11 Plus Exams Forum

Last night after the usual reading of 2 books, we have the usual "just one minute of chat, Mummy before sleep" time.
So I settled down and expected a chat about the days events at school, instead my little man said
DS "Mummy I wish I was 5 again"
Me "Why"
DS "Cos when I was 5, I was in Reception in class 6 and we had so much more time for drawing and writing"
"Do you know Mummy that we only have 5 areas to play in; the water, the sand, the home corner, the writing area and the drawing area. It's all learn, learn, learn." Cue big sigh. I couldn't help but feel so sorry for him, I didn't tell him that they'll be losing the water and sand after Christmas!

So, is it just me who worries about how some, maybe a lot of the boys will struggle with the sit down, look and listen approach to learning. I know my little man is going to find it tough

llol39

Wait till he's in year 2!

We don't have your chat time before sleep, because ds2 falls asleep straight after story.

We have one when he's in the bath! Which he loves!

He would tell your ds that you have to work REALLY hard in year 2 and do maths and literacy every day all the time. And that children in year 1 and reception are - sorry - "just babies"!

At the parents consultation, I could not believe how much he had written. He doesn't get spellings homework (to my horror) but his spelling has come on. His handwriting is so small it is a problem for everyone. You can't read it! Year 2 is very different to year 1 but I think your ds is right; the leap from reception to year 1 is bigger than the one from year 1 to year 2. My ds fluorished in year 1. He loved the work. He was one of those irritating kids who always shouts out the answer whether it's right or wrong, before anyone else has even put their hand up! I don't know if that's changed ...

Maybe your son will be lucky and the teacher will make it interesting in some way soon so that he doesn't feel like learning is horrible.

Why is having to sit and look and listen so bad I wonder? Does he watch TV? Maybe you can draw a parallel for him. Whatever you do, don't sound like you agree with him and that it is terrible otherwise he will feel he is condemned to a terrible life between now and school leaving age!

Mine hate sitting on the carpet. Bring back chairs I say.

Thanks Ginx & Mystery for your replies.

He seems to like the work (they do get spellings already) and can do the "homework" fine as well. At the parents evening the teacher was saying that he had a great imagination etc and doing well. I think he just misses all the lego that they had in reception! As soon as he gets home he's building something and chatting away to himself as he does it. I also think that he prefers to be doing and experimenting as he learning by doing. He doesn't do the sitting well for a long time though.

We always talk about school in a positive light and we can't get him off the BBC Bitesize website. So fingers crossed he just gets on with it. I do agree Ginx that reception to year 1 is a hard transition.

Thanks again

I do feel for your little DS. When my youngest DS started school he said he wished we were still cavemen because then he wouldn't have to go to school and could stay at home with the family. I feel it is a great shame for them to start formal learning so young.

He is now in Year 9 and loves school.

Thanks Fran17 that made my laugh. Your DS does have a very good point! How nice if you only had to worry about where your next woolly mammoth was coming from!

I do agree about the formal learning coming so early in life. I was once told about early years education in Finland or Sweden. One of their learning objectives when they reach age 5 is to climb on to the roof of a shed, with a candle and a box of matches, When they get onto the roof they then have to light the candle with the matches and wait for the candle to burn down to a small stump. Put (blown out candle) in pocket, get down off the shed roof and go to show the teacher their candle. Somehow I can't quite see that being part of the KS1 curriculum here!!

Cheers

What does it say for me that all my dc would rather be at school than home?! At least I don't have a problem getting them there!

I have one friend who has three children who are at home more often than at school. They are ill a lot I imagine. They like being at home. I guess mine don't! I don't know whether to be sad or glad ... glad I think ... I hate children at home on schooldays ...

Ds2 in particular loves school. He says he's done some fantastic paintings. He told all his class he is going to be an artist; it must be true because it's on Facebook!

Bit hypocritical I know because I'm always on here, but it does annoy me when mums/dads post irritating things on fb about ds.

School should be fun!

My DD has always counted the days before getting back to school at the end of the holidays, maybe because she is an only child. All her friends are there and she loves learning.

Whilst each of my four dc want to be at school to be away from their siblings!!!

ginx wrote:Whilst each of my four dc want to be at school to be away from their siblings!!!

Mm... Possibly one of the things that DD likes most about being in Yr7 the other side of town is that there is absolutely zero chance of 2-years-younger DS2 turning up in her class for Maths and English, which happened during her Years 5 and 6.

Instead, several times a fortnight he toddles round to the nearest girls' GS - which his primary school is "linked" with - to invade a Maths class full as far as I am aware of the DDs of complete strangers.

Or possibly, the DDs of other members of the Forum's Essex region . (If so, I can only say, he has been warned about his humming).