Question About Daughter and School

The reading thing I know about. My youngest took till April of 1st grade for it to really click. Then one day, it just did.

He graduated in the top 2-3 percent of his class. Try not to worry, just keep practicing at home.

My mom got my daughter "The Ultimate Dick and Jane Collection." the stories are set up like chapters but are like 3-5 pages with 10ish words per page. it is VERY repetetive with many site words and it really builds. the first few pages do lots of "Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh no spot" and the like. its cute and you learn a whole big story.

Slow down, and back off a little. If you push to hard she is going to pull away.

Here's my unprofessional, only a mother of 8 opinion. Most kids, who struggle in this area catch up by 2nd/3rd grade. That seems horrible, but by high school you wouldn't know the kids who struggled in the beginning, from the kids who didn't. Every kids learning curve is different, so long as there is a curve in their learning, meaning they are progressing, then there is nothing to stress about.

An example, my 7 year old, 2nd grade, is reading at a first grade level. This is one area he really struggles with, BUT from experience with my other boys, this is normal and he will catch up. He continues to grow everyday, and within the last month has really started to take off. As long as I see growth, and his cyber teacher see's growth, we aren't concerned.

Remember, this is new to her. One day you'll be sitting beside her and you will see the light click, that little switch will go off and she will take off.

Did you know that there is evidence that reading is a biological skills like crawling and walking? It's the result of neurological processes in the brain. Some kids are able to read at 3, others not until 7. Finland doesn't teach reading until 7 for this very reason.

My advice, stop worrying about it. Let her play fun games on your ipad, but drop the flash cards, the drills the homework. let her be 5. Please do not turn your daughter off to reading by pushing her. Just read to her.

Starfall.com might be useful too.

As a preschool teacher you must understand that not all children learn at the same pace, right? Her teacher is not concerned so I would just keep doing what you're doing. Playing games of course is MUCH better than flash cards and traditional drills so keep doing that (you can get lots of ideas on Pinterest.) Just because she's slow/behind now doesn't mean she won't catch up. My son could barely read at the end of K but mid way through 1st grade something just "clicked" and he took off, he was reading at a third grade level by the end of the year! This is very common, so try not to stress about it. Your daughter is probably picking up on your frustration and that just makes things harder for both of you.

A fun set of books with lots of high frequency words is Elephant and Piggy by Mo Willems. Very funny!

For numeracy to 50 the best way to learn about numbers is to count out loud alot--preferably having her count objects that interest her as it happens during your day. My daughter loves counting things. We got her an abacus a few years back and it is a wonderful tool for demonstrating numeracy and how tens work. Linking cubes! As she counts she can hook them together to make tens. Create a hundreds chart together (end at 50 if that is easier) so she can see how the number pattern works. Knowledge has to be constructed with manipulat ives and real life materials and reasons for using numbers. For the numbers to 10 have her make a numbers book for the holiday season where you brainstorm different kinds of objects for each number. Have her copy off a model book (you can make one) so she has to write the number in number form and word form, draw a picture of that number of objects (2 snowmen, 1 Christmas tree, 3 elves etc.) Look at books from the library like that with numbers and objects and read/explore them. Have her use a white board or magnadoodle to follow along and practice saying and writing the numbers. Computer games and some flash cards can be helpful later to reinforce her understanding but these things to not build her understanding if that makes sense. The activities I suggested will help her build that knowledge. PM me if you want any other examples or more explanation--I taught 2nd grade and know how frustrating the ridiculously high expectations for little ones are these days! Left teaching in the public schools because of it. Try not to stress too much!

Kind of crazy, but have you had her vision checked? Not the "can you see this shape?" but a detailed vision exam with a pediatric optometrist? Friend's daughter has a version of dyslexia where the spaces between words disappear. It took a long time to discover. Another friend's daughter had a terrible time concentrating. Turned out it was not ADHD. It was sleep apnea. They did a sleep study, removed her overly large tonsils and now the kid is a new person. It is at least worth considering if she is spacey.

The other thing is, there is a wide range of normal. There are kids whose sentences on the wall are obviously dictated and kids like my DD who are working out their own words (terribly spelled, but that's the way they sound). And kids in between. My DD did not go to K reading and I don't think that it is mandatory for a child to be reading before attending K. In fact, if a kid has a learning difficulty, better to be in class where it can be noticed, IMO.

I would also have a meeting with the teacher and ask questions like "how do you think my DD learns best?" My DD's teachers suggested we have her write words down and use magnets. I'm an auditory learner, but DD needs to touch it and manipulate it - just like her father and grandmother. So when I teach DD, *I* need to adjust to *her*. Maybe there is something else you can be doing, like have her color the letters while she says them or trace the word with her favorite crayon, that will enhance her method of learning. Read her favorite books that she already knows and pause when you know there is a word she should know. Write her notes using her sight words and stick them in her lunch. Use bath markers to write numbers on the wall at night. Etc. Watch Sesame Street videos on YouTube. Not everyone learns well with drills.

My DD is supposed to know up to 100 by the end of the year. She knows the pattern but not her "tens". So it'll be 20....29...um...well...uh...fifty? So I would not worry too much if she can't do straight up to 50 right now. If that's a terrible thing, then my DD can't do it, either. And she zones on 14.

I suggest that when the teacher is not concerned it's best to relax. You are already doing what it's good to do. If you push to do more you may be putting too much pressure on your daughter. Let her learn at her own pace. School is new to her. Consider that some children knew more when they started kindergarten. Your daughter will catch up.

You and she have 12 more years of school. Good to start out slow and steady. School should be relaxed and fun at this age.

Reading is largely developmental. It will click when it clicks and there is no reason to pressure her or risk turning her off reading. I would STOP quizzing her on sight words (my son's Montessori never did sight words and I personally think they are a stupid approach to reading) and just read to her every day. There is ZERO evidence that homework has any benefits to elementary and middle school kids and I would let the teacher know that you are concerned homework will frustrate her and that you will NOT be doing it anymore. Finland (whom everyone holds up as the paragon of education) does not even start to teach reading until the kids are 7. Just try to relax - the most important thing is that when it finally clicks she loves it.

Reading did not click for my son until late in kindergarten (he was 6, late Dec birthday) and he is now (2nd grade) in the accelerated reading program doing 4th grade reading. His kindergarten Montessori teacher was not worried at all - she told us it will happen when it happens and there is nothing one can do to rush it. My BIL has a PhD from Yale and didn't read until 2nd grade.

your kidding right? homework in kinegarden? i thought this was entry to socializing,etc.now theres report cards,homework etc? what the hell happened to the system..why the need to rush these kids? my kids are in their 30,s and even though its been a while since ive dealt with school stuff..this is just plain redunkulous!~!!..my kids are both very smart and successful..live great happy full lives,
take some stress off the poor kid-make it fun,easy n less stressful-sure glad i dont have to deal with school systems anymore..good luck..give her time..

How old is your child? While the majority are age 5, many are 4 or 6. At this stage of development this makes a difference. Each child does learn at her own pace. Some children will also excel in some areas but have trouble in others.

Also drilling her is probably not going to do much good. At this age learning needs to be fun. You also need to find what works for her. Try counting items and reading books with numbers. When it comes to the site words, try doing the rhyming words/word families - it, sit, hit. Sometimes this helps to make the connection.

I wouldn't be overly concerned at this point. However, you need to keep working with her and see where she is mid-term.

poor boo. drilling-to-learn isn't much fun for college students let alone kindergartners. she'll have to learn stuff that's not fun during her life, but that doesn't mean that the PROCESS of learning should be drudgery.
schools have to have massive standards, unfortunately, because they teach in massive herds. but kids are individuals, and in the absence of learning disabilities, learn just fine at their own pace. (and even with learning disabilities they tend to learn like gangbusters when their own particular learning style is mastered.)
i'd back off. a lot.
khairete
S.

It truly sounds like she's okay. If the teacher is not concerned then take a breath and let it go. Don't spend hours on homework. She's a little kid, she needs to play and have fun in the evenings. She has school hours and hours each day. She needs home to be home and school to be school.

Google children learn as they play. By taking all her time doing homework you're depriving her of her natural learning experiences. She needs playtime and fun time. Let her have her evenings and weekends free.

Another thing that makes it easier for kids to learn is to make it fun, make up songs about the numbers, letters or words . You can make up games that include all that she needs to work on . If you make it fun,they have a tendency to learn easier, with not alot of pressure. You might also have her tested to see if she has a learning disability that can keep them from falling so far behind. My daughter was 3 when I had her tested and she started learning therapy right away. what a difference it made. Don't put lots of pressure on her (or yourself) ,she doesn't need to feel like a failure, make everything positive, or they (children) have a tendency to get frustrated with everything and quit trying.. Also reward her when she does accomplish a task or gets something right.
It will all work out ! C. S.

We've been concerned about my grandson who just started Kindergarten this year, also...

my daughter has been in touch with the teacher, and the school diagnostician.... in his case, they are going to start evaluating him for any learning disabilities. This hasn't started, though, as far as I know.....

He did not go to any pre-school, but was in some short-term daycare situations. He was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay a couple of years ago, however... (there have been several issues all along that my daughter has been concerned about with him).

If you have concerns, you can always go to the school counselor or find out who your SPED coordinator/diagnostician is and talk with them.

One of my kids was the same way and was only 5 when she started. They all said it would come. By age 8 it had not and was a constant struggle. I will never send another kid to kindergarten unless he/she is reading at a basic level. The schools expect a lot and at a fast pace. If the child is reading, it's so much less stress for all.

Sounds crazy but it's so much easier doing that.

Just throwing it out there....could she be dyslexic?
L.

It does sound like she's behind, but it also sounds like the school is aware... I mean the report card is what told you she is below grade level, right. If they are telling you to give it time, I'd suggest you do that. If you aren't comfortable with that, read on.

One thing that stands out to me, though, is that you've been working on the numbers 1-10 since September... You're a pre-school teacher. Did you not do anything to make sure she was kindergarten ready? If September was truly the FIRST time she was introduced to the numbers 1-10 and the only ones she struggles with are 6 and 9, I really wouldn't worry... it actually makes sense that she would mix those up... they are the same symbol just oriented differently and it is difficult for kids to organize WHEN the direction of a thing matters (like with 6 and 9, or b and d) and when it doesn't (like with the chair in my living room... it's still a chair if a face it toward the window).

YES she's behind, but the kids who have 1-50 down pat didn't pick them up in three months. They got most of it over the last couple of YEARS leading up to kindergarten and have just PERFECTED it since September.

As for reading, keep reading to her, but also try thinking aloud as you read. Don't just read TO her, let her in on what's going on in your head as you're reading. Stop at a word and say "Oh I know that word. That starts with l. l makes the /l/ sound. Then it has e e makes /e/ then m in the middle m makes the /m/ sound. I see a lemon in the picture. That word is lemon.

Finally, it sounds like part of the disconnect (you seeing her knowing more than the teacher sees) is that you are actually asking her to do something DIFFERENT than what the school is asking her to do. You say she points out her sight words in books when you read them (like "where is "the") but that is different than reading the word "the" when she sees it on the page without being told that one of the words is "the." Similarly, "which number is 7" is different than "what is this number?" make sure you are working toward the same objective.

But really, relax. If the teacher says she's making progress, then she's making progress. It'll click when it clicks.

Get her eyes tested again. My DD passed the school eye exam but failed the real exam done by a doctor. Her Rx is so bad that she will not go without her glasses, ever!

I also don't think you need to really worry. She will get it if she keeps practicing - practice makes perfect.

I also agree that you should keep it as fun as possible. When you read to her, run your finger under the words. The more you do that, the more she will recognize the words. I also agree with the poster who said sight words is a ridiculous way to teach reading. I would start working with her on phonics so she can sound words out.

One thought I had for a fun letter and number game is bingo. Make up your own bingo cards and you and she and daddy can play bingo. After a while, once she has the B-I-N-G-O down, you can change them to any letters you want.

Don't get frustrated - she will catch on!