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Original poster

DCs starting a new school after half term...what do I take? Should I mention G&T?

301 replies

FishfingersAreOK · 30/05/2013 22:42

Due to a move my DC (YR & Y2) are starting at a new primary school on Monday. When we left their old school on Friday I was given all of their work/folders/old reading records etc.

Not so worried about YR stuff but should I take Y2 literacy/numeracy/handwriting stuff in with us for the first day for the new school. Or would that look...er....I don't know...unnecessary? Would it be useful or just a pain?

Also, Y2 is on the Gifted and Talented register for her reading. Not sure how this has actually benefitted her tbh. She doesn't know she is on the register. We are not that bothered in many ways. We were happy she was being stretched at her old school - and she was happy and thriving. So again, is there any need to mention it? The new school is bigger, and one of the appeals of it is there will be more peers for DD (Y2) of a similar academic ability - rather than her being pulled into Y3/Y4 classes. If I don't mention it will it seem odd? If I do will I seem pushy? Does the G&T transfer to a new school IYSWIM or will it just be dependent on the others in her year.

These are probably all questions I should have asked the school(s) last week but we only found out they had places on Thursday and everyone agreed beginning of the half term was the sensible time to start....but has left me with very little time to get my head around it!

Not sure if posting in correct area....Oh....blasted half term Grin

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learnandsay · 03/06/2013 19:50

At the very least, if it really is an "our school's system" that we're dealing with I'll try to get some pointers out of the Y1 teacher about what she wants my daughter to do and when she wants her to do it.

If it really is an "our system" situation then I'll differentiate between school books and home books. Home books will be books like you find in shops and libraries, and school books will be something over there (we don't really know what it is or why it is but it keeps coming home.)

simpson · 03/06/2013 20:06

Mrz - I think it's quite common to put kids back a few book bands in sept as maybe they have not read much over the holidays etc...

But to make a child wade through all the books/levels is different.

learnandsay · 03/06/2013 20:10

Presumably "our school system" makes all of the children wade through all of the books.

formicadinosaur · 03/06/2013 20:14

I think I would send in some examples of her work but not bang on about it. They will be able to work out her reading age when they next test the class.

mrz · 03/06/2013 20:23

I would only ask a child to read every book if I though they needed more practice

mrz · 03/06/2013 20:24

and I didn't put them back because they hadn't read much over the holiday

simpson · 03/06/2013 20:30

Yes but having a big break over the summer cannot always help with some kids.

I personally would not have a problem with DD being put back 3 levels at the beginning of yr1 as long as there was a reason why (which there would be) and the teacher was happy to explain (not in a why have you put my child down 3 levels way, more of a how can I support my child at home way iyswim).

simpson · 03/06/2013 20:32

LandS - I do feel for you.

I wonder whose hair brained idea it is...Can you go higher and speak to the HT or Deputy about it? (Although in fairness I would leave it till yr1 now).

mrz · 03/06/2013 20:34

If a child is on the correct level in the summer six weeks break doesn't make a significant difference to strong readers

learnandsay · 03/06/2013 20:37

Presumably "our school system" has a designer of some kind and it's her idea, (maybe the literacy coordinator or her predecessor.) But I don't want to get into the mechanics/politics of why it is the way it is (some people get paid to do that.) I think I'm pretty familiar with books and what they're for. I'll just teach her that instead.

simpson · 03/06/2013 20:40

I do disagree with that (when they are young).

Not so much by stage 7 upwards maybe...

DD did not read for 2 weeks last summer (we went away and although took books she was too knackered at the end of each day to read and did not want to either).

When we got home I was Shock at how much she had forgotten (it took about 3 weeks to get back on track, she did not forget anything permanently Grin but just had to get into the routine of doing it again).

She was probably on stage 5 (at a guess) then...

mrz · 03/06/2013 20:49

Sorry simpson I'm talking about strong readers

freetrait · 03/06/2013 20:54

simpson, and mrz, are we talking about the difference between decoding and comprehending? This is why DS spent a term reading Blue Banana books and equivalent- white book band or a bit easier I think, essentially in the Autumn of Y1. He had read similar in YR from about April onwards. But, it was just right for him to spend time reading more books like this, reading and understanding the story quite easily.

He brings home a real variety now, I don't really think about the "level" anymore. Some are probably similar and others a fair bit harder. I think it is appropriate for him to read easyish books that are age appropriate as well as trying some more challenging things occasionally. Probably the "hardest" thing he reads is Horrible Histories and Horrible Science, both of which he loves.

I can understand your frustration though learnandsay. Did you not feel able to push the teacher further if your daughter was reading that next level faultlessly? Or perhaps she wasn't faultless and that is the teacher's point? Of course you can read all sorts of things with a parent, but completely independently, if you are honest could she manage that next level with no mistakes? I just find it strange that if she was faultless as you seem to say that she couldn't be put further on. You said she needs to work on her expression so at least you have a pointer on what to work on in the easier books with her. This would be worth doing don't you think?

freetrait · 03/06/2013 20:56

Yes, simpson, your daughter was 4 then and although strong for her age, not a strong reader perhaps as mrz defines it (errrr fluent?).

learnandsay · 03/06/2013 21:02

Indeed, we're making much of it and it's fun. But in the lower level books where there's not much dialogue learning about expression is hard work/impossible. We've made an expressive meal of the latest book (which thankfully does have some dialogue which is suitable.) I did point out that a perfect book for practicing expression is The Three Little Pigs. There expression genuinely makes up part of the story.

mrz · 03/06/2013 21:02

As L&S pointed out without knowing her daughter there isn't any way for anyone on MN to know why the teacher thinks she needs to read at a certain level or whether it is the difference between decoding and comprehension , fluency, accuracy or any of the other skills teachers are looking for or whether it is indeed school policy.

learnandsay · 03/06/2013 21:07

But the teacher should know what she thinks, the things she mentioned were expression and reading in scheme order to fit in with "our school system."

simpson · 03/06/2013 21:07

Yes, ok I will agree Grin she was fluent and strong at her level at the time.

But yes, I doubt now whether she would forget much (not going to put it to the test though!)

mrz · 03/06/2013 21:13

My definition of Strong readers in reception are those readers who can read anything you put in front of them accurately, fluently, with expression and more than just literal understanding.

simpson · 03/06/2013 21:17

By anything you would mean something suitable for a 4-5 yr old obviously.

I don't necessarily mean reading wise, but content wise.

DD does seem to read anything at school. She was moaning today that she has now read all the books in the reading corner (to herself).

mrz · 03/06/2013 21:31

Suitability is a difficult one ... at this age my son's favoutite reading was the Nato defence of Europe document, a child I taught loved biographies of Queen Elizabeth I and another anything about the Titanic ... not typically books for 4-5 year olds

simpson · 03/06/2013 21:38

Grin DD likes a book about The Battle of Britain ,The Great Fire of London and a book about why Greeks built temples.

These are the only non fiction books she will look at Hmm

But yes, the suitability thing is tough...

mrz · 03/06/2013 21:44

The books I mention were all written for adults so some would consider them unsuitable

AMumGoingMad · 03/06/2013 21:50

I have read this whole thread and I would like to say that L&S isn't alone in having a school where the policy is apparently the children having to read every book on the level. My dd is at a school whose HT has actually sat in a meeting with my ds's HT present and stated that it was correct, dd had to read every book in the level before moving up. DS's HT couldn't believe her ears. Anyway things didn't change or improve with dd's reading situation (she's an excellent reader and that includes comprehension). Once we had it confirmed she had to read every book to move up we abandoned the reading scheme (this was beginning of yr1). The only place she read school books was in school. She read books from the library at home. This continued the whole way through yr1 and the gap between the school books and her ability was crazy but I didn't care, she was reading the right level at home and she was learning good comprehension skills from the guided reading at school. When she moved into Yr2 she got a new teacher (a NQT who clearly knew what he was doing and what his training had taught him) and in the 2nd week the teacher called me in to discuss dd's reading. He wanted to know what she reads at home and he wanted to know why she didn't read the school books at home. I explained and he was surprised to hear it and said he would sort it. A couple of days later he said he had managed to get the HT to assess her reading and she agreed her reading books were not correct but that as the school policy was she had to read all the books in level she would not be moving her Shock. The teacher then said to me "Remind dd that the school book is in her bag but please encourage her love of reading and read with her every night and write what she's reading in her reading diary.". And this is what we have done this whole year. And its paid off, my dd has barely picked up a school book unless the title interests her, she reads like a bookworm, and has been rewarded by getting the narrator part in the whole school play (tiny school so whole school play is done, not individual class plays). The HT has left now as well and the school is in a transition and I pray that this will mean that the crazy reading every book in a level policy will go when a new HT comes in.

That turned into a mamoth post!! Anyway, what I'm saying is L&S may well be stuck in a similar situation as I was and if she is there is little to nothing she can say that will change the situation. These schools do sadly actually exsist.

simpson · 03/06/2013 22:07

The books DD read are for aged about 9/10 at a guess...

Amum - sounds like you made the best out of a bad situation Smile Still shocking though...

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