Reception reading

[elspethmcgillicuddy]

Ok I know there has been a lot about this and I am trying desperately not to be THAT parent. I haven't talked to the teacher about any of this but wondered if I an doing my dc a disservice if I don't push a bit.

He is in reception. He is really quite bright. He has just brought home a turquoise reading book and can read it easily. He is reading simple chapter books at home. He reads the word easily but can get blinded by a paragraph of text so needs to build some stamina.

My question is this. I know he is doing well and picks things up very easily. I have seen a lot on here about G&T. They don't really have a G&T programme at school. They say (and I only know this from talking to a governor, not from asking) that they will only call them G&T if they are two academic years ahead and they don't have any G&T kids in the school. This sounds very much at odds from stuff I've read on here. Should I ask? Does it make a difference? Should I just sit back and chill out and do extra at home?
It may be that he is not G&T and that is fine but I wouldn't like him to miss out.

Chill out and read at home. A label isn't going to make a difference and it is too early to tell at that age. Lots of children are reading chapter books by that age. What have you done with the turquoise book other than read it? Have you discussed it, predicted what might happen next etc.

I think g&t is an old programme. Your son is a good reader but reading varies hugely at that age, there will be one or two in most classes reading at a similar or higher level. The fact they are giving him appropriate reading material that challenges him is great. Fostering a love of reading is the key thing at this stage and comprehension and expression. Interestingly by year one some of the slower readers in reception have really jumped ahead and some of the ones who picked it up quicker have slowed down. They all change massively at that age. In don't think you have anything to be concerned about, enjoy books, be happy you have a bright child but don't start thinking he is gifted. His reading is within the norms and he has access to challenging material and you have identified what progress he can make eg stamina. Also writing , can he write as well as read? Plenty to be doing he will not be bored.

Make sure you get to the library regularly is the best help.

Schools no longer have to have a "formal" G&T in the sense of identifying the top 10% in each subject/class and calling them G&T. Which was always a rather imprecise and hapless way of doing it anyway!

What they do need to do is differentiate for varying abilities, and cater for each level. Your son is making good progress, so just keep an eye out that they are encouraging him to continue to progress, and keep reading with him at home. I doubt he's the most advanced in his class or the only one at that level, but school should support his learning at the right level for him.

Thanks everyone. That is genuinely helpful. None of the other kids I know are reading at anything like this level so I just didn't know how unusual it was. I'm actually quite relieved that it seems fairly to be expected. Will keep going as we are.

Make sure he understands what he reads. Reading is not just decoding the words. Do paired reading so he does not have to finish the paragraph . You can finish it. My children brought home several books, not just one. Perhaps you can supplement the reading material. I hate labels for children. Gifted in one school is pretty ordinary in another so it is confusing. If he does his best and you keep an eye on his progress being maintained I am sure he will do well.

That is why I hate the labels MillyMolly, it is very confusing when ability would get you G&T in one school but the same child could be average in another. As long as the teacher is differentiating the work there is no problem.

I would say that is quite far ahead actually, it would be in our school anyway. My ds is considered g and t for reading by the school and I don't think he was on turquoise at this stage of year r. That said I agree that it isn't a massive issue because childrens reading ability can develop at different stages with peaks and spurts, and i dont think it necessarily means anything significant (though it might do) but at least the school seem to be giving him appropriate material.

It wouldn't be far ahead in schools where the reception child is on chapter books when they arrive.

According to a book band list I've found the average age for turquoise is 6-7, so year 2. That's pretty advanced for a reception child?

Yes but pretty meaningless-it isn't a race. By the time they are 10yrs no one knows, or cares, if they could read at 3 yrs or it took them until 8yrs. What is important is if they can read with comprehension and expression and whether you have fostered a love of books, for life.

Oh I agree, ss, and said similar in my earlier post. I was just responding to the comments that made out that it wasnt that far ahead.

G&T is there so that more able children get differentiation in class. It sounds like your child is being differentiated for, even if he isn't physically written onto a list.
Fostering a love of reading rather than turning it into a chore is key for reception.
At turquoise level you could be looking to do the following:

Turquoise level

Turquoise level books include an increasing range of adjectives and more descriptive verbs to replace ‘said’. There is an increased proportion of space allocated to print rather than pictures.

Turquoise level books include words chosen for appropriateness and impact rather than decodability, with more extended descriptions. Paragraphs begin to develop and more unusual and challenging vocabulary is included.

How to support your child reading Turquoise level books

Your child is now beginning to read with more independence and their books are getting longer. You can help them by:
• Encouraging them to read some pages silently, inside their heads.
• Listening to some pages read aloud, encouraging the use of expression and paying attention to punctuation marks.
• Talking about how events in the book relate to each other and helping your child to understand how the story builds up in a longer book.
• Asking them to tell you about interesting things they found out and showing you where the information is in the book.

Yes turquoise is great for this stage in reception but not uncommon. There will be 1 or 2 in most class's at that level or beyond. It doesn't make a child gifted.