Reading in Y1 - which NC level (if any) would be considered G&T or unusually advanced??

[NorhamGardens]

What sort of level would a 5 year old in Y1 be reading out to be considered G&T or unusually advanced?

[blackeyedsusan]

Early reading may be an indication of being bright at literacy. The fine motor skills may not have developed yet for them to show that they are good at writing too. They should get support for whatever subject they are currently advanced at, be that reading or maths.

[2BoysTooLoud]

I was an early reader but maths a struggle. My early reading not really notable to my life in any way as an adult- my poor maths however has been a life long issue.
However being a genius at maths does not seem to guarantee 'success' in life so is the 'label' gifted worth tuppence?

[2BoysTooLoud]

Good point blackeyedsusan.

[bath70]

My ds was apparently on g and t register for literacy and numeracy in reception. By the end of reception he was on purple books. He was word perfect but possibly not fully there on comprehension.
I agree he is ahead at the moment but as other have said others will catch up.

[exoticfruits]

Boys in particular can be fantastic reader and always have their head in a book-it doesn't follow that they are good at literacy. Many just don't like writing-they have the ideas but lose interest if they have to go on paper.

[exoticfruits]

sorry-readers.

[whenIgetto3]

My DD was always on the G&T register at her schools, she was reading Enid Blighton before reception. Now as a year 6 and at prep school she has suddenly realised there is more to life than reading and is not on the G&T register as she is only in the middle set for most subjects and set 1 for English. Early reading is a sign that you picked it up quick and were allowed to run with it rather than plodding along at the class rate.

DS2 on the other hand reads when forced but will sit and fill in number squares and does mental puzzles for fun, he has never been on the G&T register but I think is fat more G&T than his older sister

[smee]

My DS was put on the G&T register in Yr1, but he couldn't read. His teacher said it was due to his ability to think outside the box and imagination. His view was that they all read at some point, but that doesn't make anyone G&T.

Isn't the whole point really that it depends on the school in terms of who's given that (rather ridiculous imo) label. Truly gifted kids are incredibly rare. I don't think I've met one yet, and I'm including my own in that.

[whenIgetto3]

smee totally agree G&T is hugely dependent on local demographics. My DCs went to a school for G&T in the USA simply because as they had started school here and as they were only young they were ahead of the US children who had only just started school and therefore considered gifted enough to go to the school.

[sugarandspiceandallthingsnice]

Unusually advanced, level 3 - and able to infer information (end of year 1). G and T - not just 'bright' but able to take themselves further.
(Teacher hat on).
Technically the top 10% of the class should be g and t - they may differ from one school to the next. I have had children on g and t register that would not have been on it at another school but were head and shoulders above their cohort.

[sugarandspiceandallthingsnice]

... and were g and t rather than 'bright.'

[breadandbutterfly]

Am shocked at 5 year olds reading all of Harry Potter and When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit - how could a 5 year old have the maturity and life experience to read and understand books like this? I wouldn't let any of mine read Harry Potters 4+ until they were 11 - I found them upsetting (and I'm an adult albeit clearly a woossy one). When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit has very adult, disturbing themes and is absolutely unsuitable for a 5 tear old IMO. Bright child, maybe, but dim parent.

[mrz]

I've had reception children reading white and lime level books but I don't consider any to be G&T.

[exoticfruits]

I haven't seen them with Hitler and the pink rabbit one. The first Harry Potter is fine. (darker later on) Lots of DCs come into school as excellent readers. People on here have an advanced DC and assume that they are unusual and the school can't cope! There is generally a top end.

[seeker]

I agree by the way with breadansbutterfly about the Harry Potters and other books for older children.just because a6 year old can read them doesn't mean they should. People are so very proud of their HP reading children!

[LawrieMarlow]

It does sometimes feel that Harry Potter is some sort of gold standard that all children should strive to attain.

I can at least feel secure in the knowledge that DD is not G&T as there is no way she could attempt to read Harry Potter :)

[exoticfruits]

The DCs that I have found have picked it for themselves. It is the first book-I can't see that they would want to read the later ones. I only use it as an example because everyone knows it. They read stuff of a similar standard with full understanding. There are lots of very bright DCs around.

[Panzee]

I was on "Library Books" in Reception but was definitely neither gifted nor talented! Just a keen reader.

[exoticfruits]

5 yrs olds are not out to impress (although the parent might be!)they read a book if the like it, if they don't understand it they stop.

[mrsshears]

Very good point exoticfruits,my dd is due to be assessed on her reading this week and i know she will do it with no interest or expression whatsoever as it will probably be done with a dreaded ORT,whereas at home she reads her latest reading chest book about komodo dragons beautifully because she is really interested in it and wants to read it.

[exoticfruits]

Children pick books because they appeal to them. To start with they go for the picture -but the fluent reader will do pretty much what the adult reader does, pick up a cover that appeals, or maybe they have heard of, they read the blurb and they start on the first page.
If they don't like it or don't understand it they will put it back and start another.
By the time I was about 10yrs I would persevere with something that was hardgoing -because experience told me that sometimes you needed a few chapters-I don't think that 5 yr olds do that.
It is fairly ludicrous to think that a 5yr old is going to sit ploughing through Harry Potter, or similar, if they are not enjoying it.
I can see that an adult might like to sit on the train with something highbrow to impress- for example a lot more people have bought A History of Time by Stephen Hawking than have read it! BUT 5yr olds are not like that, they don't sit on the carpet thinking 'Harry Potter will impress the teacher'!

[iggly2]

I agree with lots that early reading does not necessarily mean "gifted" especially as parental influence could be very important in the early years. If the school have a good number of books and are confident that they can easily support the child (most will have seen lots of early readers) then there would be no need to keep a register/list for such children. However, if the school sticks to the top 10% rule for "G and T" I would think a child may well be placed on it just as reading is an easy thing to compare. I do think "gifted" and "G and T" seem to vary a lot in their meaning though.

A reading level 10 could be "unusually advanced" for reception and below aged children-though again not necessarily "gifted" but above average according to the ORT "overview chart".

[seeker]

"It is fairly ludicrous to think that a 5yr old is going to sit ploughing through Harry Potter, or similar, if they are not enjoying it."

They will if their parents want them to! And it's the parents who are out to impress.

[exoticfruits]

Not at school when mummy isn't there seeker.
I have seen 5yr olds deep into Harry Potter, so deeply into them they don't hear you speak to them. That is not what you do if you are only holding it to impress-you are only too pleased to have a change of activity!
Only the Philosopher's Stone-I can't see them reading the later ones until older.

Fluent 5yr old readers tend to be lovely DCs-they are not in the least pushy or out to impress-they read because they love it.

Parents are a different matter! Somehow good reader=good parenting!