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

[Iamnotminterested]

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?

I don't think anyone is suggesting that the OP would be showing off if she told the teacher her child can read, only that it is very early in the year and the teacher will be getting to know the class and discovering what each child can do. Telling or not telling won't make the slightest difference at this stage.

At our school, it wouldn't make any difference - the teacher would know by the end of the first week anyway.

It would be fine to say, it would be fine not to say.

Exactly!

I am astonished that people are telling you not to mention it, surely it can only help your child if you mention it to their teacher. They have 30 children to assess and and additional information they have can only help them to teach your child. Its not being pushy - if you knew that your child had difficulties in certain areas then you would mention it and no one would tell you not to!

Before DS1 started school we had to fill in a form that all pre-schools have to pass to the school and we included information about his reading on there, not in a pushy way just as part of the things he liked doing as he loved reading.

He brought a reading book home within about 2 weeks at a level appropriate to him, this may have happened regardless I guess but a good pre-school would ensure that the school has all the relevant information about a child and a good school will take this on board.

It takes longer for me as a teacher to plough through the paperwork and find the bits that are actually helpful, than it does to initially assess a class of 30 children MadameCupcake

I understand that but due to my job I know all the local YR teachers and they said they rarely have children who can read starting so they always remember those who can if they are told by the pre-school or parents.

Regardless of whether the teachers find it in the paperwork or not my point was really why is it an issue for a parent to say that their child can read or not.

as a reception teacher I would not be earning my wage if I wasn't aware of the rare child who is able to read by the end of the second day in class.

fair comment mrz, you are completely right of course. I just felt a bit defensive of the OP getting stick for wanting to tell the teacher!

I don't think she should worry about telling the teacher if she gets the chance but she shouldn't worry if the opportunity doesn't arise right away.

As I mentioned before that DD is about to start reception and she can already read.

She was last assessed by her nursery teacher in June (she has the same teacher for reception too) and she has improved immensely since June and can pretty much pick up any kids book and give it a good go....

But I am not going to tell her teacher how much she has improved over the summer as she will obviously find this out herself.

I will leave it till the October parents eve which I think is just before half term and ask if she is getting reading books soon (if she hasn't had any by then) mainly to help me out so I don't struggle to find 8-10 books a week for her to read!!! Even if they are bloodyBiff and Kipper!!

Oh I hate biff and kipper books. The themes are so boring! Surely they can find better characters and storyline?!

I am so desperate I would put up with them even though I loathe them!!

DD reads a bedtime story to the cats each night, maybe they can listen to them instead of me!!!

DD was reading chapter books etc fluently when she started reception. It never occurred to me to mention it. I figured it was the teacher's job to work out the ability of each child in the class in literacy and in everything else. We got a few easy books home to start with and then a note saying "bear with me, we are trying to find the right level for DD" - it didn't take long.

Interesting thread.
DD started Reception on Friday and she too is a pretty good reader.

I was planning on just waiting for the books to start coming home and seeing what levels they give her. I would write in her book if I thought they were too easy.
I think it would come across wrong if I went in and told the teacher straightaway and part of a conversation on that topic.
I fear my card is already marked as an overprotective parent after blubbing on her first day
In fact DD's teacher scares me abit!

Pigley - DD starts this Friday, I fear I will blub too

Hi, after reading this thread I decided to write a note in DS's keep in touch book this morning to ask the teacher if I could meet her to 'discuss his phonics and reading'. I didn't put any more detail in than that. I am well aware he needs to learn lots of other things like spelling, sums, playing with others and just enjoying school etc, but that's him now 4 weeks in now. He got another book home yesterday of 'see saw reading' where the parent reads the main book and the child reads three words in a repetitive speech bubble. He read the whole lot (both parent and child parts) confidently and with no hesitation over any words.

I don't want to be seen as a pushy mum as I hope I am not one of them, but I also don't want my DS to be reading things that he was reading nearly a year ago. Not quite sure what to do, hence asking to meet the teacher. I'll let you all know how the conversation with his teacher goes!

I don't see that communicating with the teacher has to = 'pushy mum'. I would expect a good teacher to listen to what a parent says about their child, while setting that alongside their own assessment. I don't expect teachers to dismiss a parent for wanting to communicate - that is surely quite a different thing to making demands and giving the teacher orders. Agree with silibilimili about being uncomfortable with the idea that someone shouldn't say they know something already.

I got a note back from ds's teacher today saying 'yes I am aware that X is a comfortable reader. I have had various assessments carried out with X and I am keen to get your feedback from home'. I'm meeting her next week so it will be interesting what she says. She doesnt seem put out at all by me asking to meet her, I hope anyway!

Thats very perceptive of your DCs teacher OP. that's lovely and shows teacher has good communication skills and is receptive. Thanks for letting is know the outcome.

Is that to me silibilimili? Just to say I'm not the OP

. In any case, I thought that was a
nice response by the teacher.

Yes I thought it was nice too, she has also arranged the meeting for when the learning support person can be there, not sure what that's for though?

That's a nice response. Good to see it can all work out well! I would assume the learning support person can be helpful for all sorts of things, not necessarily because there's anything wrong. It makes sense to have a meeting when everyone can be there if at all possible.

I'm the OP

DD has been moved up without me saying a word to her teacher.

Oh that's good!!!