Y3 child finishing classwork quickly- should I ask for extra work to be given?

[Mynameis2]

My year 3 child is finding school work easy and finishes his maths & English quickly. His teacher then tells him (and a few other children) to read a book. I’d prefer for him to be given some extra work sheets - hopefully something a little more challenging!. Do you think it is rude for me to ask the teacher to do this rather than tell him to read a book?

I wouldn’t ask for worksheets as this would not be the best way to provide challenge for a child but your child should be receiving work that challenges him and appropriate challenge / extension activities planned. These could be in a range of forms to develop skills .

It depends how early and how it fits into planning (and I'm assuming getting everything correct and well presented).

Eg. Students finishing quickly and having 5/10 mins before others then sitting quietly enjoying their reading book is absolutely appropriate.
Students finishing with over half the time left and getting it all correct then I would expect there to be some extension material available.

But students finishing their English quickly, having done the bare minimum and not challenged themselves to (for example) make their description interesting and engaging means they should probably be sent back to make their work more ambitious.

I think the quickly thing is tricky, because particularly at primary some children think that finishing first to quickly is the aim, when it doesn't necessarily mean (especially in reading comprehension and extended writing) that what they have produced is their best work.

We see the same in y7 by the way, students who say they're done because they've done the task, written a page etc but actually it's fairly dull so although complete, it's not actually their best work.

Maybe call the teacher to see how they feel he is getting on.

I would say it's a little rude. I would be inclined to trust the qualified professional to be the judge of what should be going on in the classroom. (Also, children often white lies to impress you/please you!)

I have some children who finish very early in my class at the moment. They rush their work in maths, so often make mistakes or miss all of the possible answers in a mathematical investigation. I am encouraging them to slow down and take more care.
Reading for five - ten minutes is a valuable use of time. Nothing is more important than reading.

In many years of being a school governor, I have never seen children reading a book in maths. They are set more challenging work IF they have everything correct and have grasped the concepts. They are challenged. However Y3 is only just beginning. The teacher may not really be aware of what they are, or are not, achieving yet because they have not been assessed.

I don’t see why you cannot ask about him not doing maths in a maths lesson. I would ask if his work is accurate though. The teacher should be checking and should know. Most teachers have more complex work available for the curriculum whether it’s September or July.