yr 3 writing problem

[mistymom]

Hi in need of some advise please. My daughter is nearly 8 yrs old. Teacher told here yesterday that she will score very low in her test next week as she is constantly puting a capital T and some times B in all her written work. My daughter is upset as she as tied to stop doing it but still it happens every time. I have spoken to teacher today she says that she is at a lose with how to help her. Her written contents is very good but this issue is losing her down. How can i help her and why do you think she is doing this still. Thanks in advance x

misty she's still doing it because she's 8

What tests are these by the way? I find it hard to believe your dd would receive a low score because of her random use of Bs and Ts. Hopefully a teacher will be along shortly to explain.

Hi OtterInaSkoda, The tests are optional tests that all year 3,4,5 do in school. Teacher says that she will definitely get a low score because of this, as she should not be doing it at this age. The B and T can be at the start of a word in the middle or at the end. As the level is announced to the child in front of the whole class my daughter is getting upset.

Usually it's capital 's's and 'c's that are the issue (even later on). If she has no other writing issues she will grow out of it. I wouldn't focus on every piece of written work as it will reduce her enjoyment of writing and she'll loose sight of other progress she is making. Two things I've done in class:
1: for longer pieces of writing stop 2/3 min before the end and ask the child to go through work with a colour pencil at the end correcting letters.
2: choose a piece of homework (as long as it's fairly brief) to re-write, no more than one a week.
3: SOME childrne are very happy to practice handwriting sheets, they find it easy and calming as a starter activity. If she is, provide them (many sheets to print out online or she can copy letters you do, including difficult joins etc. to make it a fun challenge)
It will help break the habit, it is a habit only if she knows what to do. The rest of the time focus on other targets and praise new learning/ skills/ effort. It's depressing for anyone if the same fault is always pointed out and can switch a child off.

It will lower her mark, but not significantly, and who cares? She'll make a massive jump next year to enjoy! It will only lower the mark if otherwise the rest of her writing is at a higher standard. She won't be able to get the handwriting marks.

"As the level is announced to the child in front of the whole class my daughter is getting upset. "

Personally I'd be more worried about what sort of school does this, rather than her random use of capitals at this age...

Why such public humiliation - soudns bizarre?

I missed that bit about announcing levels- that's not right. I would never do that, i takes minutes to call kids over an share them privately. It's then up to them if they want to share them. Well that's what I do in year 6, in year 3 I don't think I always told the kids, just mentioned it at parents' eve (you can tell I don't consider levels at that age to be of real significance, I know what the child needs help with// is capable of anyway).

Children often continue to use capital "B" in their work when they are confused by "b" & "d"

The teacher is wrong - unless this is a private school with their own testing system. She would lose some marks for the occasional random capital in a real SATS test, but this alone would not give her a low mark.

And I would be straight to the Head about announcing levels in front of the class - that is completely inappropriate.