Reading problem in reception

[MollieO]

My ds started reception in September. He learnt his phonics and basic reading (cvc words) in nursery. We had some problems when he started school because he pretended he only knew four letters (the ones in his name!). That was resolved following a conversation between his reception teacher and nursery teacher and he made good progress last term.

This term he seems to have gone backwards and I'm not sure why. He has gone from getting reading books with words (which he could read) to picture only books. He did get a series of books that frankly were dull and without a story - eg 'Johnny ran', 'Roger ran', 'Johnny ran after Roger'. So he lost interest and I struggled to get him to do his homework. He also had word boxes with a mix of 3, 4, and 5 letter words which he did easily.

His teacher says that the picture only books are to restore his confidence in reading but I'm not sure really what the problem is. He is very proud of himself to have books without words as reading is either 'tricky' or 'boring'. He enjoyed reading last term so I'm not sure what has changed since and he isn't telling.

We had a book this weekend where even I couldn't follow the 'story' as the pictures made no sense to me or ds. I have tried to find out why he doesn't want to read and when I read to him tonight I got him to read the book to me 'Read at Home' series, which he did perfectly well. So I'm not sure why he is doing less at school than he was doing 18 months ago at nursery. If anyone has any insight I'd be grateful.

Are you absolutely sure that he knows all of his letters? Have you any letters you could use to check this. Do it out of sequence of the alphabet so that he can't rely on reciting the alphabet to work it out. I would check this carefully first - he needs to know the sound and the name of each letter.
You say that he knows cvc words. Is he actually decoding the words or is he memorizing them? Give him some words using a different font, colour and size which are out of context of a story to check, use letters if you have any. If he is decoding then that's fine. If he is memorizing the words then that could explain why he has lost interest in reading.

But there is no such thing as a "reading problem" in Reception! Reception is for playing and learning about being at school and learning about getting on with a big group. He'll get there - just keep reading tons and tons of books to hem, make sure there's tons of books about at home for him to pick up when he wants to, do the ones from school - and relax.

He'll get there. He's finding out where he fts into the big picture of his class - it'll change as he settles.

Well there is such a thing as a reading problem in reception unfortunately. Not suggesting op's child does have a reading problems, but reading problems don't just suddenly occur in year 1.

He can read but is just reluctant to do it at school so it is a reading problem, however horrific that sounds to some! We went to London today by train and he was spelling out the train stations and asking why a sign said 'stop', 'open' 'close' etc (his instigation not mine). I am going to add up how many books he has when I finally get his new bookcase delivered but it is the hundreds. All sorts of different things - fiction and factual.

Not sure if he is memorising what he gets from school as he has already done it at school before he brings it home to repeat for homework. He certainly knows all his letters and has done since he was 3.5. I think part of the problem is he gives up easily - we get a lot of 'mummy I don't know that word', I say 'are you sure?' and then he'll say the word. I know what he learnt at nursery so I am probably in a better position than his TA to know what he knows. He has been spending time doing reading with the teacher rather than the TA (who I reckon doesn't ask him more than once if he can spell out a word) and I have seen a difference. He loves books and did love reading so it is a case of re-igniting his interest rather than sparking it for the first time.

He is very settled at school so I think this is a blip. We are extremely lucky that he does reading every day at school and they have small classes. He is viewed as a very happy and confident child. I went to one of the school assemblys this week to see him play the piano. I was so impressed with how well he did and laughed at the head's comment when he'd finished 'Well done X I think that is the longest time you have ever gone without talking!' Just showed me that they really know what he is like.

Because of the snow this week a friend collected him from school with her son and took them home for tea. He is the same age but would be viewed by the school as being ahead of my son in reading ability. She couldn't believe how basic his reading homework was so she did her son's with the two of them. My ds was more than capable of doing it and she put a note in his reading diary to that effect . He still got a picture book the next day though!

He can play the piano already? What a star!

My dd 'lost confidence' in reading in Reception - reason was becasue she is fiercely competitive and they were encouraging her to guess words - if she got more than one or two wrong she gave up and refused to read any more.

She had an excellent grounding in basic phonics but they were giving her level 1 and 2 ORT books which had words like 'fence' and 'ice cream' in when they had not taught her about the 'magic e'.

I discovered what was happening, and as school refused to listen to me, bought all the jolly phonics stuff and proper decodable books, plus taught her the detailed phonics rules myself - she loves / thrives on rules for things.

Result was that not only did she steam ahead and move onto chapter books within a year but my ds, at barely 3, picked it all up too ans started reading simple decodable books - a bonus!

Try your ds with some simple, fully decodable books - I found Jelly and Bean excellent and the dcs loved the captivating but simple pictures and simple, fun stories.

Good luck!

Ds has requested some JP books he saw at his friend's this week so I will try those and also look at Jelly and Bean as I've heard good thing about them too. He likes rules too so that may be something to work on. Hard to fit in the time to do anything 'extra' other than at weekends though as I work full time unfortunately.

cornsilk Maybe 'play' the piano is a bit of an exaggeration. He can play a tune that has three notes of different lengths and order and can read the music. I was amazed as he refused to practise his piece over the preceding weekend but was note perfect. I used to be very musical but never learnt the piano. I'd have preferred the cheaper option of starting with the recorder but he was adamant it had to be the piano!. I was very impressed at his complete lack of nerves too.

The JP DVD is excellent and kids love it - can replace other TV time.

And as far as 'extra' is concerned, ditch the school picture books and work on yours - I am sure you will both enjoy it much more.

Two other things that can work - reading page and page about, and you reading and making delibertae mistakes - kids love to correct adults' mistakes

He sounds like an absolute star!