Is Goldilocks too young for year 1?

[teacherspet33]

Because I think it is? Even my daughter feels she isn't learning anything from the "topic". Not starting spelling until post Xmas and focusing on counting to 20! It all seems very unchallenging and simple. Are my expectations too high?

Surely it depends what they are doing with the story? In Year One my DS spent time re-writing classic fairy tales e.g. with different characters. It would make sense to do that with a story with a fairly simple structure in the first place.

Yes... those are normal year 1 things

I'm pretty sure DS studied traditional tales in Year 1. He didn't seem to find it too young for him - they did various things rather than just Reading the stories.

He didn't do spelling in year 1 either.

Would agree that counting to 20 seems a little less challenging although I would imagine they are doing other things as well.

(BTW we did Goldilocks - we make porridge, made 3 bear cottages, re-wrote the story, acted it out etc and this was in the lent term)

No I wouldn't consider Goldilocks too young for Y1.
When you say starting spelling do you mean sending home lists for tests or just spelling? Counting to 20 will be one of many foci

It's so hard (isn't it?) to figure out what they are doing. I know how well she is doing with reading as we have the evidence...otherwise I only have what she says as what they get up to! I don't feel there is a lot of progression though.....
Thanks for setting me straight...save me making a knob of myself at school!

What's foci?

the plural of focus

Aren't traditional tales a recommended topic for year 1?

I don't see what's wrong with that. I do think only counting to 20 for children who are already way off that is a bit lame though.

It's just that we have read goldilocks since dd was about 2 and wouldn't read it now....she has to take a teddy in next week. It will be good to see how this topic translates into their work.

I was still reading Goldilocks (and other traditional tales) to myself at 10/11yrs old........

oh and taking a teddy in - they had a "take a teddy to school day at DS1's Junior school (YR3-6) I was - but they all took their favourtie cudly toy with them (and on the YR4 residential DS1 informs me that even the "cool boys" had their teddies with 'em awwww)

I actually studied Goldilocks (and other Fairy Tales) during my degree they were never intended for young children

I did a PSE style focused task with Goldilocks and I did it with YR 1 in a wondering off from Mum going to a strangers house kind of idea .... it was really really good ... the children had great ideas.

Yes I am also loving Mrz's use of foci.

Sorry OP.

Our yr 1 pupils do fairytales as a topic; they learn a story and then rewrite it using props and other supporting materials (eg Gingerbread man - make a gb man, collage, pictures, al the animals etc).

Agree with Pixie, I think it's really sad that children feel they have to grow out of things so quickly these days- they miss out so much on deeper understanding that way.

I was still enjoying fairy tales at age 10- and reading Kazantzakis at the same time. My nephew was always encouraged to "move on" and "grow out of" things- I don't think it has deepened his appreciation of literature all that much. Dd (who read Vanity Fair and re-read Ballet Shoes in the same week) just thinks it is childish. I think she may have a point.

How can anyone seriously ask if a 5 year old is too old for Goldilocks?

If she wanted to read it or for me to read it to her I would, no questions asked. I just didn't understand what she could learn from it as a major topic at school. The posts I have had back have shed some light on it for me! My dd doesn't know what she's learning and is finding it a bit dull as she perceives Goldilocks to be a book for children younger than she is.

Oh yes, Pixie. The 5 year old thinks she 'isn't learning anything'. I'd hate to be her teacher when Ofsted rocks up!