Ds in reception - should I ask for differentiated work?

[Roseylea]

I hmmed and hahed over whether to post this in G&T or on here...

Ds is 3.5 (I know, I know....!) and started reception in Sept. He's v. bright, adores books, is v. good with computers, puzzles etc. His reception teacher said at the consulattion last half term that he has the potential to do fansatically well academically.

The last few evenings I've been asking him to "sound out" words and he's able to do any three or four letter words that are phonetic (although he hasn't got "blends" yet). He can sound out his name and rhyme anything pretty much, and add up any combination of numbers up to five (sorry if this sounds like I'm boasting - I knind of am but I also want to guage whether this is good for his age or not really).

So far in his reception class they haven't started phonics yet - so what I'm wondering is whether I should ask for him to be started on this work as he's obviously ready and able to do it. As I asid he adores books so it'd be no hardship to him to do some book-work in the afternoons - he'd love it.

What do you think? I don't want to be a pushy mum, but I do want ds to get the most out of school and I don't want him to get bored. Any thoughts?

How come he started reception age 3.5 when legally I thought all children couldnt start school until after their 4th birthday?

Is this reception (which they normally start at age 4?) or a nursery class?

If the latter then I wouldn't worry and would just let him continue at home.

In the former, then I assume your child must have maanged to start a year early somehow. If a reception class I am suprised they are not doing letter sounds, and easrly reading at the very least. I would probably go in and ask about it.

But at 3.5 years old it needs to be learning through play, whether reading, writing, maths or whatever. Keep it fun, let him lead the way, no pushing, no pressure. Do as much as he wants and stop the minute he wants to.

If he is bored it will be obvious to you I would think.

personally at this early stage, I'd just be glad that he's settled into school and is happy

Not just in relation to your ds, but I think it is pretty poor for ALL the children in the class if they haven't started phonics yet.
Mine is older (5) and is a reasonably bright boy, but at the top end of normal, rather than gifted or exceptional. He is being stretched a bit by the teacher this half term, but one of my worried was him getting bored - however while he may be a bit bored by some of the number work, this is a very small part of what they are doing - and he loves the playing!
Does your ds seem bored? If so I would try and get to the bottom of that boredom and address that with the teacher.

I was also wondering if it was a nursery class, although the OP did say reception. Be useful if the OP could clarify this.

Ooops sorry! It is nursey, although in this school they merge nursery and reception into one "foundation stage" - so I'm always getting muddled up about what class he's in!

I take the point that he's v. young to be hot-housed - but if a young child shows a lot of instinct and enjoyment for language (which I think my ds does), why not lead the way? It is not a bit artificial to wait until he's a bit older to teach him things he'll really enjoy? Just some ponderings really...

Your child is being taught by professionals - they would be the first people I would speak to. You would not tell your Doctor that you needed an operation, would you? Why do you think you know better than the people who are qualified to educate him?

reception and nursery (age 3-5) are foundation stage, not just at your school.
no harm at leading the way, do it at his pace, but whether it should be done at nursery? imo the socialisation and playing are more important at that age for that nursery time.

The reason he is not doing any more is because he is in nursery not reception. How many hours a week does he go? I think you should be leaving nursery to do what they are doing, and just go at DS's pace at home.

ChipButty....you'd be amazed......

Most children with particular talents in this area learn to read with just a little encouragement from home at this sort of age, so I wouldn't be stressing for school to do any more.

The Foundation Stage goals are far more important for him to be tackling, and learning social skills, and getting along with other children.

I don't think Foundation Stage is about 'academic' things in the way you mean, but if he is bright in this are then just allow him to develop at his own pace at school and at home, and I'm sure he'll soon be flying.

How many hours a week is he at nursery?

if you wanted to do extra reading at home with him, then that would be up to you but I cant see how 1 teacher (and poss 1 TA?) would have time to sit down with your ds and teach him individually when there 30 other lively children wanting to play....

x posts with the others!

Read to him lots and lots. Make sure he's got lots of books. Then just let him play. He won't be bored - they do tons of stuff in Reception - there's water to play with, playdough to squish, footballs to kick, dolls to torture and scooters to ride. Le him be little while he can - he'll grow up before you know it anyway.

If he's a bright boy, then he will pick it up easily. I think it is far far more important that you actively make sure his nursery year is full of playing, creating, getting messy in the garden, and learning how to enjoy himself. He's got the rest of his life to learn Jolly Phonics, and reading, but this precious time only comes once.

It's nursery - it's for play IMO. And learning how to socialise, take turns, behave in a school setting, do organised activities. School starts early enough in this country.

If you want to encourage him in more academic stuff like reading then I'd do it at home. But I would still stress the importance of letting him lead with no pushing from you.

i do understand your feelings - my ds1 has special needs at the opposite end of the scale and i'm always worrying that i'm not doing enough at home and concerned that school understand his complex needs.
however, i could read fluently by my 4th birthday and i'm not a genius! i just had a lovely mum who read with me lots and reading was my passion. school really tired me out and the social bit was really the most important learning curve. if he is bored then have a quiet word, but otherwise leave well alone.no harm in lots of fun reading at home - as long as it's fun. someone in the saturday guardian said 'remember the finns'- don't learn to read at school before 6 - far better academic results than the uk!

Roseylea, I'm in a similar situation, but look at it differently.

My ds is 3.9. He knows all his letter sounds, simply from him showing an interest and us talking about it, and I've recently noticed that he can blend and read phonetically regular words by himself.This is great, although not that unusual, and as a Reception teacher in my previous life before SAHMhood, and a big 'phonics first' advocate, I know that it's partly because it's something that I've been confident helping him with.

He goes to nursery 3 mornings a week, and they don't do any formal phonics stuff, and that's fine by me. He goes because he loves seeing other children, socialising and playing, and he gets a huge amount out of it in terms of his social development. I don't want them to start doing formal stuff with him, because despite his obvious interest, there is soooo much more to nursery than that. I'm happy that when he starts Reception I think he'll be very receptive to learning to read.

Instead, I help him and talk to him about it at home, little and often. If I'm reading him a story, and a word crops up that I think he could read, I tell him I'm stuck and we sound it out together. We play the occasional game matching cvc words to pictures. We sometimes use the magnetic letters on the fridge to make words. We look at signs and labels and notices when we're out and about. If I'm writing a list, I pretend to be stuck with simple words and he helps me sound them out etc etc

For me, that's enough. He enjoys it, he's learning but there's nothing too formal about it. You could do lots of these types of things at home. By all means talk to the nursery about the fact that he's showing a real interest, and they may well start doing a little bit with him, but I really wouldn't worry about it much. HTH

THanks for responses!

Computer wasn't playing last night, so I couldn't go onto the internet to read your replies!

Gladbag that sounds like a good approach. In fact this morning we were reading a book together in which a boy was sitting doing his homework and ds said very plaintively, "Mummy, when will I be allowed to do homework?" So I might do a few word games etc at home with him and call it "homework" to make him feel big! (His big sis does homework and he always comes over and has a good nose!)

He goes to nursery every morning, for 3 hours. He absolutely loves it. There are some really sweet other little boys in his class and he loves all the messy play (esp. sand - he's got a thing about sand...!)

Chipbutty I'm a teacher too! (Albeit secondary.) So it's natural that I'll want to take an active part in my dcs' eduaction and also to be able to assess reasonably well where they are in terms of learning.

Message withdrawn