Reading in reception

[princessglitter]

My 4 year old dd has just started in reception and came home with her first reading book, ORT Level 5. She has been reading for a while and can comfortably read this book accurately. I am very happy that the school have assessed her and sent home a reading book, but they also sent home 4 letters to learn.

I don't want to be an over anxious parent, but it is obviously a pointless activity as she already knows all her letters, digraphs and consonant blends. It seems a little silly for a child who is reading reasonably well to have to practise 's' at home! Also if she is spending a lot of time doing phonics at school she may get very bored.

Is it worth mentioning it to school?
They obviously already know she is reading and it is still very early days, so don't want to seem like a pushy mum!

Well, clearly she wont have to learn the sound but that doesn't mean she can't practise it! How about 5 words that begin with s, five that end and 5 that have s in the middle, can she make an alliterative sentence, lots of activities to do using the letter!

Relax :) They have sent her home a book which is the 'right' level. What does it matter if they also sent her home some letters?

She won't know all of the 150 phonic patterns they teach them. ( For example I think ough can be pronunced 8 different ways)

And if she does know all 150 phonics - great. She'll get to feel like a superstar at school and be super confident.

Just chill. :)

Either differentiate the letter sound stuff to whatever level you think is appropriate (e.g. write a story with as many s words as possible in or sentences starting with s words or something) or don't do the homework and do something different (although that might send a message that it's okay not to do homework which could be detrimental later on).

Fantastic that they sent an appropriate reading book for her I say so look on the bright side that they've got that right.

I will try some of those ideas, thanks .

Just concerned that she will be repeating lots of things she knows when at school. She has the potential to be naughty if bored.

The book they sent home is very easy for her to read, she reads more challenging books at home, but she does tend to rush sometimes and I guess that they will be focusing more on comprehension rather than rushing through the levels at this stage, so I am not worried about that.

Use the 4 letters to make as many words as possible

It sounds as if her school is doing something similar to what ours did. Reading is differentiated, but the whole class went through a phonics programme to ensure that all the children were securely grounded. These was differentiation within that too - as children practiced in different ways: some were just learning, others were using them in various ways. I wouldn't get too worthed about it. I just ignored anything I knew DCs knew securely and put main effort into reading (expression and fluency).

It's great though that they have already sent a book pitched at the right level. My DS1 is also reading pretty well at home and we have been told in no uncertain terms that he will not be having any books sent home until january.............

I was worried about that emy72, as I know lots of schools do that. I was happy that they sent a reading book home.

i never had homework from primary school. ds's seem to get quite abit! i would just read with her

As a reception teacher for many years I wouldn't be concerned emy the school is obviously concentrating on all the other more important skills and he will be "reading" in school. Far better at the early stage of the year for the teacher to spend time getting to know him and his interests than rushing into reading books to please parents

I agree mrz. My dd was reading very well when she started school last year, but the school made it abundantly clear that nobody would be getting reading books until January. This didn't worry me in the least, as I understood the school's rationale, and we just continued to borrow books from the public library. I don't believe that it has held her back in any way.