2.3 yr old meant to know his name when its written down?!?!?!

[faeriemum]

he's meant to know this for when he starts preschool in september.......have i been holding him back or something...i've not been writing letters with him!!!!!!!!

Yes, so can I. But I'm sticking by it

I know several parents who have been admonished for allowing their children to learn to read/add/various other skills, because it's easier for the teacher if none of the children can do any of it when they start. It pisses me off. And I do have a sense of rolling my sleeves up for a long and bloody battle when my two start school - they come from several long lines of bumptious, disruptive children. I have already had a few tasters of the delights to come, like the Easter party at ds1's nursery school where he stood in the middle of the circle of other children all singing nicely, shouting "I don't want to sing that stupid song"

Have just realised that I have hijacked someone's thread on a different topic from the one I was ranting about... sorry!!! :)

FWIW I agree with G's 'inflammatory' statement. Why should my ds be held back for the convenience of the teacher? I had a polite discussion with his new teacher shortly after ds changed schools, making it clear that we were very disappointed by her keeping him to the class standard in reading, when it was clear that (a) he was well ahead of them and (b) restricting him to the books that the rest of the class were reading was boring him so much that he was begining to rebel against reading. And this is the boy who was so excited by getting homework that he would sit down on the hall floor as soon as he got home to do his reading. Fortunately this term she's taken his abilities on board a bit better, and given him more challenging stuff to do.

Bob's name has been on his bedroom door since he moved into his own room. Every night before bed we showed him his name and said "that spells Bob". He has had no problem putting his bag on the right hook or taking the right place at morning tea, but loads of kids have (the ones with longer names for instance) and they have just got on with it and helped them.

They don't expect recognition until they go to school.

I don't think it is the teacher's fault that they are expected to teach 30 children at the same level all at once. I think it's the system that stinks.

That's my stance exactly Prettycandles. It's not that I give a monkeys about whether he gets into the G&T (ice 'n' lemon?:)) programme, or how he compares to the other kids for its own sake, I don't attach much importance to that, especially not in primary kids. I am just realistically worried about the fact that my stroppy, demanding child is going to end up lolling at the back of a class of kids who are still learning their letters, flicking things at people, making smart remarks and being told to be quiet. It happens, especially to boys. It's not a good start.

I can remember primary teachers who managed classes of 30 without lumping everyone together and managed to stretch bright children and nurture struggling ones. I can also remember teachers who preferred the "one size fits all approach". The system may stink, but systems are made of people.

I don't think many teachers try to teach them all to the same level. I never did we have a thing called differentiation. The topic/area covered may be the same but the work the children do will be different. If a school does a reading scheme they will all be on vastly different levels.

Since any parents were at school the amount of planning and inspecting has changed vastly. My friends that are teaching now now have to do individual targets for children for literacy and numeracy. The children and the parents know what these are too.

DD1 (2.4) knows her name but her name is a simple one (holly). 2.3 is very young to be able to read they're name.

I will parp actually cause I will start getting irate if I continue (not at anyone here I must point out, just the subject matter)

cant remember when ds1 knew his, but it wouldn't have been much later than that - mainly cos he learn't how to type it on the pc , it is fairly short though (four letters).

GS, I have a feeling DS1 will be doing the same. I've already been told off by a teacher I know in RL for "teaching" him upper case letters - er, no, he just learnt them and is fascinated by Countdown. I'm not going to stop him learning things so it's easier for teachers either, I'm afraid!

Find myself increasingly wondering about the usefulness of school. Don't think I'm up to home edding, though - DH wouldn't support it.

As far as name recognition goes, they will certainly help your son at first until he recognises his name. It's common for children to 'look' for their name when they start preschool/nursery, so many children do recognise their name by the time they start school.

The secondary schools around here are like small villages (1500+ pupils) and the primary schools are mostly three-form entry. It's something that's on my mind more atm, I have to say (I'm precocious at one thing...fretting!).

Good grief, DD2 is three next week but would never recognise her name. Ever.

I would also like to add that so far, all the teachers I have met are utterly splendid, and DD1's splendid one keeps a classroom of 30 reception/Yr1 kids working in different groups extremely effectively.

"The norm in a lot of European countries is no school before age 7".

Is that really the norm in a lot of European countries F&Z - which ones? (not challenging just quite surprised).

Dd will be one of the youngest in her class when she starts Reception in September (July birthday) but she is totally ready for it. She would be utterly under-stimulated if she had to wait until 7 yrs

(sorry for going off at tangent faeriemum)

HMC, I believe it is true, yes: Eastern Europe and Scandanavia are the areas I was thinking of, but I think there's a lot of individual variation.

I couldn't find anything pinning it down on Google, but I did find this:

"There is no compelling reason to begin school at age five, according to an early years review commissioned by the Scottish Executive, David Henderson writes.

After analysing start dates around the world, Christine Stephen of Stirling University concludes that there is no right age for launching into a formal school career. Even starting at seven does not disadvantage children, Dr Stephen states in the latest Insight publication on early years education.

Six or seven is the average age for starting, one international review points out, but Northern Ireland has recently moved to four, as has the Netherlands as part of its early intervention strategy"

HMC, I believe it is true, yes: Eastern Europe and Scandanavia are the areas I was thinking of, but I think there's a lot of individual variation.

I couldn't find anything pinning it down on Google, but I did find this:

"There is no compelling reason to begin school at age five, according to an early years review commissioned by the Scottish Executive, David Henderson writes.

After analysing start dates around the world, Christine Stephen of Stirling University concludes that there is no right age for launching into a formal school career. Even starting at seven does not disadvantage children, Dr Stephen states in the latest Insight publication on early years education.

Six or seven is the average age for starting, one international review points out, but Northern Ireland has recently moved to four, as has the Netherlands as part of its early intervention strategy"

:)

wow i caused a debate...go team!

In Italy they do not start teaking them letters numbers etc until they are in Asilo, which is 4/5. Before them its play with a purpose. They do not learn to ready and write until 6. They stay in school until 19 and then may go to University for another 4 years. The children more eager to learn, including boys. However once they start the way of learning is very formal with large portions of the day write or read at a desk in silent. They still have classes in grammar, which is actually very effective because Italian do understand their grammar better than the English.

meant 'teaching' not teaking, sorry

"I have no intention of holding him back at home just to oblige lazy teachers who want all the kids to start knowing nothing "

Um...I'd agree with that, actually! There does seem to be this completely bizarre concept of early reading as a problem. Or indeed, doing anything out of step really.

My real problem with schools is that they push reading too fecking early. Kids learn when they are ready.

Stephen Hawkins did not learn to read til he was 10. Now I know that there is dispute over whether those black holes he is so reliant on actually exist, but really, he's done alright for himself.

How do you stop a kid reading? Ds appears to be teaching himself using the whole word recognition method - so he will be popular with the teachers at school

I am thinking about not sending him until I have to (6) so that by then they will all be reading and it won't matter how they got there.