I don't think my sons teacher works with his class on reading: Advice?

Hey ladies, I’m having a difficult time helping my 5-year-old Kindergartener to read. He’s either advanced or on grade level with everything else but does struggle with reading. I’m not going to lie. Both my boyfriend and I do have our “suspicions” I guess that his teacher doesn’t do much at school reading-wise. In your opinion, do you think it would be helpful at all to pay a tutor possibly this summer once schools out to help him more than we already are? I know most of you will say to reach out to the teacher about our concerns, and we have, but while she is a pretty good teacher she doesn’t interact with parents as much as we’d like if hardly at all. also since I have you all here lol, what’s your opinion on Peppa Pig? I’m not a fan, and his teacher is showing them episodes ect on her at school, and I really don’t understand why. Peppa is rude and doesn’t follow the rules/listen. If any of you have experience with homeschool (I would hire someone to come to my home as teaching scared the crap out of me ), private Christian school(he attended prek there, and I loved it) and public school which would you say are best. Prolonged, multiple question post over lol. Thanks in advance. I really do appreciate ALL feedback.

7 Likes

A teacher can only do so much. It has to continue at home as well. Reading every night with your child & helping your child learn what sound each letter makes is super important when learning how to read. Good luck :slightly_smiling_face:

9 Likes

Have you looked into abc mouse? We would use it daily and my son started reading those baby books with the one word per page at 3 and by 5 was reading at a second grade level. I think it helps alot that it’s one on one and the parents are involved while also playing a game.

Hun. He’s only 5. The only way you are going to find out if the reading issue is something the teacher is or isn’t doing or if your son has a reading issue is you are going to have to talk to the teacher. No need to hire a tutor just yet when it’s something you can work on at home with him. It isn’t just the schools job to teach them, you also have to study at home.

5 Likes

5 year olds are only learning sight words…they can barely write letters let alone read…don’t make an issue of something that isn’t necessary. let your 5 year old be a 5 year old. reading will come in school years ahead.

8 Likes

Are you doing your part as a parent at home? Words are HARD. Math and science and everything else at the age of FIVE is EASY.
If you have “suspicions” (which is suspicious in and of itself, being in quotes…), then go talk to the freaking teacher. I’m sure they spend a good chunk of their day with reading and spelling.
He doesn’t need a tutor. Start at home. Read every night, have him read off menus, etc, (the easy words, obviously), and start there. TALK TO THE TEACHER. You’re jumping the gun here. Try other stuff before a tutor. :roll_eyes::woman_facepalming:

5 Likes

Get his eyes checked. Astigmatism is sometimes hard to catch. My SD can fly through anything else but when it comes to reading she has a hard time because the letters blend

1 Like

Why can’t you read to him?

4 Likes

I am a kindergarten teacher and my students are reading… I have so many questions. How do you know his teacher “isn’t doing much reading-wise” :thinking:

4 Likes

My daughter is five and only knows a handful of sight words. He’s in kindergarten I think your overreacting a bit. He’ll be fine. I hate Pepa Pig but I’ll take her any day over Cailou

2 Likes

So why don’t you teach him to read?? It’s not only up to the teacher what you do at home is vital!

4 Likes

My kids learned to read early like before kindy mostly because I read to them constantly before bed every night. Just those little easy readers you can get from Walmart. Like 3-4 before bed. I’d point to the words as I read them. I’d let them take turns on choosing stories each night and just one day they started reading to me. I also made flash cards of sight words like the, and, cat, dog, and when we went to the store, tide milk, bread, stuff like that. It will really help them a lot . Hope it helps your family :blush:

He’s 5! Give him a second to grow up a little! Sounds like he’s learning alot!

Is this seriously a real question :rofl: yes peppa pig is the devil don’t let her influence your child :joy:

Believing education for your child is going to happen solely at school is asinine. You are responsible for your child’s education. Sit down and read with your kids 20 minutes a night. Now, this is if reading at age 5 is that important to you. To be honest, many people including myself feel that they are pushing kids to read at too young of an age. Our system In the US has seen no marginal benefits over other countries that wait until later to promote reading.

1 Like

Blaming the teacher?? Maybe you could work with him at home first. Teachers can not do everything… There are other children in the class.
When he is at home You can do one on one teaching. Get involved!! Don’t just rely on the school… YOU have to do your part.

I spent countless hours teaching my son to read. Flash cards with sight words we went over daily. Put aside the ones he learned focused on the ones he struggled with. Eventually mixing them back together to make sure he still had them down. Wrote down the ones he didn’t know repeatedly. Then bought beginner books couple sentences each page he’d read to me. He’d read them til he learned it and moved onto the next book. Again went back through the books he learned to make sure he still had it. Words he struggled with in the book we wrote down went over added to the flashcard pile. It takes work, but you have to be wlling to sit down with him and do it. It’s our job to teach our children. Not the teachers in my opinion.

Did I read the same post as everyone else?? SHE IS READING AT HOME WITH HIM…she doesnt think the teacher is reading much with them at school and said the teacher is not very communicative with parents…she said she has brought her concerns to the teacher already.
And ik at least in our school district, a letter gets sent home before they show any movies or tv shows to our kids to make sure its okay.

1 Like

ABC mouse. It’s like 60 bucks for the year. It helps with that kinda stuff, you can do tests with the kids on it. My 3 year old knows some basic words already. It makes it a game for them so learning is fun. Definitely recommend

What grade? Do they do iready?

I hate Peppa pig. I find it beyond annoying and she should be teaching them the basics of the alphabet and small words. I’d report her to the principal and school board

3 Likes

He’s in kindergarten for god’s sake.

8 Likes

My daughter wasn’t really reading until the end of kindergarten.

2 Likes

I think you might be expecting too much from a five year old. Kids generally do not know how to read at that age. Slow down with your expectations. Make sure she knows her alphabets. That is that she can correctly identify them then if she can work on the sounds each letter makes.

5 Likes

My son is 5 and they are learning to read in kindergarten. I would look at other potential schools and/or speak with the teacher. I don’t know why they would watch peppa pig in school, there is nothing knowledgeable in the episodes. In your sons case, start with small words. My sons school sent home 100 sight words and we practice those at home. We started with-to, it, is and then worked up to 3 letter words. Rhyming is a great way for them to learn new words also. I would post photos of what we have set up but it won’t let me :confused:

1 Like

I went to public, private and home school. Personally I think private did the best for me. He is still young so socialization is very important.

1 Like

Rivet! I downloaded this app on my phone and my 1st grader is always being tested on reading because he keeps going up in leveled reading!

For those saying :its just kindergarten: … it’s not like it used to be! Leveled reading is a real thing and they want kindergarteners at a level reading of c/d+ by the end of the year.

Edit to add… I was that parent of a kindergartner that said :geesh, he’s just 5, he shouldn’t know how to do this yet: … and I feel like that mindset set him back a little this year at the start of 1st grade. But since I’ve downloaded this app… he has definitely gone up in his leveled reading and now loves to read. He is also in a “magnet school (S.T.E.A.M. program)” so idk if that makes a difference after reading some of the other comments

1 Like

Of course a tutor would help. The more time he spends learning and practicing the better the reader.

if they’re working on letters and sounds, he’s on target. baby steps. if your son is ahead of the curve get him more books to read and look at at home and continue to read with him. in kindergarten some kids come in knowing their letters and sounds and maybe even reading, and others come in not knowing their letters. teachers have to start at the beginning. if you think your son is being singled out, bring it up. but if the class as a whole isn’t working on reading sentences, don’t sweat it.

ABC mouse?! Maybe something like that, educational & fun?

P.S. I would definitely reach out to someone about the lack of communication. That should be a top priority for the teacher.

He’s not suppose to be able to read that good in kindergarten. The teacher is probably more concerned with basic skills such as tying shoes and letters, numbers, colors. He’s 5. Give him a break, don’t force it on him or he will get frustrated and won’t want to learn. He will hate reading forever.

1 Like

As far as schools go, I did all 3 and I preferred private school. They allowed you to be ahead in areas and continue to advance while still recognizing you needed assistance in other areas.

1 Like

Kids don’t do much reading in kindergarten. They do the sounds to put words together. If your worried about. We as parents should read books to our kids every night for 20 mins. My son is in the third grade and that is his homework. He has to read to me every night for 20 mins.

2 Likes

My child is in kindergarten. I have to work on his fry words, reading and other words at home. He gets tested on Fridays. His teacher i know does one reading exercise but its my job to make sure i do it at home. We read a bedtime book together. We are always spelling out things.

It sounds like you’re one of those mom’s who is convinced that her child is the next einstein. I feel sorry for the teacher. Your poor kid. He’s definitely on track to be medicated for anxiety within ten years…good job!

How about you either sit in with the class to observe what goes on, or hush and let the teacher do their job. I’m guessing you’re not a teacher?

11 Likes

I’m a former preschool teacher and currently teach ESL to children from 3 to 13. There’s definitely something not right there. If she had been trying and saw some issue in his learning abilities, she should have communicated by now. But watching Peppa at school? Maybe for a theme, like chinese new year. But Good LORD there are better shows for learning reading

4 Likes

I homeschool my 5yo. He’s great with math and science slowly progressing with reading but he hates writing sentences. Granted he’s only 5 so I dont put too much pressure on him. Most kids cant read fluently until around 7 or 8. Best thing you can do at home is sight word flashcards and read to them while pointing at the worlds. They’ll get it eventually.

1 Like

I would wait another year or two before I felt my kid was behind in any area. Honestly the way it sounds to me is that nothing will please you probably. I’m sorry if you think that’s rude or bashing but it sounds more like it’s not your way so you feel it’s wrong. If your concerned then transferring classrooms but I think your just being overly concerned too early

My daughter in gr 1, 7 in March … They are starting to sound out words now. And put things together. Bring it up for sure if your have an issue. But if he knows his abc’s well and can write his name … Your doing ok!!:hugs::heart:

I would ask to observe the class for a day. However, each kid learns at their own speed and I’m not sure how many students are in your kids class. I’m sure the teacher is already stretched thin and cannot give individual reading lessons to each child. It’s your job as a parent to teach your kid to read. It’s the teachers job to teach fundamental lessons that all kids can grasp. I wouldn’t criticize the teacher and lower your expectations. Your child is only 5. Private lessons are an option or there are a ton of reading programs available.

Hearing loss can affect reading abilities… Maybe get his checked

My daughter was very advanced and was reading in kindergarten. She used to cry that the teachers wouldn’t teach her things. So just for reading time, she went to 1st grade class. However, I suffer from dyslexia and I advanced in everything except reading and math. They caught my issue in 1st grade and even though I can read and write, I do still struggle with math. Maybe talk to your sons pediatrician and go from there.

Teachers can only do so much at school thats when parents step in an help at home read to him every day let him read to you …

4 Likes

Learning sight words and phonics is crucial for Kindergarteners just starting to learn to read. I hope the teacher is incorporating those into the curriculum. Put sight words on flash cards and tape them on the ceiling or wall, get a flashlight and lay on the bed or floor with your child in the dark and light up each word and sound them out. Make it fun! Reading for at least 10 mins each night also helps them build their vocabulary.

3 Likes

Parents usually are expected to do most of the work where reading learning is concerned

Unfortunately, kindergarten is now mostly just a repeat of pre-K. My daughter is bored to tears right now because she has known her letters and most of the sight words since she was in preschool and they’re working on it in kindergarten. They’ll probably do more reading in 1st grade. I recommend ABC mouse.

Also Peppa is probably more a read aloud story than an actual episode

I would suggest volunteering in the classroom if possible, plus reading at home with him can help tremendously, the teacher can only do so much in the class of 24+ students, between all the assessments they have to do, she probably don’t have the time to do as much reading as she would like, also try educational websites such as Starfall to get him to read more

read to him. everyday…multiple times.
my daughter is 6 in kindergarten and we utilize the library, and read every day. sometimes multiple books a day. somedays the same books over and over.
i promise you that by you reading to him, and him watching you read he will learn.
reading the same books over and over is also a good thing they learn the story…and start recognizing the words.
my daughter’s teacher…can tell we read at home… because she reads, and recognizes words…and can spell them.
read to yoir child. read with your child.

1 Like

Is this post… serious​:flushed::joy:

3 Likes

My son is in kindergarten and each week he has new sight words. And homework with both math and reading. We have to read to him everyday. There are plenty of sight word books etc you can work on with him. Also does the school have a reading specialist?

Best way to teach reading is to read to your kid

2 Likes

I have 2 boys in kindergarten and they dont read much. They just recognize words for the most part…trying to get them to understand the difference in sounds. I help them to learn reading at home using hooked on phonics books my mom go my brother years ago. They’re just easy level books…and then I usually read a chapter from a big book to them as they go to bed. No matter how hard the teacher worked on helping a kid learn to read they have other children in the class to help. It’s our jobs as parents to either help them ourselves or get someone to help them if you work pretty late during the week. If you want him to learn how to read then set him up with abc mouse or teach him yourself. My mom taught me and I’m teaching my own kids.

In Canada kids aren’t reading in the Kindergarten curriculum. It’s a play based curriculum.

I teach grade one and beyond sight words it’s not a grade level expectation until they come to me.

Guided reading isn’t even incorporated until Grade 1. :woman_shrugging:t3:. Reading should be focused on at home, but not rote memorization, rather working on word attack skills, strategies and comprehension.

2 Likes

schoolol oh my… hun they show what cartoons they want at school. you could be “THAT” parent and demand they remove your child from the room when they play it.
My kid is in kinder as well and I think the same on reading, but she can read. She will bring home mini books they make and can read it no problem. Ill call her bluff on faking that she cant read and she will just start like it was not even a problem.
Make an appointment with the school counselor and talk to them about the issue on reading. I always find a way to get answers.

i should add that on top of reading/learning to read…
she is also deaf and learning to sign.
your child’s development is not based souly with the teacher…you as the parent need to also be helping.
and my daughter has spelling test on the new site words on Thursdays.
they also are already doing basic math in K.
as peppa shes disgusting. i didn’t/wont let my daughter watch it.
and she’s been in both public and is now in private and she will stay in private. she has more one on one with her teachers

I hate that show! To have it be shown at school I thought you had to sign a release. I’d talk to the principal about it. As a parent you should be doing stuff at home to though. Not everything is the teachers fault, practice at home too.

1 Like

Teacher should be teaching not putting on peppa pig.

Take that and your lack of communication up with the school. It’s the teachers job to also communicate with parents.

Idk about PEPPA pig, but reading at home isn’t ever too much! Have a meeting, absolutely speak with the teacher.

In kindergarten my kids were learning sight words, but not reading sentences. We also made index cards at home with the current weeks sight words and the practiced. Are they not learning sight words?? As far as the teacher communicating…by this time of the year I would think you would have had a parent/teacher conference. Not sure what kind of communication and how often you are looking for an “update” on your child. As a parent, you could always reach out to the teacher with questions. As far as Peppa…I don’t know much about it as we never watched it at home. I can tell you my girls watched some shows at school in kindergarten. I feel if he is being taught sight words, he is on track.

Also, to answer your other question…we have never homeschooled or had a tutor, but our kids attend a Catholic school and we love it.

Don’t expect your 5 year old to read. At that age you are supposed to be reading to them and follow the words with your finger and have them take turns reading bits and pieces to you. Kids will take interest in what they see so if they see you reading frequently and you make reading to them a passion it will be something they remember fondly and they will have a positive outlook on reading.
… I have no opinion on Peppa Pig.

4 Likes

yeah there shouldn’t be cartoons in school. 100% no lol

i dont even let my son watch most cartoons. I’ve seen most of them and they are terrible.

As a kindergarten teacher who knows common core standards I can almost guarantee his teacher works on reading :grimacing: but in kindergarten the priority is phonics & phonological awareness (sounds & letter connection)… All of the subjects are extremely different I’ve had many cases where my students are on a higher level in a different subject. As for peppa pig- there could be many reasons she’s playing clips (intro to a lesson, indoor recess, social skills, etc) I wouldn’t necessarily be playing peppa pig in my classroom but I would highly suggest talking to the teacher if you have concerns with that or reading. Communication is key- and the teacher should also be communicating but I will attest that if we (the teacher) don’t know a parent has a concern OR if we don’t have concerns about the student we don’t reach out aside from the usual weekly homework, casual drop off/pick up talk, parent teacher conferences, weekly/monthly newsletters, etc.

6 Likes

Also check out your local library for help and programs on reading. The rest take up with either the principal or the board

Not at least starting an introduction to reading in kindergarten is suspect. Like when I was a kid, we learned what sounds the letters make phonically and how to spell our name and stuff like that. We had what were called “reading buddies” and older kids would come to our class and read with us - it was supposed to be mutually beneficial. So I don’t think it’s insane, 25+ years later, to expect a certain amount of reading introduction to be happening in the classroom. Certainly don’t think Peppa Pig is classroom appropriate. I don’t have an issue with the show but I also don’t consider it educational. I personally like homeschooling - I was homeschooled as well as participated in public school, and I’ve chosen to homeschool my daughter. She’s 4 and I have her on a 1st grade curriculum (we just started it, she finished her kindergarten materials too quickly) and she’s learning to read and spell. Really easy stuff, nothing crazy. My friends have twin 7 year olds in public school and they can read pretty proficiently - they read chapter books. So I really, really don’t think expecting your 5 year old to at least be learning how to be reading ready (like knowing how to sound out words) is that insane. If the teacher isn’t willing to communicate with you about your concerns, I’d take it up with the principal or VP. Maybe look in to changing classes or even changing schools.

Many books like “Peppa Pig” have follow along reading videos specifically used at the Pre-K -K level to introduce sound/letter association, please ask to go in and volunteer in the class or observe before you jump to conclusions about this teachers reasons for using the techniques she has chosen to hold the attention of her class.

4 Likes

I was homeschooled and all I had to do was my work and and do 2 weeks of work and turn the 2 weeks of work in every two weeks,and the directions and and line of the 2 weeks if work was easy to do,I never had a rush or anything,I did my work like i was suppose to and turned it in because when i did my work with my moms,step dad,and grandmothers help,than I got what I wanted to do after I did my work for the part of the day and I was homeschooled for the four years of high school and after I turned my work in the teacher would grade it and give me new work to do for the next two weeks and homeschooling was the best for me and us for all four years of high school. Also I would try to change teachers as that teacher doesnt like to be much involved with parents and thats part of a teacher’s job also.

My only comment: teaching/studying starts at home - school is just an extra tool

3 Likes

Or you could be a parent and help your child at home.

3 Likes

Schools are teachers are required to teach common core standards, of course his teachers are working in PRE READING skills, like sight words and de-coding. Being advanced in one area does not guarantee being gifted in all areas. If you are so concerned, implement extra homework time. Even the dollar store has work books for reading and math. If you want more interaction, volunteer to be class mom, offer to help with stem workshops, join the PTA, shoot ask your sons teachers if she needs any extra class supplies.

1 Like

My children’s school has a reading specialist that works with struggling children individually or in small groups. I didn’t know anything about it until I received a letter asking if I gave permission for my son to meet with her. Perhaps the school has something similar.

Start having him read very short books everyday after school and just be very patient. Repetition is key so flashcards are useful too. And I’d be furious if I found out my daughter were watching Peppa Pig at her Kindergarten. That awful show and Caillou have been banned at my house. Peppa is rude and disrespectful to her parents and Caillou is the most whiniest little sh*t ever!

First of,
peppa pig is not rude😁
Second, if you want your child to be reading by 5 yrs old then you gotta do the work for it. Teacher are there to help the kids but it’s much more effective if you do it at home too. Hire a tutor.

4 Likes

Rather than pinning the blame on the teacher, Who has a classroom FULL of kids she’s trying to teach, Why don’t you take an active role in your child’s learning ? You are a parent this is part of your job, It’s not all on teachers to do everything.

All my children could read and write by the time they started school, And I didn’t have to do anything drastic, it’s as simple as flash cards with sight words, And pencil practice, 15 mins a day of your time for YOUR child.
I don’t know why people have kids if they think it’s everyone else’s job to raise and teach them, What is it you as a parent do then??

4 Likes

Teachers try hard. As much as you think she’s not doing enough, everyone in the class is learning at different levels. There are multiple teaching techniques to determine if everyone is following, etc. however, then you have to go one-on-one, small group, AND deal with the behavior of all the students. The behavior is probably the most challenging part. Even the best kids have their days. I taught and know the struggles ahead. I started teaching my son literally when he escaped the womb. We have been doing letter sounds since about 3 months. He’s now 2, knows some letter sounds, his ABCs and reads titles (from memory). We do letter sound videos, actually sing them together, and flash cards. He has a fantastic vocabulary for being two! However, I want him to be a kid and enjoy his time being a kid too. We play and have fun, do art, go outside, etc. However I do incorporate learning everyday! I recommed googling Jady A. On YouTube! She homeschools and has some great videos, advice, and resources!

2 Likes

Here’s a link to free printable flash cards for sight words. I just printed the page, laminated and show it to my son occasionally.

https://superheroesandteacups.com/dolch-sight-word-flash-cards-free-printable/

Ummmm are you or have you taught basic reading at home ?? And still do and play games to help him with recognising letters and words? Sounds like you’re just blaming the teacher when you could be teaching at home as well

Read to your kid. I know in the State of Texas kindergarten has mini paper books they read every night.

My daughter has just finished prep (1st year of schooling in vic). teacher is encouraging families to read to foster a love of reading. Is there a way you can encourage more reading at home, for example reading books he may like? Also, Peppa Pig is banned in our household as she is very disrespectful to Daddy pig, and I don’t want that bad influence. My daughters don’t even ask to watch it anymore and if it comes on then the yell out to me so I can change the channel for them

They should be doing some reading. My son is in kindergarten in public and has/is learning sight words and sounding things out. He has a few words other than the normal ones that he can recognize and spell on his own, like Hulk, our dog’s name, Mommy, etc. They may be doing it and he could be struggling. They’re running a reading program now that encourages kids to read and have their parents read to them. Hiring someone couldn’t hurt and you would know if reading is a tough subject for him or if it’s the teacher.
I hate Peppa pig. We watched one episode and I said she’s annoying never again. But my son likes it.

I’m politely gonna say, READ with your child at home. Many towns have libraries, so utilize yours. I have 2 children. One struggled just a little more than the other with phonics, but we worked with both kids at home. Honestly, we started teaching our kids before they went to school how to read. But that was us. As far as homeschooling, there are numerous ways to homeschool. First off, it depends on your state as to how stringent or how relaxed they are. Second, curriculum choices range from online to offline choices. Under those options are numerous choices, tutoring one of them. I homeschool my two, but struggled with insecurity at first. If homeschooling is a path you are looking at, then realize you teaching your child has more rewards than you can comprehend right now. But as far as gaining the basics of reading, you and your boyfriend NEED to make time to work with him at home.

1 Like

5 year olds are just getting the grasp of what they are even looking at. My son just turned 6 is in kindergarten (mid year birthday) and is still just learning and has know his abcs…read to your kid…stop expecting everyone to raise your child for you

I read a lot to my kids. I buy them books or I get books at the library. Reading routine at night gets kids to settle down and snuggle with you. I also let kids pick books they like to read fir 15 minutes during the day. I put books on the car too.

Turn on closed captions on his favorite shows!

I would ask to observe the class for a day. However, each kid learns at their own speed and I’m not sure how many students are in your kids class. I’m sure the teacher is already stretched thin and cannot give individual reading lessons to each child. It’s your job as a parent to teach your kid to read. It’s the teachers job to teach fundamental lessons that all kids can grasp. I wouldn’t criticize the teacher and lower your expectations. Your child is only 5. Private lessons are an option or there are a ton of reading programs available.