British kids in schools in Spain

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by Caz.I

Hi there Tally,
Apart from still not holding his pencil correctly, I think he is doing okay in school.

SNIP
Caz. I

get him some triangular pencils

[Caz.I]

Originally Posted by xabiachica

get him some triangular pencils

yes, he has some, its getting him to use them thats the problem.

[lynn]

Originally Posted by Caz.I

yes, he has some, its getting him to use them thats the problem.

My youngest child had problems with his fine motor skills when he started school, and couldn't hold a pencil. The school he was at in England put him with the special needs teacher who did various exercises to help him. Apparently, it is quite common, particularly with boys, and it is wrong to force them to hold the pencil as it is a physical delayed development. We were encouraged to do things like sprinkling glitter on to cards, or herbs onto the top of pizzas! That pincer action needs to be exercised to help develop the muscles in the hand. He was also delayed at reading as well as writing, and I was very perplexed, as he could comprehend quite complex information and talk very intelligently about things. Now he is 10 and top of his class! I have been told that he is one of the quite common children who aren't really ready for formal education until 7 years old, and then he just blossomed! It may be worth trying something similar, and don't worry too much as he will get there in his own time

[Caz.I]

Originally Posted by lynn

My youngest child had problems with his fine motor skills when he started school, and couldn't hold a pencil. The school he was at in England put him with the special needs teacher who did various exercises to help him. Apparently, it is quite common, particularly with boys, and it is wrong to force them to hold the pencil as it is a physical delayed development. We were encouraged to do things like sprinkling glitter on to cards, or herbs onto the top of pizzas! That pincer action needs to be exercised to help develop the muscles in the hand. He was also delayed at reading as well as writing, and I was very perplexed, as he could comprehend quite complex information and talk very intelligently about things. Now he is 10 and top of his class! I have been told that he is one of the quite common children who aren't really ready for formal education until 7 years old, and then he just blossomed! It may be worth trying something similar, and don't worry too much as he will get there in his own time

Thank you Lynn, that's wonderful advice!

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by Caz.I

for the first two weeks last year he had to go for about an hour a day for the first week, and then 2 hours the second and so on, building up to the regular timetable of 9-2pm.

In his case too, yes, he was already familiar with this kind of time-table (and slightly longer), as he was in nursery school from 15 months because I had to work. So it was probably more confusing when he started school. For those mothers I know who work, this period was more complicated to arrange our work schedules too.

Last year, though, my son had a lovely teacher but she moved to another school this year (only having a temporary contract). This year his teacher is also the head of the curriculum, so she has to be available for this responsibility between 9-10 every day, possibly other times too. At these times then, he has someone else taking his class so I dont really think this a very good setup, in terms of consistency.
Given the current economic crisis, its not like they can be short of teachers, can they?

That's exactly what I meant Caz.I, difficult for the child sometimes and very difficult for the parents. I'm not sure if this happens in the UK or not, which is why i wanted to bring it up here. In theory it's a good idea, but just doesn't do it somehow.

As for the teachers, it has nothing to do with how many teachers are available. It has to do with how much money central and/ or local government are willing to put into education, so I'm sorry, but forget about having a logical, well run education system for now!

As for confusing me with Tally, well!!?? I think I can forgive you!!