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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Getting boys to write! Y1

14 replies

suecy · 09/03/2010 09:44

Any ideas how to make this miracle happen? DS's recording of his work is so far behind his actual ability it's untrue.

He's very articulate, really good at maths, but given the choice would do all of this verbally rather than writing it down.

Shows no interest in art. Writes barely a sentence in his news book.

I know this is very common in boys, and his teacher says obviously he needs to work on it.....but how?

If he's reluctant to sit and do his homework and starts whinging, should I let him get away with it, stand my ground and have a battle, or provide a reward to get it done - I hate bribery!

He's 6 and in y1. Will it just fix itself in time?

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Starbear · 09/03/2010 09:49

Oh! I going to have to bookmark this I want to know the answer too!

harveytherabbit · 09/03/2010 10:30

What is he passionate about? If it's trains, get him some pics of trains and get him writing captions for them. If it's cars, maybe he could have a scrapbook, cut out pics from newspaper ads and then write about them?

Could he write a mini diary each day before you/ your partner get home and then read it to you. Make a big fuss of how interesting it is.

You won't change his reluctance overnight but could take small steps with something that captures his imagination/ presses his buttons.

Lymond · 09/03/2010 10:41

Agree with harvey.

The first time DS (also in Y1) wrote something, at home, voluntarily, was recently for a story writing competition which had a prize for every entry at school. He wrote a page long story in truly terrible At the end he wrote "To bee continyood" and as yet he hasn't bothered, but I now know that he can do it ifchocolateisonoffer if he really wants to.

Must offer some chocolate for the next story over Easter hols actually....

Lymond · 09/03/2010 10:41

in truly terrible handwriting

smee · 09/03/2010 11:13

Get him to design a treasure hunt for you at Easter. DS loves doing things like that. Maps, signs, clues, it's all writing and the big bonus is you might get chocolate at the end of it.

becaroo · 09/03/2010 11:34

Sounds like my ds1.

I get ds1 to make cards with me...b day cards, get well cards, easter cards, anything really. Then I get him to write in them.

I also make "books" I get 2 sheets of A4, fold them in half to make an A5 size then stick them together on the short side so you have a concertina style book.

Ds1 then does an illustration on each page and a couple of lines of text of story.

HTH x

mumto2andnomore · 09/03/2010 11:35

Talk to the teacher about the homework but if it was me I wouldnt make him do it if he was getting distressed-if he was just whinging and moaning i would !

becaroo · 09/03/2010 11:36

oh, and I am also at the moment printing off maps of countries of the world so he can draw the animals of that country and label them...he LOVES animals.

I think the trick can be to find something they really like and tie writing into that.

sausagepastie · 09/03/2010 11:39

Yes it will fix itself. Do not force - hugely countre productive. Come right off it when he is at home, don't even do the homework if you can avoid it.

I told ds's teacher I wasn't going to switch him back into literacy once he was home, she agreed with me and I presume she is aware of the research saying boys don't have the neural pathways for reading/writing till they are around 7.

Really, don't push it, most of ds' friends have LEAPT forward this year and got interested. You can't force it, so don't try.

sausagepastie · 09/03/2010 11:40

Seriously it is like potty training, walking, talking, all those things.

It comes good in its OWN time

you can't force any of it. I never believed ds would read or write, now he does it all the time, because he wants to...

MathsMadMummy · 09/03/2010 11:51

I have no experience with boys, but my DSD hates writing (dyslexic) and it was just a matter of finding the right topic (she's older than your DS though) - when they had a school project on spiders she was suddenly a prolific writer!

Do you/other adults in the family write a lot? Shopping lists, cards etc... I keep hearing that it's really important for the DCs to see reading/writing in the home. To show that it's normal/enjoyable/useful.

BooToYouToo · 09/03/2010 12:08

I found my DS loved doing a dictionary. In his case it was of all the BeastQuest animals and characters. He also often picks up a notepad and makes lists (best friends, what to do in the holidays etc). I make sure there are always pens and notepads in his bedroom and playroom and he will pick them up of his own accord.

Most of this started after he was given extra one on one help at school with handwriting, is that something they do at your DS's school?

FernieB · 09/03/2010 12:43

Play 'Consequences'! Each take a sheet of paper and write a sentence or two. Then fold over the paper to cover what you've written leaving a couple of words showing. Swap papers and continue the story. Keep on until you have filled the paper then read the stories.

This was how I got mine to write. They loved it and they especially like it if you use words they think are funny (poo, fart etc).

Original poster

suecy · 09/03/2010 13:34

Thanks everyone - really good ideas and really good advice.

I think the 2 overwhelming messages I got from this are:

It will come!
Focus on doing writing/drawing through play rather than homework centred.

You know sometimes when you just go - DUH - could or should have seen that myself! All so logical and common sense.

Thanks all

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