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Should a 6 year old be reading by now?

Mrs Magpie said:
Not being able to read fluently at 6 is not a major problem. When it 'clicks' (and different methods work for different kids...they aren't all the same) he'll be well away, I'm sure.
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yeah, that;'s the thing. starting to read isn't a slow and steady process, it's more a case of finding the way in which that particular kid gets the idea, when that kid is ready. if you watch a kid wgen they have got the idea, it can be almost like seeing one of those cartoon lightbulbs turn on over their head. That's when the encouragement, the reading at night, the encouraging books become even mroe important.
 
pseudonarcissus said:
How often do you read bedtime stories together? How does he get on when he's not reading in front of the class?

Surely you should be more aware of reading development than the teacher.
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Thing is, a parent can be doing bedtime stories every night, but a teacher is the one who's aware of the development level compared to the 'norm' ie the other kids in the class.

(Though as has been mentioned, there's quite a wide range of 'normal' at just turned 6).
 
AnnO'Neemus said:
moomoo, aren't you the urbanite who posted the other day asking for answers to her son's homework, which you were doing for him?

Think maybe the answer to your current question is somewhere in there. :rolleyes:
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That wasn't moomoo!
 
I'd go with trying to engage him in reading about things he's interested in. make reading as fun and interesting as possible. If he's very active, try going for walks and getting him to read out what he can see. If he's interested in making things, use the instructions and follow them step-by-step with him. I don't think traditional reading books are going to help him much, but if you can make it seem as little like learning as possible, he might learn much faster!
 
Mrs Magpie said:
I'm sure you didn't mean it in the way that comes over....I'm sure moomoo wasn't worried till the teacher said something which has raised doubts. Not being able to read fluently at 6 is not a major problem. When it 'clicks' (and different methods work for different kids...they aren't all the same) he'll be well away, I'm sure.
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Pseudo has a fair point - I should have noticed but with all the problems we have here, I didn't see this one coming at all :eek: He doesn't bring home words to learn like the other children used to so I presumed he was doing ok at school.

I do read a bedtime story with him every night, but that is our special time and we'll have a story and a couple of jokes.

I bought him some phonics cards and a little writing practice book with stars that he seems to like. I will make a determined effort to spend 10 or 15 mins every day helping him (I have finally been given some help in the house so I will, hopefully, have a lot more time to spend with the children when I have somebody :) ). He seemed to like the cards, I over played how clever he was when he got one right and he loves all that :D

I have been looking at the jolly phonics on the web and I'll practice the sounds with him as well - that is something we could do in the car even.


LilMissHissyFit, could you tell me where you get that 'slug in a jug' game from? It sounds like fun and his brother and sister would enjoy playing that with him :)

Thinking about it, I think part of the problem is that he is painfully shy with people he doesn't know well and he will not speak to his teacher unless he absolutely has to. She mentioned that he needs to speak up when they are on the carpet but although he will speak to his peers, he will not speak to adults!

I will do my best and we'll have him reading by the Spring dammit! :D
 
moomoo said:
Pseudo has a fair point....

I do read a bedtime story with him every night, but that is our special time and we'll have a story and a couple of jokes.
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My aunt once was worried about a cousin of mine. She didn't read to/with the kids and I think they suffered because of it. Her view was that the school should teach children without parental participation.

Obviously you're involved and encouraging and doing all the right things. Mrs Magpie sort of picked up on an implied accusation......the nuances of U75 posts!

Anyway good luck

my cousin turned out ok too
 
The thing that was a big success in Scotland to do with blending ie teaching phonics, eg ph and ea as sounds is good...only did a bit of that in the last school I was a TA in as they were older but the kids caught on fast
 
I don't think you should be overly concerned.

I'm not suggesting you would, but don't tell the child concerned that you are worried - it could be a confidence issue, and my feeling is that could set him back.

I learned to read well before I went to school, but my brother was a late reader - he just wasn't interested in any of the reading material, I remember games in the sitting room with stepping stones made of words to help him to learn to read. He's more intelligent than I am (not that I give much credit to IQ tests), just wasn't interested in reading at that stage. He's just completed his Masters degree btw.

Everyone develops differently.
 
Phonics is essential for children to be able to 'word build', many of us who learned to read at school who are 25-30+ will have been taught using phonics. Today kids are taught using 'frequency' which is all down to seeing the word often and identifying it. Kids with literacy problems like dyslexia dont 'recognise' the words or if they do they store them and then recall ( as my daughter can) but cant word build if theyve never been taught phonics ( which is assumed to come naturally using the 'frequency method') If you teach phonics you are teaching the skills to build any word by breaking it down into sounds then blending the sounds together to make a word. The 'meaning' can either be explained on its own or through using pictures of context in a story
My daughter is really benefitting from using phonics. Its harder for her now to learn becuase she had to unlearn A(y) B(ee) C(see)D ( dee)
and has to learn A Buh Cuh Duh eh Fu Guh etc
Im teaching my 7 year old these using flashcards and his confidence in reading has improved as a result where he used to guess quite often from the picture without actually knowing the word when the picture wasnt there. Oxford reading tree books is what my kids use and the lack of phonics is blinding. Its really sad watching him desperately searching for clues in the pictires where there isnt any need for him to do that if he can sound the words to 'hear' what it sounds like as well
 
LilMissHissyFit said:
Im teaching my 7 year old these using flashcards and his confidence in reading has improved as a result where he used to guess quite often from the picture without actually knowing the word when the picture wasnt there. Oxford reading tree books is what my kids use and the lack of phonics is blinding. Its really sad watching him desperately searching for clues in the pictires where there isnt any need for him to do that if he can sound the words to 'hear' what it sounds like as well
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It's great that you're being so proactive about your son's literacy and getting results.

I'm not teaching right at the moment, but I used to teach in an afterschool program where part of the afternoon consisted of homework assistance for the kids. There were so many who hadn't been taught to "sound out" words. They were all in the business of guessing without actually attempting to recognize the word and, as you say, could identify the letters, but didn't have the faintest idea how to string them together.
 
KeeperofDragons said:
I'm going to be really obvios now but have you taken him to the opticians? I recommed that as a first step.

KoD
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He went to the opticians about 6 months ago, the only one of my children who doesnt need glasses!

We are using the phonics cards now and he really enjoys it, especially when he gets one right. Last night his big brother was bigging him up every time he got one right and he was delighted and wanted to do more :D

I'll go into town tomorrow and see what other goodies I can find for him :)

Thanks for all your help and advice everyone :)
 
moomoo said:
We are using the phonics cards now and he really enjoys it, especially when he gets one right. Last night his big brother was bigging him up every time he got one right and he was delighted and wanted to do more :D
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that's got to be a big confidence booster. good for big brother there. :)
 
My observations for what they are worth as I feel this is a huge problem and not unusual

1. Boys are slower on literacy skills
2. Schools, teachers and the education authorities do not do enough in relation to this problem.

In your situation do not wait for the school to act -you will wait forever.

Get your child statmented even if it means paying yourself.

As previous posters said there could be an underlying problem that could well inhibit literacy development and the earlier you tackle this the better in the long run

You need to constantly keep onto your school and not let them brush this under the carpet as some will.

I would also ask this

1. Does your son have poor/good memory skills?
2. When you are trying to help with reading/writing does your son play up and make it difficult for you personally to help?


If the answer to no 2 is yes then I would strongly suggest some private one on one tuition as this would greatly help. One on one tuition each week would not go amiss in any event.

And again I repeat do not be fobbed off by the school.
 
When I was six (albeit that was 30 years ago), my teacher was shocked that I could already read; in fact she called a meeting with my parents to ask, "Do you realize that she can already read?!" :eek:

By all means, check for dyslexia and help him in any way he might need but it's probably way too soon to be worried; he's obviously a bright little guy and will do brilliantly with a caring mum like you. :)
 
I was reading when I was three, but my twin didn't get round to it til he was 6 so I wouldn't be too worried - kids develop at their own pace - you wouldn't worry if a kid hadn't learned to, say, ride a bike before they were six, so you shouldn't worry about reading either.
My parents encouraged us all to read and write our names before we got to school and as far as I was aware most parents did this. Is this no longer the case? I get the general impression that some parents believe all education should be left to schools to undertake these days? (not meant as a criticism/judgment, just a layman's observation)
 
My experience has been that that very much happens becuase schools have that ethos. I used to go into school to requerst reading books for my daughter becuase she was an avid reader and was told on one occasion 'if you dont like it go see the head' I did and hey presto an agreement that I could come in and help soph select a new reading book if she had finished the previous one ( as per my request to the teacher)
The kids often read in 'groups' the teachers dont like parents doing stuff with their kids becuase they feel it undermines their efforts or messes up their 'system' ( a kid who is reading ahead of their 'group' well what do they do with them when its reading time? its inconvenient)

Ive always been active about providing my kids with learning stuff, Its part of the reason my house is such a tip, stuff everwhere! But Ive never ever felt the input was welcomed by the school and one teacher told me to stop using a workbook with my child becuase she was photocopying the book as homework sheets and my kids had already done them :rolleyes: ( so how could I stop- she wanted to do it and had already completed the book!)Some parents do take the attitute its the schools responsibility but schools are pretty poor at welcoming learning children do at home IME
 
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