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Primary education

writing small - in the lines

7 replies

angelbutterfly · 14/01/2009 10:18

I have a boy who is 4 and a half and can't write small as in the lines. He is in reception and every morning the kids go in and have to do writing letters all the kids can do hand writing small and in the lines.he can write the letters but they are big he can't do them small.The teacher said he did some writing the other day but wasn't concentrating and she couln't read it.The other kids have commented on it and the teacher said not to worry but i can't help it.he is one of the youngest in his class and does not like writing (likes reading).i just hope he's going to get it before he starts year one.

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LIZS · 14/01/2009 10:22

he's very young to have that expectation put on him - don't worry or make a fuss.

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Niecie · 14/01/2009 10:26

Much too soon to worry about letter sizing. There is no hurry.

TBH for a child in reception I am surprised the teacher even bothered to mention it. So long as he is making progress and getting better at it, even if it is slow, that is all that counts at this stage.

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ThePellyandMe · 14/01/2009 10:27

I agree, he's too young to expect him to write within the lines. DS2 who's 4.6 can just about fit a word on a page

DS1 who's 6.3 in Y1 can write on wide lines but he's one of the eldest and even he would struggle with narrow lines.

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madhairjanuary · 14/01/2009 10:44

ridiculous expectation for reception, don't worry about it. At this stage they should be encouraging love of books/enjoyment, not letter formation in such detail. If this is being done every day I would be unsure about the teacher tbh

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PortBlacksandResident · 14/01/2009 10:52

Is he left handed - both me and DS2 are and our writing is big and a bit messy.

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angelbutterfly · 14/01/2009 11:23

he is left handed so it took him a while to decide which hand to use never mind anything else.i think when your child is 1 of the youngest in the class there maybe certain things they take longer to do than other kids and that is just something you have to accept. saying that he is amazing at reading and already on phase 3 at school. His teacher says he's on fire with his reading!i was never the great at school and i just want it to be as easy as possible for my angel......

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Littlefish · 14/01/2009 11:32

Please don't stress. He's very young still. He'll get it with time and experience. (I say this as a former Reception teacher).

Find lots of reasons for him to want to make marks - painting, chalking outside, bubble bath on the side of the bath, "writing" lists and notes etc. Plenty of time for formation later.