Have we got a starting Secondary School Support thread?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I’ve just just asked DD what the sandwich box and bottle are for in the fridge. It turns out she’s made her first packed lunch ready for school. She doesn’t start till next Tuesday

We had that last year Red and I was a bit and shocked at the lack of warning. Actually DS may need one though just asked him and he says he can do homework on his phone They are quite pricey, even the cheap ones, but its best to get protection - this one is fairly cheap but with the 3 year protection it was still £600. At least if they said in July would give people a bit of warning.

it's really weird. for the class trip we got a warning with the welcome letter and the option to pay in installments.
for this just a sheet --that dc didn't put straight into the recycling like all the advertisement leaflets.

Last year when DD went to get an induction for grammar she came back with USB stick, ours didn't even say needed but queried it and got told will need computer or laptop for homework. This school haven't said but when I asked on NMs last year got told it was the norm. We only had one snail paced computer so had to go and get new laptop. There were computers she could use at grammar at lunchtime at school but not always a viable option if lots of homeworks. Not sure if homework club has computers but even so would be difficult as some assignments are huge project ones. It is wierd how you get a months warning and installment options for a £15 school trip but get told to go and buy a laptop overnight. I think they should at least put it in the letters you get about joining school - if you are told in say March at least you can adjust. We both have good jobs but even for us £600 in 1 go is a bit

the cheapest 'homework' laptop at argos is 200£
nearly no storage, all goes on cloud...

Yes think about £200 of ours is the protection but I have had 2 repairs done for spilling drinks on ours in past year, DH is just collecting it now whilst I'm on our second one - had to buy another one for wfh when first being repaired - with a drink. Some people don't learn.

We have also been working on homework today. Three different subject, one completes, notes for the other two. We'll be doing more work tomorrow morning as well .

DH spilt a drink on his own laptop yesterday One of our first laptops spent a week drying out in the airing cupboard after an incident involving bubble mixture and a toddler DD ....

Can I ask about handwriting, especially in boys? DS's writing is pretty bad - he can write beautifully when he actually takes his time, but his default writing is a messy scrawl, usually all bunched together but not properly joined up. It's been an issue all through primary and he's very defensive about it. We've done a lot of practice at home but whenever he has to write anything for real, rather than actually writing for the sake of practising his writing, it all goes out the window and he reverts to writing that hasn't improved much since about year 3 :( People keep telling me that it's just a boy thing - does anyone else have the same worries?

DS2's writing is similar spiderlight. DS2 does have appear to have hypermobile shoulders and hands/fingers (can do a weird thing with his shoulder blades(!) and bend his fingers right back etc) which I think accounts for some of it. He says he gets aches and pains if he has to write a lot.

what do your dc write with?
dc has gel pens, as they don't need hard grip and contact to write.
fountain pens are also good and ergonomic.

My dd has asked for Pilot Frixion pens after seeing others use them - as they have to use pens....but you can rub these ones out! She’s fairly near, but does make a lot of mistakes in maths, so wants it to look legible. I’m surprised how good they are!

My ds on the other hand has appalling writing in year 9, years of nagging him has had no effect unfortunately. He just hates writing. School have never mentioned it though.

frixon pens are not allowed in dc school.
the writing dissapears if you leave the paper in a warm place (above radiator for example)

We've tried umpteen different types of pen, from Bic biros to special expensive ones recommended by the school (which he lost...) but he's currently getting on best with one he got free in a goodie bag at an RAF event over the summer. He actually writes much more tidily in pencil but the school won't allow that. I've just ordered some of those Frixion pens though - they sound useful.

Oh bugger - cross-post with the disappearing writing!!

I didn’t know that either! Will do a test tonight!

DS has perfect handwriting and has done for years but DDs is terrible. She is probably hypermobile, can bend fingers and body into very weird positions, never thought about that but might be why.

We’ve just done a test with the with the pen and our log burner. When the writing on the paper touches the stove it totally disappears - but as soon as you remove it from the heat the writing comes back!!

Same here Spider . DS1 did as little writing as possible in primary and they did a lot of scribing for him when the content was more important than writing as he’d just refuse or write hardly anything when he knew loads about the subject. He had a scribe for his SATS.

He’s got a TA at secondary school who can scribe for him but hates it and insist on writing himself as much as possible. But he’s really slow and very messy so sometimes can’t read it back himself. We did handwriting practice most days over the holidays and he was getting quicker and neater but he really struggles when he has to think of spellings himself rather than just copying. I think he may have mild dyslexia (reading is fine, but spelling age of 7).

Sounds like might be worth getting a dyslexia test cheminotte.

Had fun and games with DD yesterday where she wouldn't come home as agreed so we have taken phone away. She told me to put alarm on for 5am, said no as she doesn't need to leave for school until 8.15am. Anyway 5.30am her phone goes off and she finds it. Great though now been rehidden with sound off. Thought she was planning on escaping early but is apparently doing homework so could be worse. I think I am resigning as mother, just get one settled then other start off, non stop drama. I would be bored without them though.

Yes I think so Penguin but we’d have to go private as school have already said they only test if issues with both reading and writing. As he already gets loads of support I’m not sure what benefit it would bring.

I think you get extra time in tests if he doesn't already. I saw a free online test but did it and I came out as dyslexic so think it maybe putting everyone as dyslexic, I only have trouble with left and right, clocks as a child and spelling a bit and those moving shapes around tests but pretty certain I am not. You can just have it with spelling as kids can memorise words, when I was at school it wasn't taught phonetically.

He already gets extra time. Nessy do a dyslexia pre test for £10 which we did 6 months ago and he came out high in one area.
Have just got him a spelling dictionary which is great.

Well I've had a response. Mixed feelings really as I felt that there was still a degree of explainimg the behaviour as something boys do as they are still rather immature...

However they have been spoken to apparently and informed of the next steps they will be subjected to should it continue and teachers have been informed not to sit them with her.

So we will see what happens from now.

Giles I hope they leave her alone now.

So do I. Dd is supposed to be calling or texting me at break or lunch to let me know how it's going