Those of you with kids in reception

[LoopaDaLoopa]

How are they getting on in terms of reading and writing etc?

We are not in uk and DD should be in reception but is not reading at all and barely writing. Was considered v bright before we moved away but now, see that friends' kids are far more advanced.

[Mittensonkittens]

Ds (4.4) could write his name, read CVC words, knew all his letter sounds, could count to 20 and do simple Maths before starting school.

He is now attempting to write other words and sound out words ( he wrote n-i-t under his picture of a knight! Made me laugh but not a bad phonetic attempt), can count to 30 and I have taught him all his number bonds to 10 at home using numicon. I think he is probably average or maybe just below average in his class.

[pyrrah]

DD's school in London uses Reading Recovery as their main scheme not just as a short-term intervention. Works very well looking at their amazing results given over 70% EAL in a very un-mc area.

IIRC, there was a pilot project or something in London and quite a few schools have stuck with it.

[Iamnotminterested]

Has anyone else noticed on threads like this that it's always the parents with children who are ahead who love to list what their super-child can do but then go on to say the usual "don't worry, OP, they all progress at different rates and they all get there in the end" type bollocks?

[Iris445]

^^ Op is concerned her v bright child is behind. I think she wants to know what bright children can do.

I didn't say don't worry, I would worry if my children fell behind their peers. All depends who classified her as bright and what Op's expectations were.

[LittleRobots]

Mittens -my daughter is similar but rather unusual in her class for being at that stage.

Most are writing names, counting to ten, practicing taking shoes on off, etc.I do think different co horts are different. Also many countries don't start so early. I struggle between ideologically wanting her to play more and also wanting her not to coast while the others learn their sounds!

[LoopaDaLoopa]

Thank you all.

I am concerned because we might choose to go back into the UK system next year or the year after. DD will not have learned to read unless we teach her until about xmas 2014. I think this is fine if we stay in the current system, but not if we return (but want to keep our options open - it's not always as easy as selecting where you live based on school).

Before we came here, when DD was just turned 3, she could say alphabet, recognise all letters, count to 100. Now, a year and a half later, she can... do the same! Is this normal?

Many thanks

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

Very bright does not equal learning to read/write very quickly. It frustrated me that people think it does.

If your child is enjoying school and excited about what they are doing then that is perfect - that shows a stimulating, fun learning environment . Exactly what you want and need for all children, bright, average or struggling.

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

X post.

Yes, that can be quite normal.

I don't know about transferring between countries, I take it you are in one where they start formal learning when kids are older? What kind of learning do they do up to that point? Will the teachers support you if you want to teach her to read now? I don't see why you shouldn't if she is interested, for what it's worth.

[Jaynebxl]

If your child isn't currently in the uk system is she actually in an anglophone school? If not that has an impact too.

[LittleRobots]

Sounds normal. When you say she knows her letters - here they will be learning phonics, so learning 'mmm' instead of 'muh'.

[LittleRobots]

Sounds normal. When you say she knows her letters - here they will be learning phonics, so learning 'mmm' instead of 'muh'.

[Iris445]

Tewi, sorry but I disagree. A bright child will learn to read independently.
A bright child will not coast along. A bright child begs to learn to read, pesters people to show them how to break the code if they can not.

Lots of research points to early milestones as the key to identifying very bright / gifted children.

Maybe your definition of bright is different to mine.

[Jaynebxl]

Actually I agree with Tewi. I've taught some very bright children who were very quick mathematically, had a great knowledge and understanding of the world and were great st anything scientific yet weren't so interested in reading and writing so didn't make huge progress in that area for a long time.

[mrz]

Some bright children may learn to read independently but many bright children will struggle with reading Iris. It's a fact bright children can and do have difficulties with reading

[GuinevereOfTheRoyalCourt]

Dc3 is currently in reception and probably doing less than everyone has described thus far. Despite excellent fine motor skills (can copy letters beautifully) she still can't consistently write her name let alone with correctly formed letters. She can count to ten but can't always recognise all of them and certainly can't order them. Adding, subtracting, what? Er no... She "usually" remembers single letter sounds and has just started getting 1+ reading books but not really getting anywhere with blending. In fact I'm pretty sure she doesn't even understand the point of learning to read as yet.

Fortunately I've been here twice before. Neither of my previous dc did very much or showed much promise early on either. But I know that when/if the penny drops children can suddenly and unexpectedly leap forward. I had to wait both times until yr2, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit to huge amounts of worrying until it happened. Third time round I'm determined to stick my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la!

If your dc 'seems' bright that's probably a better indicator of future potential than what she's actually doing just yet.

[EmeraldJeanie]

I find Guinevere that I am far more relaxed with ds 2 than ds1- and lazy!
Really wanted ds1 to be able to read as he started Reception and he could do more than ds2 but then I pushed more.
My ds on 1st level books and relies on pictures and memory rather than reading as such. Cliche though it is I have learnt now that education is a marathon and not a sprint. I find that thought reassuring....

[thegreylady]

Just a quick update on the books I mentioned upthread.They are called Dandelion Launchers and there are 10 'levels' with 4 books at each level. They are real confidence givers and are for 'beginners' at reading.
Dgs [4.8] has just finished level9 which was 'Stop the Pram'.
HTH

[mrz]

Stop the Pram is roughly red book band - the Dandelion books are great early reading books

[Badvoc]

Ds started in sept and can write his name, his brothers name, mum etc
He is quite good with numbers too...knows our house number etc
He is reading simple reading books ORT level 2.
He knows all his letter sounds.
He is getting Better at blending and sounding out.
He is in the top phonics group (whatever that means)
He seems happy which is the main thing for me tbh.

[thegreylady]

Thanks mrz sorry I got muddled and defensive earlier. I get a bit confused with modern educational terminology. When I started it was all 'look and say' and phonics was a big no no. There were also experiments with the dreaded ITA. I think the present methods are great in comparison.

[mrz]

No problem pleased you are enjoying the Dandelion books ...they are really popular with our pupils and their parents.

[simpson]

I did not realise that PM books are reading recovery books.

DD has brought one home this week (for half term) at PM level 22 which means nothing to me. Are these books not meant to be used as a reading scheme then?

[pyrrah]

Definitely not true that very bright children always learn to read early etc.

My DH was reading fluently at 3 and a total whizz at numbers (mother kept a diary so not mis-remembering). His older brother couldn't even talk at 3 and didn't read till he was 5.

Both got solid runs of A* at GCSE and A grades at A-level. One went to Oxford, the other to Cambridge.

Many very bright kids do learn to read early, but a child who doesn't isn't necessarily not equally bright.

Some children are also much more interested in mastering social skills than sitting in a corner with a book. I was the latter and frankly being more gregarious would have served me much better in life than being able to read Narnia at 5...

[ThermoLobster]

DD1 has settled well, getting used to PE and going to the hall for lunch, has made lots of friends and is eager to learn. She is happy and therefore so am I.