We had another 2 agonising sessions of questions on the Level 3 reading SAT before it was done (the story part). The non fiction part was a different kettle of fish altogether, and he did it in one go without any fuss. I think he now knows there are 3 different types of question to answer - one where they give you the answer, and you either tick a box or write numbers, one where you find it in the text and copy it, or one where you actually give your own opinion. The biggest problem is the amount of writing required to answer a question - anything more than one or two words is viewed as too long and will take him too long to do, so instead he'll have a temper tamtrum and hope that gets him out of it (it doesn't!). He is also a master of excuses before he starts - too hot, too cold, thirsty, finger hurts, too tired, can't read it (he can) etc. etc. etc.
We will be requesting more of the fiction comprehension and less of the maths homework I think after this holiday!
Saturday 14 April 2012
Wednesday 4 April 2012
SAT's revision
For Easter Holidays Small Boy has had a Level 3 Maths paper and a Level 3 reading paper for revision and practice.
The maths was no problem - he wanted to do it and enjoyed doing it. It took 15 minutes and the only issue was with subtracting when he needed to carry a ten. I have taught him to subtract with numbers in columns, carrying a ten (up to 4 digit numbers) - not a problem.
The reading on the other hand has proved to be somewhat trickier. He spent 30 minutes answering just 5 of the 21 questions. Two of these were incorrect. He had no idea how to tackle a comprehension exercise like this, and said he'd only ever done one at school, where the TA read the questions out to them and they wrote the answer down on a bit of paper. He got incredibly upset that he had got them wrong, and said it was because he didn't understand what he had to do.
I got incredibly cross that the school have sent this home for homework and not done anything with him first at school.
We already have some KS1 SAT's booklets, and will be looking at the reading parts of those to help.
He has been a "free reader" for about 12 months now, and reads regularly - but not books from the free reading box at school as he will only bring home Roald Dahl (which we already have a full set of) as the other books are too long or don't look interesting. We spent some time yesterday in the local library, stocking up on a more interesting selection of books. Current favourites are Geronimo Stilton and Oliver Moon. We're also trying Terry Deary's historical stories this month.
And as for the writing, the thing he does find really difficult - what homework did we get for that?
Nothing.
The maths was no problem - he wanted to do it and enjoyed doing it. It took 15 minutes and the only issue was with subtracting when he needed to carry a ten. I have taught him to subtract with numbers in columns, carrying a ten (up to 4 digit numbers) - not a problem.
The reading on the other hand has proved to be somewhat trickier. He spent 30 minutes answering just 5 of the 21 questions. Two of these were incorrect. He had no idea how to tackle a comprehension exercise like this, and said he'd only ever done one at school, where the TA read the questions out to them and they wrote the answer down on a bit of paper. He got incredibly upset that he had got them wrong, and said it was because he didn't understand what he had to do.
I got incredibly cross that the school have sent this home for homework and not done anything with him first at school.
We already have some KS1 SAT's booklets, and will be looking at the reading parts of those to help.
He has been a "free reader" for about 12 months now, and reads regularly - but not books from the free reading box at school as he will only bring home Roald Dahl (which we already have a full set of) as the other books are too long or don't look interesting. We spent some time yesterday in the local library, stocking up on a more interesting selection of books. Current favourites are Geronimo Stilton and Oliver Moon. We're also trying Terry Deary's historical stories this month.
And as for the writing, the thing he does find really difficult - what homework did we get for that?
Nothing.
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