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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Was your dc an early reader? Your experiences please!

25 replies

strandednomore · 07/01/2011 11:32

My dd1 (5) has recently started Reception. She was at a school overseas, where she learned to read in pre-school. She is now a pretty good reader.

However. Listening to some of the other parents, it sounds like the other children in her class are still learning their letters. I have made her teacher aware of how well she is reading and they have sent a couple of books home with her (which were still too easy but at least they had words in them!), but I am worried that she will get forgotten about and bored.

Please let me know your experiences of what happened if your dc's were already reading when they started reception. I totally understand that they will all catch up eventually, that reading isn't everything etc . But I don't want her to be bored at school, this would be a really bad way for her to start.

Thanks.

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FlorenceAndTheMachine · 07/01/2011 11:42

My DD was already reading when she started reception. This was mainly due to having been in a mixed nursery/reception class before we moved and she learned to read there, so similar to your DD.

She reads books appropriate to her level. Her teacher has said that in guided reading she was ahead of the others in her group (don't think any of the others could read when they started reception) but it hasn't been a problem for her. The others are definitely catching up but DD probably still a bit ahead at the moment.

Some people would say it doesn't matter what she reads at school and that she can read other books at home etc but I think it does matter that she feels school is offering her interesting books to read (as well as all the other exciting things you do in reception :))

I would talk to her teacher about it if I were you.

montysorry · 07/01/2011 11:50

I posted this on the other thread about 4yr olds the other day. Hope it helps!

montysorry · 07/01/2011 11:52

I should have added that my experience with DD1 was that she continued to be stretched but, as I said, others caught up. This wasn't because she stayed still but certainly some others made amazingly rapid progress (probably as she had the previous yr) so I guess they learn in fits and starts.

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 07/01/2011 12:02

When you say "recently", how recently? Did she start at the beginning of September? I think it can take half a term or so to get a child onto the right level of reading book, so if she's been at school longer than that and you think she isn't on the right level then it's a good idea to have another word with the teacher.

FlorenceAndTheMachine · 07/01/2011 12:55

If she has only just started Recception I wouldn't worry just yet - as ProfessorLayton says it can take a while to be on the "right" level of book

FlorenceAndTheMachine · 07/01/2011 12:55

And I can spell Reception. Possibly

Original poster

strandednomore · 07/01/2011 14:45

Thanks everyone! She actually started reception in September where we lived overseas, but here in the UK just two days ago. Ok, I know I sound like I am panicking at such an early stage! But this is why I asked for people's experiences as I wanted to think about what best to do. I think I am going to wait a couple of weeks for her to settle in and then make an appointment to see the teacher. I can talk about reading (and writing) then, as well as a general discussion about what happens in reception - as we missed out on this last term.

OP posts:

magicmummy1 · 07/01/2011 17:06

You're definitely worrying too early! My dd was reading quite fluently when she started in reception last year, and it did take a while for them to get her on the right level (weeks, not days! ) But she wasn't bored, because reception is about so much more than reading and learning letters. Just relax, and give it some time. If you're still worried later in the year, have another word with the teacher.

mrz · 07/01/2011 17:55

strandednomore even though your daughter is reading well I would imagine she still needs to learn all the letter/sound correspondences in the English language (we teach phonics all the way to Y6 at different levels) so I think there will be plenty for her to learn.

IAmReallyFabNow · 07/01/2011 17:58

My DD started to read at 2 1/2 and went into reception knowing all her letters as well. She started off with books without words, like every other child, and once she had been moved to books with words she progressed as well as she needed too and is a free reader now she is in year 3.

Children do not got forgotten and teachers won't thank you for trying to tell them what to do in their class room.

vanitypear · 07/01/2011 17:59

do you have a reading record you can put a note in? that's what DD's teacher does. a week or so in she said they were working on identifying the right level and a week or so thereafter they found it. At a certain stage it is more about comprehension - though DD can read books of any level, she can't discuss and thoroughly understand everything, so they sometimes look easy but are getting at comprehension as well.

SummerRain · 07/01/2011 18:00

dd is 6 this month and only learned how to read just before christmas.

ds1 however is only 4 and can already read some words, is far better at phonics, letters and sounding stuff out than dd and will probably be ahead of her in ability by the end of summer term.

They're in the same room in school and are both happy, well stimulated and enjoy school.

Teachers are well used to a wide range of abilities and structure their classes accordingly, some of the boys who started with dd are almost 7 and could read already and write quite well when they started school, they're simply given more challanging material and pushed a bit harder.

wallababy · 07/01/2011 18:12

Dd is in yr 1 and is a fluent reader, her teacher calls her very able!
The books she brings home are very easy for her to read and her dad(we are separated) quite often puts comments in her reading record saying that she needs to be moved to the next level, completely ignoring the advice we were given at parents eve which was; after she has read the book (usually in no time at all) to discuss the story and ask probing questions, how did that make her feel, what could they have done differently etc. Use the books to learn about life, writing styles, how other people live etc rather than just racing through levels... They won't forget how to read!!

Doigthebountyeater · 07/01/2011 20:42

My DS could read from 2.5 and is an excellent reader now. He started reception in Sept and came home at the start with very unsuitably babyish books. I spoke to the teacher a couple of times before they removed him from the ORT scheme and now he just reads novels at his own pace that are of his choosing. (He is currently reading Charlie and the Chocolate factory). Even when he was bringing home the simple books, I was not overly worried as he was still reading every day at home. I think it is more important that they enjoy reading and choose to do it voluntarily than anything else.

I was worried that he'd be bored when they do the whole class phonic work but he doesn't seem to be and anyway the teacher links the sounds to writing practice. His writing is pretty poor so he definitely needs this!

Original poster

strandednomore · 08/01/2011 18:36

Thanks everyone for all your input, experiences etc. The teacher has written in the book tht she wants her to read these books so she can do a comprehension book, whatever that is (I guess I will find out soon). She has agreed I should come in and see her in a few weeks time. I am glad that she seems to agree that communication between home and school on these matters is important.

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mrz · 08/01/2011 19:04

It is a book of questions about what she has read to check she understands what she is reading.

Runoutofideas · 09/01/2011 08:14

I agree with wallababy and others. My dd is 5.9 in yr 1 and is a confident reader. She brings home level 8 books, which she can read with ease, however she doesn't necessarily understand what she is reading. The last one was about capital cities of the UK and what they were famous for - it was definitely a book which encouraged discussion, rather than just checking decoding skills.

In answer to your original question, dd never seemed bored doing phonic work in reception, even though she already knew her sounds. In my opinion it was still helpful to go over it to give her a really solid understanding. I read loads with her out of school, to keep the interest going. There is so much more to do at school, as well as reading, that I'm sure she won't be bored. To be honest, I'd be more concerned that she was settling in ok and making friends at this stage.

itchtitchy · 09/01/2011 14:39

I worry the same about my dd2. She is in reception and reading seems to have clicked. She reads the red level book she brings home in seconds. I went to the library on Saturday and got out books for both dd's. DD1( Year2) is average I guess so I had some Turquoise books for her. I turned my back for a 2nd and found dd2 having a crack at one of dd1's books!

RatherBeOnThePiste · 09/01/2011 14:46

Our DD was a competent reader, with excellent comprehension very early on and the problem we had was finding challenging and interesting stories that were relevant and appropriate to her level of experience

DS had to learn the mechanics of reading in a more regimented way whereas she just seemed to get it.

But they are both very similar in their reading and enjoyment of it now at 13 and 11.

Original poster

strandednomore · 09/01/2011 19:46

I am worried about her settling in and making friends. It plays on my mind every day. It's pretty hard on her having to move schools half way through the school year. And I know she misses her classmates at her old school

OP posts:

goingmadinthecountry · 09/01/2011 20:55

DD1 read pretty well at YR age - The Worst Witch for eg. Other 3 were less well prepared (one is dyslexic) but could all decode before starting school. I wish I'd pushed the others more - dd1 is still way ahead academically (she's 17). I'm a teacher (supply only these days) and know my view goes against the norm, but am also a pushy mum!!

HaveAHappyNewJung · 09/01/2011 22:25

I was reading just before 3, and never did any reading scheme books at all. I guess that'd be classed as a free reader. I used to sit out of reading/phonics sessions and read whatever I wanted (I know some children would find this isolating but I liked the quiet time!) and after I'd exhausted the books from the classroom my teacher brought in her DD's books for me to borrow.

I agree it is way too early to worry about this, just let her know the teacher needs to see where she's at, and make sure she has fun stuff to read at home.

blackeyedsusan · 11/01/2011 00:05

dd can read quite well at home ie somewhere around yellow/blue book band. We read lots of library books from different reading schemes and any real books of a similar level. We are currently working on filling in the bits of the phonics she is not so good on. She can answer simple questions about the stories/ books and we are working on this too.

However, at school she is reading pink books, (which are too easy at home).. but She may be doing a really good job of being too shy to read or talk about the books at school.

Most of the time I try to remember that she is not going to "fall behind" as we are learning at home and it is better that she learns to be confident at school. (most of the time )

What I am trying to say is that What they do at school and what they do at home may be different. the teacher may be concentrating on different skills (eg the bits of phonics dd can't do) (talking about the book)

Read too her and read with her at home. If after a few weeks you are still concerned have a word with the teacher to find out what she is doing at school and what she need to work on.

squidgy12 · 11/01/2011 00:22

This reply has been deleted

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princessglitter · 11/01/2011 17:51

dd is in reception and reading orange band books (level 6 ORT). She reads them with ease and can read Roald Dahl at home, but is working on developing her comprehension and expression rather than galloping through the levels.

She does guided reading with year 1 and the rest of the time stays with her year group, which seems to be working well. School have been brilliant and I trust them completely.

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