Weekly Flylady Thread 18th January 2010

Dorastar

helen_jelly wrote: »

Can I ask a question please - its about handwriting in schools, could someone please tell me what the general attitude is towards teaching handwriting to year 2 children, I don't want to go and kick up a fuss if all the kids are at the same level as my son but I'm disgusted with his writing, he knows what shape he needs and gets it down on paper any old way, his shapes are not recognisable with some letters and whilst I don't expect it to be immaculate I do think he should be able to form his letters properly even if not neatly. Do teachers make the kiddies do lines of the same letter so that they practise the shape forming or is it done by getting them to write words so they are practising several letters. My DS son has a newly qualified teacher and I have already had to go in and ask why he wasn't doing any reading with the teacher or TA for over 2 months - we do as much as poss at home but you know what kids are like - they'll listen when teacher tells them and ignore Mum!! His teacher is very nice and I don't want to get her in trouble if its just the way things are done now however I am concerned that whilst he is very good in some areas, ok in others, he just shows no interest or even any apptitude towards writing {I know he's not perfect and I don't expect special attention for him - I realise his faults] and I'm concerned that this will be an ongoing problem unless its sorted now


Helen x

When I've had year 2 I've had some children who were starting to join their letters in words in handwriting sessions and others who were still on correct formation of individual letters. If he's struggling to form his letters correctly then really he should be going over those in school. Having said that children do sometimes write better at school than at home and do choose to write letters incorrectly - my dd has beautiful joined writing in her work at school and then is all over the place if she has to write in a birthday card at home! I would definitely talk to his teacher about it, you can say that you are worried about his handwriting and has she got any worksheets/websites/ideas for how he can improve it so you can support what she is doing in school and ask for a copy of the school's handwriting scheme so you can practice it at home. If she is an NQT then she might be so wrapped up in levelling and teacher assessments that she hasn't been focusing on handwriting as much so this would give her a reminder as well. If you do want to do any at home then little and often, going over letters with a similar start (c,o,a,d,g//r,n,m,h//t,l,i,) are a good place to start.hth

pigpen

Helen.. at our primary the children are taught letter sounds and shapes in nursery/reception and they are taught to write joined up from the start. It isn't dyslexia because he would struggle to recall letter sounds/shapes if that were the case.. plus his work would be fairly illegible.. poor spelling, lack of spaces etc. Boys are known for their lack of interest in writing.. it is slow and boring.. they stereotypically are better with hands-on learning. Also his position in the year group makes a big difference.. a year is a long time to learn stuff when you are that young.. most of mine are born autumn term and fair significantly better than the summer term babies. Speak to his teacher and see if he can have a few extra worksheets etc to do at home to help his progress... it might just be though he hates writing and prefers sport or art and simply cannot be bothered with it.

Penelope_Penguin

47th week! THOU SHALT BOAST ABOUT THINE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, but only in special Spylady invisible ink ;-)

Monday ~ DONE


Tuesday ~ DONE

Extras

1. Wash windows and nets/blinds
2. Sort coats and bags and shoes

Wednesday ~ DONE

Thursday ~ DONE
Level One ~ done :j
Level Two ~ done :j
Level Three
[STRIKE]Wash curtains and nets and windows
Empty and wash out upstairs bins
Binbag dance!

[/STRIKE]Extras

1. Sort through one box of stuff
2. Find 5 items to sell/give away.. and list for sale if necessary

Friday ~ DONE
[/STRIKE]Extras

1. Polish mirrors and shelves!

• fill coal scuttle
• stuff to the loft
• order computer cable and headphones for DH
• polish kettle
• pickle shallots
• clean bedside tray
• [STRIKE]menu plan
• [/STRIKE]shopping list to match
• fill log basket
• [STRIKE]farm shop - potatoes and Seville oranges
• make lentil and bacon soup
• [/STRIKE]make marmalade
• [STRIKE]empty compost bin
• book DH's car in for new tyre[/STRIKE]

helen_jelly

Thanks for the info ladies - Pigpen, I think laziness has got a lot to do with it so DH has just made some handwriting sheets and from now on DS is going to have to do 5 to 10 mins of writing out his letters [like I used to have to do at school] they say that the old ways are the best ways. Dorastar, thanks for that, I'm going to get a copy of the handwriting scheme off the school and use the letters you have suggested as a starting point for him

Poor little terror ain't gonna know whats hit him from Monday. I'll give him lazy, he's going to be pig sick of me but I'll have him writing properly even if it kills me. As for his teacher - I'll speak to her on Monday, but I'm sure I terrify her so she'll just say whatever she thinks I want to hear but I'm quite happy to put the work in providing its the right work IYSWIM

Thanks

Helen x

MrsChaos

I've decided to delete what I've not done - makes for a much shorter post.

Monday ~ Kitchen, Utility and Dining Area
Level One
Wipe and replace small appliances - some done
Declutter and wipe work surfaces
Level Two
Clear and wipe a cluttered fluffy shelf - took old TD outside, cleaned space and put in blender, SC etc

Wednesday ~ Living room and other reception rooms!
Level One
Declutter floors - started (bags to charity shop yesterday)

Thursday ~ Master bedroom/second room
Level One
Strip, wash and replace the bedding (done beds in kids' rooms, too)

Friday ~ Bathroom and WC
Level One
Declutter

I've also done lots of washing today and stuff is drying on airer/radiators all over the place.

MACAW
monitor asthma meds - only missed one, I think, so well done me!
Afternoon/evening dailies - not so good on that one and will need to re-think.

5-a-week challenge:
chase quote for car repairs - need to pass it on, now, so I can book the car in.
phone plumber on Thursday to confirm appt - forgot to phone, but got sorted, anyway
get in touch with childminder - done
contact school re DS2's transfer /DS2 new uniform - done
put stuff on freegle/advertise in local paper - nowhere near

Before tea I will:
put the almost last lot of washing on and continue to move things around on radiators
put dirty stuff in DW after the service wash has finished (also done service wash for WM)
iron clothes for tomorrow and pack bags
read with DS2

I don't think I'll get the chance to post again before tomorrow, so here's my own list for this week. MACAWs will focus on myself for a while, I think. Need to stop being ill/tired all the time.

MACAW:
Drink enough water

5-a-week challenge:
find instructions for gas fire so I can make an appointment for engineer to come back
get e-mail for the guy who caused the accident and send him the quote
advertise stuff on freegle/local free ads when my laptop finally starts to talk to the wireless router
finish DH's tax return
sort new TD

That's it for the moment. I hope everyone has had a good weekend and I'll see you on the new thread, if I get the chance to catch up a bit. Just going to read a couple of pages now before sorting the washing.
MrsCx

carol22_2

Hi all

Can I have my last star please? Drawers have eventually been done. I'll be on later to join in for next week

xxx

1_step_closer

Thank you all for your good wishes! Got the ironing done (yay) just pootling round now. Will do curry in a bit. Will also take a strong headache tablet before bed..........

L-L massive hugs for you hun.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

nopot2pin

I have done no flying whatsoever this weekend
Other than put a washing in.....
I need to do a bit of ironing, so I will start that after I have had my dinner, and take the washing out of the machine.
Aiming for more stars next week :whistle:honest

hex2

1 step - dont take this the wrong way but you (and others) can make yourself very miserable at work. I know, I ahve been ther, done that. What I have accepted is that at the end of the day it is a finite period of time, not the be all and end all. Change your job or change your job to quote my former boss - you can either make yourself miserable (or in your case let someone else make you miserable) or you can look for the best and make it ok. Bull thought I at the time but actually she was right. Work is such a big % of peoples lives, dont let it get you down. Sometimes it pays the bills nothing more, nothing less.

HTH.

Dustykitten

I have:

Stripped our bed
1xWM
an hour in the garden
scared myself senseless by disturbing a fox which was sleeping between the compost bins:eek:
made some white choc and raspberry muffins
spoken to the builder

Still need to:

Finish the ironing
HHC in the kitchen
remake the bed
AS maths text book with DS1
DS3 to to trumpet practice
DH to measure and sort out order for bamboo
DS1 to sort out cooking ingredients

Next week:
sort out cupboard of stuff for sale
investigate amazon selling
empty and sort the bathroom understairs cupboard
visit tile shop
return library books/JL/return M&S
return TKMaxx
get up courage for a ski lesson
book the ski lesson
go to the ski lesson:eek:

kazmeister wrote: »

.She hasnt even bothered to get dressed even though she has full makeup on. I'm so disappointed. Dont think I can do this any more

Huge hugs sweetie. You can do it, just not today. Don't worry about the getting dressed bit, my kids never get dressed unless they are leaving the house - that can mean a whole weekend of PJs and they put them back on when they get home. The whole tidying up thing is one long old battle which I'm not sure is ever won until they leave home.

juliejim wrote: »

I suppose I ought to think about sewing the kids' badges on their Beavers' uniforms - but 7 each!:eek:

Wonderweb!!!

helen_jelly wrote: »

Can I ask a question please - its about handwriting in schools, could someone please tell me what the general attitude is towards teaching handwriting to year 2 children, I don't want to go and kick up a fuss if all the kids are at the same level as m
Helen x

Our school they do handwritting practice in special books with lines to help with where the letters go (a bit like music script). Letters are learnt with tails and then joined. Pen licenses are earnt in year 3 once the writing is of a good standard. DS3 liked handwriting practice in year 2 as they played music during it and he found it relaxing (I now need the confused smilie) but he is an aquarian.

Is your DS a leftie? - 2 of mine are and it can make it more tricky
How are his fine motor skills, eg can he colour within lines, pick up tiny beads etc?
Can he trace? - great practice for pencil control

I think there is a fine line between not turning it into an issue and having acceptable standards. HTH a bit.

Think I'll tidy away a muffin now:rotfl: