4 year old reading materiel and struggle with school

[bunnywhack]

I have a 4 year old son who hasnt been diagnosed as gifted or talented but is very bright so i thought you would be the best people to help me. He reads very well and of course has lots of books at home its not war and peace or anything but its things like the charlie and lola books or the gruffalo ones etc and he reads these with little or no help. But i am struggling with school they keep sending him home despite being told about his ability with books with no more then ten words in and those having no more then 4 letters a word. I am concerned that they are going to hold him back and he wont be able to develop at his opwn pace will post now and finish later as baby just started crying

[roisin]

Don't worry! If he is keen on books and reading well already, then anything school may or may not do wrt books will not 'hold him back'.

Just continue to encourage him at home, share books with him, and let him read to you whatever he wants.

If school are sending home easy-peasy books for him, then just let him read them quickly, sign his book, then spend the time you have available on enjoying books together.

[bunnywhack]

Thanks for the quick reply. I just feel that if they are not doing things to suit his ability, what happens during the day? Other then playing around and i know im sounding a bit pushy on this but im worried about him getting bored he is also very advanced with his numbers adding and subtracting what if they arent working to his lvl on these as well? I do know that when he gets bored he will play up and become silly no different from any other child i suppose but if he does this at school i am worried he will get labeled a naughty child.

[roisin]

There is plenty for him to learn in reception - about how to get on with his peers, how to respond to teachers/other staff, how to get changed quickly for PE, how to line up, how to behave in the playground, how to eat his lunch super-fast so he can get outside and play, how to take turns, etc. etc.

My boys are both very able, and could both read fluently before they started school: it really wasn't a problem, and has been a huge advantage for them in very many ways. Up to a point it doesn't matter if school is functioning on a different level for them.

(Mine are 8 and 10 now).

[buggerycrap]

Agree with Roisin. though my ds1's school are just starting to get it now - he is half way through year 1 - and has recently been bringing home books that are much more suitable.

reception is about a lot of other things too

[Piffle]

read other stuff with him and let the school stuff go, if he is happy with them leave it. one thing I would say is ask for more books, that way he gets through the levels faster that's what we do, dd is now on 6 a week

what she reads at home is far more than the school books offer, but she is happy with either so I'm happy to leave it for now

[Kammy]

As Roisin says, he will probably develop at his own pace anyway. I had similar issues in reception, things now a bit better in Year 1, but tbh,not very exciting books! Ds reads like a maniac at home and I just make sure to take him to the library often to satisfy the insatiable need for books... currently one evry 2 days.(Think he must spend all playtime reading on some days) . Just keep an eye on things.

[Vacua]

I think you have to look at school, at this age, as free childcare and socialisation - he'll probably learn so much more in his own way and own time with your support by way of providing more enriching material

as he moves into yrs 1, 2 and so on he will either level out with some of his peers or be given more appropriate work

[ginnyweeze]

I couln't disagree more - school is not free childcare, it's education. See the head and insist he gets more challenging work. And watch out when he gets older, he could get very bored. My ds did. At aged eight he was daydreaming and not paying attention...until we moved him to an independent school, where he is now on-the-ball and inspired. They have much higher expectations.

[bunnywhack]

ty for all replies. His teacher caught hold of me yesterday and said she hadnt realised quite how advanced he was with both his reading and his writing no offers of help though just that. So i was thinking on a stratagy if i could get to see her after school with my DS and see if she can tell me what approximate reading lvl/age he is then i can get the double advantage of hopefully getting her to realise that the books they bring home arent suitable and get a list of books that i can go out myself and get for him to have at home. Hes just pinched my copy of harry potter and the philosophers stone which is ok at the beginning of the book but as those go on i dont think its the right material for a four year old to be reading. What do you all think?

[Buda]

Reception year is about so much more than reading and writing and maths as others have said so I wouldn't worry that he won't be challenged in other areas.

There is a big jump then up to Year 1 - much more work focussed.

I would talk to the teacher and say something like "I am glad you noticed how he is doing at reading - I am struggling to find suitable books for his age - have you any suggestions?"

FWIW my MIL was a reception teacher of years and she told me that she had lots of children joining who could read and write, some who had never held a pencil or a book and others who were somewhere in the middle. By about age 7 (Yr2) a lot of them catch up and level out.

And I would agree that Harry Potter is not suitable. My DS is 6.5 and I am not attempting that with him till he is about 8.

[bobsmum]

Bunnywhack - my mum kept all my old Read It Yourself Ladybird books from the 70s and ds has been happily ploughing through them.

Not sure what today's equivalent would be, but the reading levels, text size, vocabulary and illustrations are really helpful and he's been loving the idea of getting through a whole story a night.

Peter and the Wolf is a favourite atm.

DS puts more effort into even the most simple stories when they require different voices or he needs to notice the punctuation. He likes putting in the expression.

[WigWamBam]

When dd was in a similar situation in Reception, we spoke to the teacher who simply got her some books from the Year 1 classes to read. Books which were too easy for her were putting her off reading - and that was something the teacher was not prepared to have happen.

The school will have plenty of books for every reading level, and there is no reason why your son shouldn't be given books which are suitable for him. Ask the teacher to put him onto more difficult books - and if the teacher is reluctant then see the head.

Yes, of course Reception is about playing and socialisation, but it's also about learning and having their needs met. Reading material has to keep their interest, otherwise children can be put off. And it's much easier to keep their interest by offering suitable books than it is to re-ignite it once they are bored with reading.

[Kammy]

The sort of books ds loved to read in reception were the 'Horrid Henry' Captain Underpants and Jeremy Strong books. Libraries usually have stacks of these, so nothig lost if he doesn't like them!

[Tommy]

get some Roald Dahl - my DS1 was on those at this age and he has just moved onto Harry Potter.

Re the school, if the teacher has acknowledged his is further on than she thought, then she should be giving him more challenging stuff. I would ask for a meeting and discuss it with her. She may not realise that is reading fluently at home

[tigermeow]

There is more to Reception class than reading and writing, but... for a bright child they still need the mental stimulation to keep them entertained. I am huge fan of learning through play, but there comes a point when some kids need more structure and challenge....and some work at their level.

I would go see his teacher and ask for her to listen to him read a home book, she can then assertain what sort of level he is. Bear in mind that he may have a very high reading age, but books for that age range may not be suitable in terms of story lines. He may also feel put off by a huge page of text with minimal pictures.

[bunnywhack]

I spoke to her and just asked her to recommend some stuff for him and she gave us a book to read for the week the giant jam sandwich its one i remember from my childhood along with a list of books we might find useful the list tbh is completely useless as its full of books he read when he was starting out reading dear zoo and the likes very good books in themselves but weve gone past that.
@ Tommy thankyou i clean forgot about Roald Dahl i think these would be perfect and should appeal to his sense of humour without being too grownup.
Thanks you again for all your help here

[ginnyweeze]

I would take no notice of the comments about 'they all level out' - if they all did then then everyone would get the same GCSE grades! A bright child needs to be stimulated or will underachieve.

My ds was a very early reader and loves books. A few he enjoyed were:

Flat Stanley (6 book series) by Jeff Brown
All the Roald Dahls
Anything by Jeremy Strong
Narnia books (he loved them in reception)
Astrosaurs
The Magic School Bus chapter books (series of 20)
Horrible Histories
Murderous Maths
Harry Potter (from about age 6)

I can't believe she gave you Dear Zoo - a great book....for babies!

[avenanap]

I gave my son horrid henry when he was 4. He loved them. Joke books are good aswell.

[oops]

Message withdrawn

[Fred05]

My son is 5 and is on level 17 for his reading. Is this normal? He is in year one and is complaining that he is bored and all he does is plays. His LEA is Newport and after reading thier mission, learning through play is normal but am concerned that he is not learning anything.

[magicmummy1]

Fred05 - is there really such a thing as level 17 for reading??!

OP, I really wouldn't worry - it's early days yet and the teacher probably hasn't had a chance to get the measure of your ds's abilities. It was the same for my dd in reception last year - I wasn't bothered because she was reading tons at home, but I don't think the school even realised that she could read until after Christmas. Once once they sussed it out, though, they progressed her through the reading levels very quickly before realising that she should probably just be a free reader.

I do agree that "Dear Zoo" is a bit of a laughable suggestion for a proficient reader at that age, but there are tons of great books for young readers around - just go to your local library and have a look at what's available. If the school continue to send home books that are too easy, just speed through them and then read something else more interesting.

For what it's worth, my dd absolutely loved reception last year, and despite being well ahead of her peers in reading/maths etc, she seemed to learn and progress really well. Give the teacher a bit longer, but if your son shows signs of frustration or boredom, go in and have a word.

[blackeyedsusan]

aaaggh at least your book has got some words!! I have a similar problem with ds reading book at school. I am getting demoralised as ds is reading fairly well for her age and is just beginning to "take off" but comes home from school with books with no words despite the comments I have written in her reading diary. I feel like I am being ignored and am not sure how to feel. Been on both sides of the fence teaching YR B4 a mum and know how annoying it can be to have mums come in and DEMAND a book but now i am on the other side of the fence I want to scream. Trying to plan a tactful approach to the teacher and telling myself it does not matter because I can teach at home and all the other benefits of foundation stage education but need to let off steam too. thank goodness my mum is a teacher too and sympathises.

dc do need stimulating and stretching at school through play. it is a little early to expect any teacher to have a complete understanding of childrens levels yet but... do have a word tactfully if you are worried. it's more about HOW you approach the teacher. top tip. if they do take time out, do send a thankyou note, I would have bent over backwards to help those parents who did.