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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

Would you mention to the R teacher that your child could already read?

104 replies

Iamnotminterested · 07/09/2012 20:00

And I know that what constitutes reading and 'reading' differs enormously, but DC has a good grasp of phonics, can sound out and read four and five letter words and understands the use of capital letter, full stops, exclamation marks and question marks. Her school starts everyone on the same book level - would you say anything or wait for them to say something?

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IslaValargeone · 07/09/2012 20:03

I'd wait I think, they'll soon move her to a suitable level.
I'd be inclined to keep my head down at this early stage, just in case you are unfiarly brought up on the radar as 'one of those parents'

Sparklingbrook · 07/09/2012 20:04

I would wait until the first parents' evening, you don't want to do anything that sets them apart at this stage. The teacher will have seen all different abilities but needs to start somewhere with all of them.

snowball3 · 07/09/2012 20:07

If the school has a "policy" of starting every child on the same level, mentioning the point that your child can already read might not have any effect, then again it might! We have one boy starting this week on yellow. His mum said he could read ( but we checked ourselves before handing over a reading book, just in case!) so we gave him the most appropriate book.

Original poster

Iamnotminterested · 07/09/2012 20:10

snowball3 so WWYD if you were me?

OP posts:

Roseformeplease · 07/09/2012 20:10

Why wait for them to notice? You wouldn't hesitate if your child's needs might mean struggling to keep up, so why worry about a child who is well ahead?

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 07/09/2012 20:13

Surely teachers assess so that they can teach?

I would not say anything until the teacher has had an opportunity to do her / his job.

Sparklingbrook · 07/09/2012 20:14

The teachers are the experts. They don't need things pointed out to them do they?

Pozzled · 07/09/2012 20:14

Do you meet with the teacher at all on an individual basis, or would you have to see him/her specially? I'd say something in the first case, but not the second. They'll find out fairly quickly, but it's nice for them to have an idea ahead of time.

ChasingSquirrels · 07/09/2012 20:15

We had initial home visits, ds1 could read when he started school - I told them that at the home visit. They didn't send books home for a while anyway, so we just continued borrowing appropriate books from the library.

ds2 couldn't read, and probably didn't know all of the alphabet - I told them that as well.

Sparklingbrook · 07/09/2012 20:17

Pre-schools usually send reports up to school too.

snowball3 · 07/09/2012 20:18

I would mention it but be prepared to wait a little to see any result. Teachers need to be sure that a child is (1) actually reading the book rather than having memorised it -been there, seen that! Child could "read" every word on the page but couldn't read any of them written on a piece of paper ( Mum had apparently come along to the open day, checked out the reading scheme books we use and bought them, reading and re-reading them over the summer so her child "could read"! (2) understands what it is they are reading-rather than just decoding the sounds (3) understands how sounds work- rather than sight reading a number of words, however large that number might be. We check all this out with our Reception children as soon as possible after they start-certainly in the first week.

purplehouse · 07/09/2012 20:22

OP - my DC has also just started YR and can read probably at a similar level to your DC. I have decided not to say anything yet, I think it will be very clear to the teacher soon enough and I don't want to get myself a reputation as "one of those parents" as someone else has mentioned. Our school are just settling them in for now and books don't come home until around half term I think.

simpson · 07/09/2012 20:37

DD has started reception (well technically not yet as she goes next fri) already able to read at a strong level 4 (blue I think) and I am lucky in that she has the same teacher that she had at the nursery attached to the school so she already knows this.

I certainly would mention it tbh but would not be pushy (not for one min suggesting you are!!).

IMO rose has it spot on.

I don't expect DD to get any reading books from school till nearer half term tbh.

Original poster

Iamnotminterested · 07/09/2012 20:38

purplehouse - the book she came home with this week (when I looked at the learning criteria on the inside cover) was to help them to recognise the word "a".

OP posts:

alcofrolic · 07/09/2012 20:40

Yes.

purplehouse · 07/09/2012 20:42

I think that I would still try not to say anything. If you have a source of books, such as the library, I would just continue with that yourself. This is what I am doing.

I remember when my eldest was in reception, there was a little girl who could read and her mum asked the teacher for books and the teacher said that everyone had to start with the same stuff. The mum was not happy about it and repeatedly asked but all that happened is that the teacher got fed up with her and still no books came home until the teacher sent everyone a book.

If you do ask the teacher, do it very gently!

simpson · 07/09/2012 20:48

Can you not write something in the reading diary if you don't actually want to speak to the teacher??

Tgger · 07/09/2012 20:51

Yes, I would mention it, all be it low key to the teacher. We had this, DS was given Songbirds level 1 when he could read stage 2/3. His teacher was pleased to give him something a bit harder. Have to say the teacher was playing catch up all year really-and we supplemented school reading books with library ones/bought a supply from Amazon. He's now about to start Year 1 and I am much more chilled out as essentially he can read now and there is a wealth to choose from from the library (and Amazon!).

Tgger · 07/09/2012 20:51

That should say he has started Year 1 (!), just no reading books yet...

Funnylittleturkishdelight · 07/09/2012 20:52

I think you should mention it- as a teacher myself I'm shocked at some of these stories- reminiscent of Scout in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' being told off for being able to read!

simpson · 07/09/2012 20:55

When I told DD's teacher in nursery that she could read (just in a casual chat) she asked me to bring in some books she reads at home to do with her first and then gave her reading books each week to take home and read with me. But they were still too easy as the HT has a policy of no nursery children getting reading books

The teacher bless her had to do it on the sly!!!

Original poster

Iamnotminterested · 07/09/2012 20:58

Tunnydittlelurkishfelight You see I'm torn because we have been getting appropriate books for several months now, but, and this is a very bif but, DC is not the sort of child to stand up in class, arms waving stating ' Woo Hoo! I can read already!'

OP posts:

Silibilimili · 07/09/2012 21:00

funny so reassuring to read your comment. Restored my faith in teachers. Thank you.

wigglywoowoo · 07/09/2012 21:01

When my DD started last year I waited until parents evening(3 weeks in) to mention it. Her reading level at school has always and still in Year 1, lags behind what she reads at home. I don't bother to discuss it with the teacher as they do thier assessments and move her up regularly.

Reading is a subject that it is quite easy to support at home and see steady progress. I would allow sometime for the teacher to conduct her assessments, especially as early in the year as this.

dontcallmehon · 07/09/2012 21:05

My dd is similar (as was dd1 who is in year 2 now). I didn't mention it - I'm just waiting for them to discover it. Which they will, if they assess the children properly.

When dd1 started school, she was put straight on to green band and the teacher came to inform me that her reading was exceptional (I don't think she is exceptional - just a good reader) which was better than me telling the teacher I think. regardless of what you say - they will do their own assessments.

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