Reception teacher... Should I tell her?

[Galena]

DD (4.1) starts school in September. At the moment she appears bright. I know children develop at different rates, etc and I'm certainly not saying she's gifted and talented. However, she reads pretty fluently (Enjoys reading blue banana books, and can read longer/harder ones but lacks the stamina) and is beginning to write.

Today she has written (completely unaided):
I Have five catapilers
There in a cup
I licke my caterpilers

I have a meeting with her new teacher and head on Wednesday (Our school don't do home visits, but do individual meetings with the teachers instead) and I don't know whether to take the exercise book she's been doing her writing in or not? (Previous writing is: 'Im gong to sool in Setber' and 'he Has big eyes' (referring to a toy cat who does, indeed, have big eyes!)) All the writing has been completely unaided because I wanted DD to be able to see what she can do on her own.

So, do I tell/show her new teacher what she can do, or shall I let her find out for herself?

I would take it.

Your dd sounds so fab

I think you will get answers advising both to be honest.

at the end of the day the teacher will work out your daughter's levels for herself as when they start they should be doing some sort of basic tests with them to see what they can do. however, these tests may literally just show a baseline and not show the extent of her ability. (eg they will check if she knows her letters, then more phonics, blending, writing her name and so on but probably won't keep going and going until they find what level she is actually at)

my daughter's teacher was fine when I told her how well my daughter was reading when she started school but I was really worried she would see me as pushy or interfering or something for mentioning it. I think teachers are all different. they checked her reading was at the level I had indicated and gave her appropriate reading books. she also got slightly different phonics homework once they had checked she knew all of them. Had I not said anything then they would presumably have just started her with the first level of reading books and a lot more basic phonic work but they would probably have noticed she could read things as she read everything round the classroom so would have then moved her up.

I would probably take along a book she can read and her exercise book and just say you have brought them along to show them what sort of things she likes to do and then see what they say. I don't think there is anything wrong with that and I think many teachers are keen to get some idea as then it means when they do carry out their normal tests/checks they can look to see how far she can go with things.

I would show her. My Mum told me that when my sister went to school she refused to write so the teacher though she couldn't, when in fact she had been writing pretty well for a year previous.
The first Mum knew about it was the first parents evening when the teacher told Mum in an exasperated tone that sis couldn't even write her own name.

I would show her as it gives her an idea of what level she may be at without her having to figure it.

Wow that's amazing though. My DS (3.9) is only just at he point that he just writes little random squiggles for each letter.

She sounds so lovely and very clever.

I would certainly show the teacher her current work, I'm sure you can manage it in a 'This is what she's been doing and we thought you'd like to see it' rather than a 'My child is a genius' way. I'd stop her from licking caterpilars though

Does she go to preschool? When we had our home visit before DD started school I showed them her learning journal from preschool which had bits of writing and pictures etc she had done as well as details of which of the EYFS goals she had met. They took it away with them, I assumed that was normal practice (they did give it back!)

So yes, it seems sensible to say 'this is the sort of thing she has been doing' just so they know.

My ds is nearly 6 and isn't writing much better than that. Definitely worth pointing it out to the teachers. As long as you don't talk to them in a 'my child's obviously a genius and what are you going to do about it' way. (They may chalk you up as one of 'those' parents) which you don't sound like at all by the way

Echo all the above. Of course they will find out eventually, but if she is in a biggish class that could take a while. Bear in mind that most children cannot read at this age (which is fine) so they will start at a low level. Starting school is about so much more than reading and writing. Hope she enjoys it; she sounds ready.

If they didn't have a meeting then I wouldn't go out of my way to mention it, but as they do I think you'd be being perverse not to.

Why do you need mumsnet to tell you your child is a genius? Sorry but honestly, no one would be wondering if this was 'normal', or be surprised to be told it was quite rare. Why not just start a post saying I think my dd is a genius? Much less disingenuous.

Nerfmother, why the need to post something so unpleasant?

Galena is asking a perfectly reasonable question.

When my DS started reception his teacher gave us a sheet A4 paper with various questions on it. Things like "my favourite things are" and "I like playing" etc. the idea was that children would draw or write a response. My DS half-heartedly scribbled on it and handed it in, whereas some of the others (girls, mainly) wrote beautifully and drew nice pictures. I think it was mainly to get a sense of their ability as well as find out a bit about them.

DS is now in Y1 and still not much of a writer. Personally I wouldn't say anything, the teachers are trained to establish ability and differentiate accordingly.

She does sound like she is doing fantastically well.

My DS2 was reading (but not writing) before he started school and I told the teacher. Why? Well mainly because I was BLOODY PROUD What's wrong with that? The teacher noted what I said but she still did her own assessments and then did that teacherly thing of telling ME how well he could read! Yeah well I had noticed . . .

So it will probably do no harm if you do tell her or if you don't, as she will do her own assessments. But you will at least be letting her know that you are proud of your DD and you want her to do well.

If I were you I would phrase it as asking for advice - "how do you think we should encourage DD as she goes into reception."

There will probably be another couple of DCs who can read well in her class, BTW. As well as some who can't even recognise A, B and C.

Thing is, nerfmother, I don't think she's a genius. She's just clicked with reading and writing earlier than some. She can't do a lot of other stuff because she has a physical disability, so has spent her time learning to read and write. She's bright. Not a genius.

Thanks for all the helpful replies. They have weekly induction sessions, but the teacher in the reception class at the moment is moving to Y1, so won't be teaching them. We haven't yet met DD's teacher. She doesn't really do writing at preschool, or if she does she gets her 1-1 to write it and copies over the top, so it doesn't look like she can really do it herself.

I can probably persuade DD that she wants to show her new teacher, so I can claim it was her idea and not look like a troublesome parent!

im a reception teacher and i would say mention it to her but she will be doing her own assessments too. part of foundation stage involves observations of the children's learning from home. you are her first teacher afterall.

Barebranch, you should use proper punctuation, especially if you're a Reception teacher.

Valuable contribution there learnandsay

Thank you barebranches and Euphemia . I absolutely understand she will be assessed at school. I would expect nothing less.

And learnandsay , I assumed barebranches was using the MN app which, for some strange reason, does not capitalise the first letter of a sentence. I was perfectly happy with the response and read what she said, rather than being pernickety.

If you have a meeting with the teacher and the head (as a matter of routine) then there's a chance that they're actually interested in what the child can do. It doesn't mean that they are interested but they could be. I can't see why a head teacher would spend her valuable time meeting YR children if it was to then ignore everything she'd heard about them. I'd say there's a sporting chance she wants to know about the new children starting in her school. (Good on her too. Can she come to our school?)

Your daughter sounds fantastic OP. Ah, that is lovely. I would certainly bring in the work. You don't sound pushy at all to me. Best of luck to her in her new school.
The teacher will certainly assess pupils on arrival and I am sure will pick up on her ability.
I think you should be very proud and it shows how she can shine regardless of physical ability. Well done to her!

The head is very interested in YR children - we have had to visit the school a few times to make sure it is suitable physically for DD and it feels very much like a big family. The head has already chatted to DD, and knows she can read a bit. There will only be about 22 children in YR, so it's not such a chore to meet with them all. :) And no, learnandsay , you can't have her!

fuck of learn

i mean off.... sorry didnt realose this was a spelling and grammer forum.