, it can feel like a slog sometimes because dc doesn't really like school much, doesn't enjoy reading for pleasure. We've got lots of different books, visit the library, I've always read bedtime stories. As a child I adored reading and hoped my dc would love the stories and characters as I always did but it hasn't come naturally.

Yes it will be making a huge difference but I would be playing games and using the fun resources available online to carry out these tasks.

Getting words right in a test and being unable to spell them when using them can be a sign of dyslexia.

Yes it will be making a difference.

It's a slog I know. Keep going.

Yes I do try to make it fun we use online games for times table and spellings. Dc is fab at times tables.

I have wondered about dyslexia. Dc was speech delayed but speaks beautiful now. Is a fluent reader but the writing is terrible. Struggles with things like days of the week/months of the year too.

How do you even begin to go about getting them assessed? School have never suggested anything like that.

Is it on me to ask to speak to the Senco or is private the way to go?

I would consider dyspraxia tbh it affects processing and not be obvious.

My DD taught herself to ride a bike aged 3 but apart from not being able to throw or catch very well and awful handwriting there was nothing. She struggled so much with maths and a few other things though and it's all down to dyspraxia. I took her for a complete SPLD screening.

You sound like a great mum. Just keep going.

Randomly ask him the time now rather than studying it. There is a good BBC bitesize lesson on iPlayer that might help with telling the time. They use the 5xs table method (that was a revelation to me!)

For spellings/grammar/writing double (triple) up and dictate a paragraph using the spelling words so they do spelling/capitals/commas/speechmarks/fullstops/handwriting in one go.

For timetables we make up songs/raps! My favourite is the ‘heavenly disco goose’ 3,6,9 the goose drank wine, 12,15,18,21 let’s carry on singing this song, 24 disco ball, up in heaven 27 (don’t ask how that came about but it seems to work). Make up your own with football players names/numbers etc, whatever is relevant to your DC.

Reading, take turns reading a paragraph… its keeps the story going and when you read a new word explain it and ask for an alternative to expand vocabulary. Do more reading if you can and checking comprehension (ask DC to give you a summary of the page/chapter you have just read together).

Reading is so important, as if they can’t read or comprehend then they struggle with maths and logic, as they don’t understand what is being asked (sometimes I have to re-read to work out what Cgp is asking in their maths questions!)