Staying in their comfort zone?

[Cortina]

I've posted before on the rigidity of the ability sets last year in DS's classroom. He now sees some children as 'bright' some as 'average' and some as 'slow' as this is how the classroom was structured. As I've said next year I hope things will be more fluid as they seem to be in most classrooms. He's 6.

I've noticed that he wants to do easy work with his younger friends and cousins. His cousin came over with some workbooks that were aimed at 3 year olds, colouring in objects, outlining letters that sort of thing. My son has asked if he can do the same, and I've let him. It's all fun for him and I am not so pushy that I am going to stop him :).

I haven't done much at all with him in the holidays in the way of work, I did try and do some times table stuff last week and a bit of writing but he wasn't keen so I didn't push it.

Thing is he says he likes doing this sort of very easy work and says he wants to read very easy books, aimed at 2-3 year olds too. So far I've let him but I am worried that he seems to want to stay within his comfort zone so much? He feels confident shining amongst the younger kids.

He was happily reading chapter books on his own last term! He's asked if he can go with his cousin to maths club (where they teach the numbers and very basics) next term after school etc.

Not sure why this is or if I should be concerned at all?

I'd really not worry too much. After all, I love reading detective fiction which is really easy and undemanding, but I do it for entertainment and relaxation. Why should children be different.

It can actually be very beneficial for a child to go over the basics, even when they have progressed further. It helps to build a really strong foundation.

How did he do in Year 1? If he found the work really stretching, perhaps this is just his way of re-building his self-esteem. Is it that different from a child who plays at school with dolls and teddies and can be the expert by playing at being the teacher?

I'd let him do whatever "easy" work he wants and enjoy being the expert. He will still be getting more advanced work to do in school to take him forward.

I would agree with sarahfreck, my own DD is G&T for literacy at school but still enjoys reading very simple library books aimed at her younger sister and re-doing over and over cbeebies and bitesize games on the computer; next day she will be picking up a book aimed at a ten year-old. I'd say go with it - as already said he will be doing more advanced work to move him forward come next week.

I can read Shakespeare but sometimes I like to chill out and read Harry Potter!

I wouldn't be concerned, as this is play during the holidays and he's doing it for fun. I'd be surprised if it was any sort of indicator for what he'll tackle next term.

But I wouldn't pay for a maths club unless it was able to give properly differentiated work. No problem in doing easier stuff with his friends just home.

It sounds normal. As a gifted reader I never got to use the remedial readng room at primary school, but in year 6 (equivalant) I read a lot of their books. I was just curious, and could do it very quickly.

We have a too hard level, and instructional level (where you make a few mistakes but not too many) and a for pleasure level (when mistakes are rare).

I would though watch in case that rigid classroom has lead him to fear failure. So he'd rather be doing stuff he finds easy than to challenge himself, which involves risk. Do talk to his new teacher about this.

No advice but it did remind me of the conversation with ds' teacher in January.

Teacher 'I asked colads if he'd like to go up to the next reading level' (this was going from 1+ to 2 on ORT)
DS 'No thank you that will require more work'.
I said to the teacher if you think he's ready just give him the next stage don't give him the option he'll always take the easy route.