To ask how old you think the child is who wrote this?

[Fluffylikeacoconut]

I suspect I might get some snarky comments but I’m genuinely curious - people with more experience than me (which is zero) - what age would this be ‘typical’ of. Handwriting is joined and very good.

I am typing it exactly as it is written - spelling and punctuation.

The fire lit a spark - not only in my mind but in a foot deep pile of sharp kindling. It began its first meal, desperate for the first taste of fresh air. It ate and ate until it was sated.
You could feel the tension, taut in the air as the fire grew and grew. Below, the river looked up mesmirised as it slowly crossed beneath a bridge.
The fire danced on, waltzing with the twiggy fingers of the trees, the soft silky coccoons of leaves and the old, moldy, spiky kindling. Ash floated around me like little fairys and once again the fire opened its menacing jaws. As soon as the fire strocked a bright leaf dripping with sap, its thin flamey hands turned to a cold silver and then to stone black. The fire turned and tried to flee before it suddenly disintigreated.
Now the old forest is gone but the ecosystem begins again, I watch the very first bud blossoms bloom. I savour the moment and watch as the old forest rises again, new and beautiful.

Why on earth would you label her brother as much cleverer than her if the teachers are saying she's gifted? Why would you consider her 'average'?

This is the most mystifying part of this whole thing.

She certainly is a bright cookie, but I do agree with others that this very over-blown style full of descriptions and metaphors is how they are taught to write at this age to get marks in SATS, no idea why this is so highly valued. She is bright though and so part of that will be to learn what's needed and learn when to stop.

I write for a living and write in a very sparse style these days.

It's a shame to under-estimate her though, and you need to look at why you are doing that in comparison to your boy.

I think the only way to tell would be to see a second sample of writing

that would give the full picture.

Why would she be unable to imagine what it's like at the heart of a forest fire?
Of course she could imagine it.

Mine would? We measure stuff for sewing in feet.

Can't believe the people saying 8/9/10 year olds could write that , mumsnet at its best!! I would have thought a teen or adult wrote it , it's very beautiful op what a clever and gifted daughter you have

That’s a great piece of writing.

Are you going to show this thread to your daughter?

Please don’t do this to her. There may - and most likely will - come a day when she falls short of the “gifted” label and instead of trying harder she’ll feel as though she’s let everyone down.
Especially you.

I know this because I used to be your daughter.
The pressure she’ll feel to constantly excel will be enormous.
It made me physically ill to consistently please my mother by bringing home perfect grades and perfect papers and perfect “everything.”

They called me “gifted,” too.
She’s 8.
I know you’re proud of her, but she’s a little kid.

Only read page one of the thread - a few spelling errors in there so i don't think it's AI.

I guess a good reader, i am going girl. 8 yrs old.

Have you seen the absolute rubbish they do in the primary curriculum - use as many describing words/metaphors - and long sentences as you can.

IMO it is typical of the current primary curriculum.

Being honest, it is not that enjoyable to read - its too flouncy ... exactly what the current curriculum strives for.

I think you have a poet on your hands. It's beautiful. The ash like fairies, the aliveness of it all. Has she got access to lots of books? And poetry?

You don't know what 'scaffolded' or 'supported' mean?

You know how a house is held up by scaffolding? It is 'supported'.. take away the scaffolding the house is less 'strong' ..

The poster was suggesting that the writer had been given support/structure to write that way. No 8 year old would write like that without someone suggesting it was a good thing to do..

The OP said the DD wrote it on her own.. I strongly suspect at school they are told 'wow words.. metaphor... simile... It is not enjoyable to read. Too flouncy - very much the way young children are told to excel.

It's good. I would have thought 10 at least. It does sound like they have been practicing in class with similar pieces.
Surprised everyone is surprised by "sated". That's a pretty common word in our house. We may be weird!
Also, I'm with the pp - it is envious, not jealous.

This. I'm with a low class of 12 year olds and none of them are even close to this. Some of the work I see from the other classes in the same year approaches this piece of text, but doesn't meet it. Personally, I'd put it at 13+ at a minimum.

It seems like this is the parenting equivalent of a "How old do you think I look?" thread - loads of desperately sad snipers telling you that you actually look 73/ their 3 year old could have written it 😂Let's be more honest, this is definitely not typical for an 8 year old ffs.

Congrats @Fluffylikeacoconut I hope she continues to thrive.

100% this is AI 🤣

I've read it three times and think it's a wonderful piece of writing, even more so from one so young.
Well done to her- she'll go far.

Do you underestimate her because she is a girl? Why don’t you accept what the teachers are saying?

My 9 year old could easily write this. Maybe even 1-2 years ago. You can tell it's primary age because it has the hallmarks of the dreadful primary English curriculum and its focus on mealy-mouthed expanded clauses rather than choosing impactful verbs in the first place

I have 2 kids, both avid readers and very high percentile for literacy, teachers always comment on their talent. Neither of them could write like this at 10 or 11. This is amazing for 8, I'm gobsmacked.

Ha! We were writing about 'menacing jaws' in my class today.
These threads tend to bring out a particularl sort of mean-spirited, unimpressed type of adult. I have taught upper KS2 for years and this is a lovely piece of writing which is special and definitely unusual for a child as young as 8. Your Dd definitely shouldn't be underestimated, OP or unfavourably compared to your son; such a clever girl with an obvious love of language and creative expression. Not to be sniffed at. Well done her!
If she'd written it in school, she'd be coached to edit things like the changes in tense toward the end of the piece. Which is why I, whose bread and butter it is to unpick and refine children's writing, think it's brilliant that this gem will remain unadulterated and preserved in it's originality. She's got a lifetime ahead of her getting her creative output dissected and 'improved' so celebrate this expression of joy.

I agree. The child has done a lovely job and is talented but the curriculum teaches them terrible writing habits that would be penalised in the writing world. As a writer and editor with three primary age children, it frustrates me.

That's year 5/6 level.

example of year 6

Absolutely amazing for an 8 year old! It's flowery and superfluous at times but that's from an adult's critical point of view. It's fluent and shows an amazing grasp of the language.

My DD is 9 and said to be very good at English but her writing is nowhere near this. You should be very proud! 😁

I have 6 children who i homeschool and i was going to guess a bright teenager! Clearly i have low standards compared to mumsnet!

My 15 year old sat an english GCSE last year and got a 7 so i dont think my kids are massively behind the norm.

my 8 year old would never in a million years write that.