'Extremely G&T in Reading'

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I'm guessing there's nothing we can do except read what she wants to read? DD's (y1) teacher has told me she's extremely gifted and talented at reading. Do any other children get anything extra?

I think the best thing you can do is let her read what she wants to read, and find opportunities to talk with her about what she has read. She may need some guidance in selecting reading material as content isn't always appropriate for such a young child. We found that the easiest approach was to go back through all the old classics that I read as a child - easy to talk about as I remember all of the stories and very little in the way of inappropriate content. Non-fiction is another good option, but beware - some history books can be pretty gruesome!

I don't agree with letting her read anything she wants to; I mean, OP's call. But I read The Painted Bird when I was 7 because my parents didn't filter my reading enough and really wish I hadn't (bestiality & genocide, anyone?).

I know there are folk on here who think American Psycho is fine for any age, too, but not me.

I wouldn't expect the school to provide all of any child's reading material. I take mine to library a lot and let them have free range in age-appropriate section. That includes comics, by the way. Just because they're advanced doesn't mean they Can't enjoy The Beano.

Get her onto Famous Five etc - great stories, high advebture and nothing more scandalous than a ginger beer.

Let her enjoy books and give her a broad range of reading material. My DD can read pretty much anything I give her free reign of the children's and pre teen section of the library. Sometimes she chooses pre school books, sometimes she chooses novels. As long as she's happy reading I don't mind what she reads. I'm a competent reader, I still read things that aren't at all challenging for pleasure

Sounds impressive

Agree it's hard to find suitable reading material at the right level. We often get caught out with dd reading stuff that raises difficult questions. I started another thread about supporting able readers - don't know if that would be useful for you?

What does she get offered in school in terms of catering to her level?

What do they do for her ATM?

I was told DD (reception) is gifted in reading too.

Tbh I don't let her choose whatever she wants to read as it is not always possible to know if they are suitable.

I have loads of choice for her at home (always checking out charity shops etc) so she does get free reign at home iyswim (because I have vetted them first).

Her reading choices vary from Topsy and Tim to Roald Dahl really....

I would make sure your DD has variety too ie poetry, non fiction etc...We talk about what she is reading a lot (her school gave me some pointers) ie why the author has chosen certain words, the relationship between the author/illustrator etc....DD loves doing all this and laps it up

They aren't doing anything simpson. In fact, as far as I can tell, all they've done it taken her off reading lists so she doesn't need to read 1:1 anymore . She's been taken her own books in to school since last year anyway so I'm not entirely sure why they told me about it if they don't have anything planned for her.

Obviously I will vet any book she wants to read have learnt my lesson there and she has a huge variety in her bookcase.

I guess I was hoping someone would say their school does x,y and z so that I could go in and ask if it was possible for her to be doing those things?

I'll just go with the flow for now then and let DD lead me

I'm not sure what extra school could usefully do. DD1 was in the same situation and she ended up taking in a lot of books from home to read. She did have a lovely teacher in year 2 who used to go out and buy books that she thought DD1 would like.

DD1 is 21 now and although obviously everyone else catches up she has retained a love of reading and enjoys writing as well (she writes for her university newspaper). If you are going to be very good at something -reading is a fabulous one because it opens the door to the world of literature rather being stuck with Biff and Chip!

Ds 1 is in year 2 and reads with yr 5 for guided group reading. In year 1 he was with year 4.

From reception/year1 he used to go to other year groups to choose books from class library.

Instead of some homework he used to write about each book he read (reception) to encourage m to develop his writing skills as when he started school he was reading very well, but wouldn't put pen to paper at all.

They ordered in first news newspaper for him and he'd cut out interesting articles and write about them (only a couple of sentences at first).

In reception he was assessed as having reading age of 12.

DD gets extension homework (and work within the class) things like writing book reports, writing and drawing about her favourite character in a book etc.

She has a lesson once a week (sometimes twice) to analyse text in more detail. She is listened to twice a week 121(sometimes 3 times a week).

She did have her own TA (with one other child) for the mornings when other kids do "sound time" but that has stopped

She has her own tray in which the teacher puts "work" in so at any time she can write etc...

She gets to chose her school reading books from yr2.

But the school have refused point blank to let her go to higher classes for phonics/literacy despite her reading at early/mid yr3 level.

However I will be asking for a meeting nearer the end of the school year to see what will happen when she goes into yr1.

In yr r dd2 was assessed at reading between 12-15yrs. They didn't do anything in particular, just let her access book storm elsewhere to read.

Now that she's 9 I've largely given up on vetting anything, but we were a bit more careful up to 6 or 7. She has a sister 4 years older so has already been through the hunger games trilogy etc.

(She's gifted across the board - they do some math extension, and at 8 decided that her lit extension would be to write and publish her own book, but there was no extension for the reading / La until yr 3 at all)

As I discovered last week our school stops guided reading once they're in KS2.Being able to go to a higher year for guided reading would have been perfect for her otherwise!

It's frustrating because they seem to have said 'yes she can read so we'll just leave her to get on with it'. I know there used to be an extension group but that stopped before DD got the chance

As I discovered last week our school stops guided reading once they're in KS2.Being able to go to a higher year for guided reading would have been perfect for her otherwise!

It's frustrating because they seem to have said 'yes she can read so we'll just leave her to get on with it'. I know there used to be an extension group but that stopped before DD got the chance

So what do they do if they don't do guided reading in KS2? They must do something else instead...

Have you asked if she can go into higher years for lessons? You might not get it, I didn't but will ask again when she goes into yr1 (or at least what extension work she will get).

Our KS2 get quiet time to read something of their choice. They do other types of literacy work, too, in small groups. Writing & comprehension. The school seems to take the view that mixed ability groups work fine for literacy, above the basic phonics level I mean, and I tend to agree (for DC, anyway, don't think anyone has been held back).

I believe that The KS2 kids who are well below target still do guided reading.

y2 DD went in with y4s for literacy & got a bit of bullying for it; from a child who was fairly horrible to everyone so not so hard to brush off, but I think she would have been fine without it (bullying or working with yr4, I mean). So I can understand school's reluctance.

Ds is very fortunate in that the year group he joins also happens to behis older sister's cohort (albeit the other class in that year group). He knows a lot of the children in that year. The school anyway have a family grouping set-up where every half term a day is spent in a family group made up of children from years r-6. So about 20 family groups and siblings are always put in the same group. Is good because it fosters cooperation and understanding between year groups.

I think in the most part, the teachers ds has are able to quite effectively teach a very mixed ability group for literacy. He has an IEP and is on school action for various reasons. The SENCO was adamant that moving up a year would be social suicide for him and I agree. And in any case, moving up a year would not make much of a difference because he would still be a few years ahead of the cohort average anyway.

I think they get quiet reading for half an hour two or three times a week in KS2. Struggling readers get 1:1 every day.

We've got parents evening coming up so I will ask about it then, although obviously it's a bit late in the year for anything now.

I just don't understand why she bothered telling me if they aren't planning on doing anything extra with/for her!

I would definately mention it. They should be doing extra for her.

DS is in yr3 and they get time to read to themselves for 15 mins every day and still do guided reading (non school books ie not Biff etc for the ones that are at that stage). They are put into ability groups and do guided reading in them.

Im not sure what extra they could be doing. Dd never bothered with her reading or spelling homework, as she was always miles ahead. I dont really filter anymore (she is 12). I suppose they told you in case you hadnt noticed, not for the reason they were offering to do anything.

Just get her a library card, and see if there are any childrens book clubs nearby.

School haven't taught ds anything reading related since he became a free reader at the start of yr1. They tend to just progress steadily without school intervention once they are at that level so they leave them to it. Not ideal, but that's been our experience. Only thing I'd suggest is to continue listening 2-3 x a week if you can & encourage a wide range of different types of books (fiction, non-fiction, poetry etc).