Parents Eve - Livid at School - Son's Literacy Well Below Average

Curlywurli

It's not easy to tell, but I get the feeling that he's been having difficulty for some time and is now stuck in a rut. He realises that his work could be better but now instead of trying he's getting a mental block and if he doesn't even start it then it's not going to be wrong. If it was just his handwriting that was an issue then he would be higher than a 2C, but as you've said there are words missing and a lack of punctuation.

Does he read newspapers? Does he use the computer? If he were to do some writing on there how would he get on with it? Have you thought about sitting him on the computer to do some writing?- blurbs for his favourite books, posters advertising cars that he likes, lists of records from his Guinness Book of Records etc. He needs to see that it can be fun or at least realise that it's not just a chore.

stressedoutmum

My son doesn't like fictional books. He's got books on cars, motorbikes and the guiness book of records. He's ok with reading books he likes but it is putting pen to paper. Awful writing, untidy, no punctuation and words missed out. I just think the school has put a lot of pressure on him now to catch him when they could have easily slotted it in. It is thanks to his newly quaified teacher this was noticed- other teachers assessed him as above average. His teacher only told me what I've been thinking for ages but it would have been a lot easier to catch up had they noticed this last year.

Spendless

When I was struggling with my son reading & writing. I picked up a book in Smiths and it had you list 3 things you'd like to invent and asked what your favourite possessions were. It got you reading and writing in a way that you didn't realise you were -iyswim. That was an educational one but I'm pretty sure one of the wimpy kid books goes along these lines too.

Dustykitten

Could you start by getting him to understand punctuation. You say he reads well so I imagine he is used to reading punctuation. What about getting pieces of text with no punctuation and getting him to put them in. This would be easier than getting him to write lots at the moment but hopefully would start to address one of the issues.

stressedoutmum

Dustykitten that sounds like a really good idea. He knows what punctuation marks are but he doesn't seem to want to have to stop and think about putting them in his writing

Muppet. Absolute no to the internet/ps/tv being a babysitter. He plays outside in the garden, on his bike, swims, scrap booking, tag rugby and choir. I certainly don't expect the school to do all the education. I sit with him every night doing his reading and spelling. I get him to write sentences with his spelling words (albeit the shortest he can think of) to make sure he understands the word not just how to spell it. I have constantly voiced concern about his literacy and numeracy throughout school but when you keep getting told he is fine and keeping up with his peers you start to think its you. I also get him to total things in supermarkets, work out the best buys, read labels etc. Although I thought his writing skills were poor school kept telling me he was fine. I was concerned about his numeracy so we spend 15 minutes a night on the computer on ks2 numeracy work (all fun work sheets). I also get him to write a few sentences about what he has done in school that day. I switch between numeracy and literacy and try to make it as much fun as possible. If I didn't care about his education I wouldn't put the effort in but I practice what I preach. As the school has told me for the past couple of years he is fine I started thinking I was expecting too much - obviously I wasn't

squibbs25

My ds while in primary school had an issue with writing, it lasted from about half way through year 1 to the time he left the schoool in year 6.
Over the years we (parents and teachers) tried everything (including being nice and encouraging to pulling our hair out).
In year 6 he was given a DANA, (laptop) for his written English work as a trial and it worked. It was the key to unlocking his mental block.
The problem for him was the pressure of writing neatly made him worry (bearing in mind that over the years he had been told off for not writing both at school and at home and he didnt want to be told off anymore so he just switched off) therefore giving him a mental block.
By taking away the pen/pencil, slowly his ideas appeared in black and white. There had never been a problem with lack of ideas, it was litrally as soon as it came to putting on paper that the problem appeared.
His primary school suggested to his secondary that they continue with the DANA, when he started in September last year.
They said that they would re-assess the situation when he started there.
His English work did go downhill for the first term and the DANA was reintroduced before Christmas and as a result his work is coming back up. He doesn't use it all the time, but it is there for when he does need it.
He will still openly admit that he hates his writing.

stressedoutmum

squibbs. That sounds like a fab idea. I think I will try and get him to type stories other than writing. He has said to me that he is so slow because he is trying to be neat but he can't be neat and fast. Its strange his spelling and spoken language is fine but he can't seem to get it on the paper. I will have a try at that and get back to school if its any help. I have an older son at secondary and I look at the amount of written work they have (as well as on the computer) and it frightens me because I know my son could never produce that amount of work. He barely does 3/4 lines.

squibbs25

The other trick that my TA friend suggested was, instead of giving him a blank piece of paper, try starting the story off for him or get him to write a few sentances then using conectives to join the sentances up, So one extra word makes a longer sentance. (hope that makes sense)

dizziblonde

stressedoutmum wrote: »

squibbs. That sounds like a fab idea. I think I will try and get him to type stories other than writing. He has said to me that he is so slow because he is trying to be neat but he can't be neat and fast. Its strange his spelling and spoken language is fine but he can't seem to get it on the paper. I will have a try at that and get back to school if its any help. I have an older son at secondary and I look at the amount of written work they have (as well as on the computer) and it frightens me because I know my son could never produce that amount of work. He barely does 3/4 lines.

How's his co-ordination generally? If he's struggling that much with the physical act of writing I'm wondering if there's a possibility of something like dyspraxia in there? (I'll freely admit it's not a condition I know a massive amount about so don't take anything I say as gospel on it but it might be something to think about).

As for the post after that (I can't do multi-quotes) - I do similar - when the "can I go to the toilets" start and I know it's just avoiding getting down to the task rather than genuine need - I ask them to write the date, title and first line - coming back to something started is much less intimidating than coming back to a blank sheet of paper,,, strangely it's one that does seem to work.

stressedoutmum

dizzieblonde. Its funny you should say that when they start using excuses you get them to partially write something - because he will do anything in class during literacy rather than write. He sometimes says he couldn't finish it because he was helping so and so or sharpening all the pencils or had to go to the toilet. Could do with someone like you in his class. He certainly responds better to encouragement rather than ranting but sometimes I'm not sure if he can't or simply won't.