Sort posts
Parents' evening last week. His teacher said he's working below the expected level with phonics and they want to give him extra small-group sessions.
He's one of the youngest, August birthday, only just turned 6. At home he loves stories but when I try to get him to read the school books he gets frustrated and says he's stupid. That broke my heart a bit.
Should I be getting a tutor? Or is this normal for a summer born?
August baby here, and I have an August baby. Honestly a lot of it is age. Nearly a year younger than some in the class is huge at 6. The small group sessions are a good thing, not a bad sign.
Retired primary teacher here. Please don't get a tutor yet. What helps most at this stage is little and often: 5-10 minutes a day, stopping before he gets frustrated, and lots of you reading TO him for pleasure. Keep reading fun at home. School will do the technical bit.
@IslingtonIrene thank you, that's really reassuring. 5 minutes sounds so much more doable than the 20 I've been fighting about.
Comics! My son wouldn't touch his school books but would read comic strips. Shorter lines, pictures, funny. Counts as reading.
The 'I'm stupid' thing, I'd tell him straight that his brain is still growing and reading is a skill like riding a bike. Wobbly first, then easy.
Update after half term: we're doing 5 minutes a day, I'm reading Roald Dahl to him at bedtime, and his teacher says he's made really good progress. He read a whole page to his granny on FaceTime and was very pleased with himself.
That's wonderful progress. Reading a whole page to granny is a real milestone. And a chapter book at bedtime is the best homework there is.
Log in to replyGuests can’t post on the forum — signing up takes a minute.
