Should I be worried that DS is still bringing home books without any words at all?

[horrificafternoon]

He’s in reception and I realise it’s early days in a way but I do wonder if he should be having some words by now? Can any EYFS teachers advise?

We do, thank you.

Agree with PP. You need to do lots of phonics at home, school can’t given the children the individual attention they need.

Dont worry, it’s really not hard to teach. Given he can blend already I would watch / a YouTube video if you are not sure how to say the sounds, get a beginner book out of the library and get reading.

DD did Little Wandle, she's now in Year 2. Wordless books ended at October half term I think in reception, so round about now ish. Then the simple words seemed to last forever!

I don't think they assessed the kids until Christmas, which is when the reading groups formed and things got a little more interesting. It's amazing how fast they get reading once they move onto letters. Trust the process.

To add another viewpoint, we didn't go above and beyond what the school did at all when it came to blending and phonics, we just followed what the school we're doing. We read to her daily but there were no flash cards or practicing at breakfast and she's reading way above her year now (she's on Year 4 books).

Make sure you are pointing and sounding out words everywhere- the cereal box at breakfast, the letters on CBeebies, the signs as you walk along- there are words everywhere that will help your child.

Thanks. We read a lot and practice phonics with flash cards but obviously don’t want to bore him and risk turning him off reading. Or worse, give him wrong info!

We got a book with words just before half term. DS is good on sounds but can't blend though. Different schemes. Just keep reinforcing the sounds.

You don't need to teach him to read, just re-enforce what they are doing in school. Most important thing is reading to him.

Did the school give you that list that is highlighted? That seems a lot in one go. Both my kids started with S A T I P, each letter was on a piece of card, once they were confident at the phonic sound we then worked on blending them as there is so many words you can rearrange the cards to make - Sat, tap, pit, it etc etc once they were confident in that too we moved onto the next 5 sounds.

Yes, it’s from the school.

He does muddle things up sometimes. He kept seeing the word ‘sip’ on one of the flashcards and being very proud he thought it said ‘is.’ So I’ve been a bit worried about dyslexia.

To add another viewpoint, we didn't go above and beyond what the school did at all when it came to blending and phonics, we just followed what the school we're doing. We read to her daily but there were no flash cards or practicing at breakfast and she's reading way above her year now (she's on Year 4 books).

I agree. We didn’t do any direct teaching other than listening to DD read and reading to her. She did also enjoy the Teach your Monster to Read app, which taught me some phonics too! But no flashcards or extra practicing of phonics, and she had a 17+ reading age from the end of primary.

Don’t worry OP my DD started school knowing her phonics and with done reading skills. We still got the books with no words as schools seem to like everyone to go at the same pace, assume it’s easier for teachers. I just got on with other books outside school!

Little Wandle is a great scheme and it sounds like they just follow it ‘properly’. It looks like he’s working through the sounds at a steady pace and I think you’ll soon get some words to work on together soon. It’s not a race so definitely don’t worry.

I think people are very keen to push ahead with reading but phonics can be really confusing if you’re not consistent (know the correct sounds etc). I actually think parents should be led by the school in those early days of phonics so the foundation is really solid. Remembering words and ‘reading’ that way (rather than learning sounds and blending) isn’t the end of the world but can have a huge impact on spelling later on.

If you’re practising the sounds he knows and blending some CVC words (consonants vowel consonants), you’re doing great. And little wandle have great videos online to check how you say each sound. Aim for pure sounds (‘b’ is short and bouncy not ‘buh’) so they know ‘b-a-t’ becomes ‘bat’ not ‘buh-at’.

At 4, this isn't a worry at all. He will have seen two familiar sounds and got excited that he might know it.

I'm another one for "talk to the school." Some schools love a wordless book. If he's doing a bit of (not 100% accurate) blending, he's grand for this point in reception. Keep reading to him, and playing blending games. "Oh no, I need a c-u-p!" Etc.

Ps. Excellent work with the poster being unhelpful. It's nice to see someone respond with such grace.

I don’t have the energy for an argument - have actually had a horrific afternoon! 😂

Sorry to hear that. I do think you can leave worries about little one's reading to the side for the time being, unless the school actively flag any concerns. Hope the evening is less horrific!

No 4yo needs to be doing flash cards over breakfast

Your son sounds fine, OP.

We're doing little wandle and have our 2nd reading book, both have been SATPIN words. From the reading record it sounds like this weeks book might step on a little. I know others have wordless books though from talk in the playground, and at parents evening we were told blending by Christmas is the aim for the class so he sounds fine.

We do have the LW flashcards and try to reinforce what they've learnt that week. We definitely dont try to take over teaching them to read though 😉

Teachers report that some children come into reception not even knowing how to handle a book, never mind knowing any sounds or letters. The first few weeks will be aimed at getting all the class accustomed to books, as well as talking about the pictures in the book.

My two loved it. You can make it fun. I've always found breakfast far easier to do 10 mins of something rather than attempting it at 7pm (which is when dh and I have time after work) when they really need to be in bed.

I have a 4 year old DD who has just started reception. The teacher has been very clear that they want us to do 5-10 minutes phonics practice at home every day. My DD is at her freshest and most focused first thing in the morning, so flashcards over breakfast is the ideal time. The school follow Read Write Inc phonics and we have been given 5 new flashcards with a new letter/sound on each of them every Friday since term started. We use these cards to make basic CVC and now some CVCC and CCVC words, which my DD reads us over her morning toast - all very low key and light touch. We have also just started receiving her first actual books to read, which she is very excited about. My DD has gone from knowing absolutely no phonics before starting school to reading books in a matter of weeks and is so excited and proud to show off her new skill. I really don’t understand why anyone would have a problem with supporting their child at home by consolidating and reinforcing their at-school learning. A 4 year old absolutely needs and deserves a parent spending 10 minutes of their day to help them learn.

Anyway, sorry OP, that wasn’t actually in response to your posts as clearly you are helping to support your DS and his phonics at home. I would speak to the teacher. I have found my DDs teacher really approachable whenever I’ve been unsure of anything.

When DS started school they advised parents the stuff they sent home wasn’t the current level they were at it was the level before so they over practised this at home to reinforce what they already seemed confident in. Could be at school they are merging and working with words.