Why on earth shouldn't you teach reading if you jolly well feel like it?

[learnandsay]

Is it really all that bad?

[simpson]

Missed the point about boys not wanting to read or learn to read

DS now at 7 loves to read he reads to himself with his special lamp which clicks onto his bunk bed and reads first thing in the morning too (fiction, finally!!)

He has always been into non fiction and from yr1 has been a strong reader (although not as strong as DD who is in reception).

My aim this that they develop a love of reading and it seems to be worki g

And actually thinking about it, the kids who struggle that I read with in DC school are mainly girls (but I have not read with every child yet).

[simpson]

I did not realise how hard it is to teach a child to blend as DD just got it (and I don't remember with DS except he could not/refused to do it )

I go into a reception class once a week (not at my DC school) and all of them know their letter sounds but some will sound out C A T and they say pig iyswim as they don't hear the sounds to make the word yet.

[BooksandaCuppa]

I have one (now 12) who walks everywhere reading, including the cliche of bumping into lamp posts with his nose in a book, simpson!

[ReallyTired]

BooksandaCuppa I don't think that school nursery look at a child's ablity to read. Dd's state school nursery is more interested in language and fine motor skills. I don't think that decisions are made about the gifted and talented register at nursery or reception age.

Even then children can be put on the g & t register in later school years. I assume that children can be taken of the g & t register as well if they don't progress as hoped.

[simpson]

Booksandacuppa - DD attempted (without me realising at first) to ride her scooter to school and read a book at the same time!! It did make me chuckle (which infuriated her more as she couldn't do it!!)

[simpson]

Reallytired - when DD was in nursery last year they knew she could read (but not how well) and did give her (too easy) books.

This was fine by me as my main concern at the time was her physical development as she is hypermobile and was struggling a bit

DD has been put on the G&T (in reception) but obviously that does not mean much, she is 5!!

[BooksandaCuppa]

Reallytired - I'm referring more to some parents' assumptions about what they should be doing with their dcs before nursery - not what the school/setting expects. And actually, on the g & t board, there is often mention of a g & t register at nursery/reception...bonkers, no?

[learnandsay]

Is there a before nursery? Mine both started at six months. Even I'd be hard pressed to have them reading before that.

[BooksandaCuppa]

Before the 'nursery' year, LandS...the first year of foundation stage - age 3-4.

[ReallyTired]

Our school is very different. I have no clue how dd compares to other three year olds. She plays, draws and generally has a lovely time at nursery.

It came as real shock to me when ds was invited to a free gifted and talented science workshop in year 6. I seriously doult he would have been on the gifted and talented register lower down the school as he was on the special needs register due to hand writing and severe glue ear (requiring hearing aids).

[BooksandaCuppa]

There are barely any nurseries attached to schools/state nurseries in our county, so things very different here, too, ReallyTired. But I've read about lots of dcs bringing books home from their nursery school on mn. (And I reiterate I'm mostly talking about 'pushy' parents - for want of a more subtle term - than pushy schools).

Disclaimer - I don't believe there's anything wrong in encouraging reading in interested dcs, just not with reluctant ones...

[simpson]

DD brought books home from nursery (but think lift the flap type jolly phonics books ie read the word butterfly and lift the flap to reveal a pic of a butterfly type book).

They taught JP from the Easter term but this years nursery kids have been doing JP from Sept which I am a bit about but I am sure they make it fun.

[mrz]

It is extremely rare for a child to start in our reception class able to read (I count on one hand the number of children over 2 decades) and it is also rare for any child to leave us unable to read at an age appropriate (or NC) level.
We don't use reading scheme books in nursery, either in school or to send home but work on all the essential pre reading skills children need which sometimes get forgotten/neglected/missed out in the race to teach children to read early.

[JollyYellowGiant]

I think probably being in Scotland makes a difference because of that later school start. DS will be 5.4 when he starts school. DC2 will be a little younger than I'd like at 5.0.

[seeker]

Any teacher I've asked says the same, mrz- but I've met loads of parents who say their child was reading before starting school. Do you think it comes down to different definitions of "reading"?

[lunar1]

What's with the sexist rubbish about boys not wanting to learn to read? What a nasty, uneducated opinion.

DS1 loves to be read to and loves to read. He is 4 and in kindergarten, the blends and school reading book stay on the dining table and he brings them to me every day to practice.

School just work with the child's interests at this age. I get so fed up of all the negativity towards boys by some posters.

[mrz]

I'm sure that's the difference seeker

[learnandsay]

It's probably the same rubbish about elephants living in circuses, lions jumping through rings of fire and dogs biting people. Anyone can incorrectly generalise about the particular.

[mrz]

It is extremely rare for a child to start in our reception class able to read and by that I mean they will probably recognise the big golden m for Mcdonalds and perhaps their own name (on a good day). Some might manage a jumbled rendition of the Sesame St version of the alphabet song but couldn't match any letter shapes to sounds.

[simpson]

Well DD definately could read at a basic level when she started nursery (let alone school) and there was another child in her class who could read starting reception and the school were not that shocked by it.

[mrz]

We aren't shocked/surprised/amazed when a child starts reception reading simpson (more overjoyed than anything) but it is very rare in my area.
We are quite happy if a child starts nursery/reception able to talk

[learnandsay]

Four year olds in the North East can talk!