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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Should I be concerned about this comment from dd's teacher

70 replies

galaxy · 27/04/2008 15:04

My dd is half way through her reception year and I have been mithering over a comment that her teacher made at last Parent's evening regarding the school's ability to meet her needs.

She is extremely bright in both maths and English and has a very inquisitive nature. She seems to absorb facts like a sponge. Her reading age is that of a 7 year old (according to her teacher). She's bringing home the Oxford Press books level 4b and finding them far too easy. I've not said anything to the school as she actually enjoys the stories but she is currently reading the Rainbow Fairies series at home at the weekends.
The comment her teacher made was that she is concerned that "when she gets to year 1/2" the school may struggle to supply her with reading material that will stimulate her whilst being age appropriate".

The school don't run a G+T program but do have above average SATS results so I'm not concerned about that. However, I am concerned that she may become bored as time goes on.

We're not pushy parents although very proud of her of course but should I be concerned or just wait and see what happens as she progresses?

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Original poster

galaxy · 27/04/2008 15:35

oops...not checking my spelling before I press post

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BreevandercampLGJ · 27/04/2008 15:37

Galaxy.....

Reception nearly over, and we have yet to meet.

Is she with RAC or RSC ?

Original poster

galaxy · 27/04/2008 15:42

RAC. How's your ds getting on?

Are you going to the carnival meeting on Monday? I may or may not be. dd is undecided about taking part - she is worried about the amount of walking and wants to watch the actual procession!

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BreevandercampLGJ · 27/04/2008 15:57

I am going to the meeting, I am not involving DS, will work behind the scenes then enjoy the carnival IYKWIM.

Now on the subject of RAC I could write a book.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 27/04/2008 16:04

Don't worry too much. dd was a fluent reader at that age and read the lion the witch and the wardrobe when she was in year R. School coped by letting her bring in her own books practically from the start.

One thing to ensure though is that your dd does keep reading out loud to you. Its very tempting to let fluent readers get on with it by themselves but they do need to keep practising reading for an audience (a very different skill to reading to yourself) and just checking that they understand what they are reading. Some kids are excellent decoders but struggle to understand all the vocab and follow a complex story.

mumoftwo37 · 27/04/2008 16:10

Galaxy I have found Redhouse good for childrens books - you can get whole sets for a fraction of the amount in the shops. www.redhouse.co.uk

Original poster

galaxy · 27/04/2008 16:13

Really. Was ds in her class? Another mum told me that didn't think much of her (no helped by the fact that on 1st parents evening, she seemed to be struggling to recall who the child was)!

She seems really nice and dd adores her - dd is insistent she wants to go into Mr E's class for Y1!

I don't think I can commit to helping out with the carnival prep.. I hardly have enought time to be a home with work stuff at the moment so taking on anything else will be impossible.

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Original poster

galaxy · 27/04/2008 16:17

OYBBK - thanks for your comments. dd does read her books to me although she also reads to herself as well. She also insists on writing whenever she can - including the shopping list which can make for an interesting shopping trip!

MOT37 - I know Redhouse welll thank you! They are a sister company to Book People. They also do well from my impulse purchasing! Both are great for birthday presents as well. I bought packs of books and split them as "party Favours" at dd's last birthday party.

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collision · 27/04/2008 16:20

Popsy...it was reading one of your threads last time that prompted me to get Magic treehouse for DS1. we have just finished the first one about dinosaurs.

BreevandercampLGJ · 27/04/2008 16:21

DS loved her, but what you need to remember is that there is no love lost between her and LH, she was moved busted down from either year 2 or 3 to reception.

She told me DS could not read at the end of reception, I told her he hates the rubbish you are giving him, stretch him a bit.

She replied, no point.

I took matters into my own hands and twixt the reels and the jigs he is now in Yr 2 with a reading age of 9.

There was another scenario, which is too long to go into here, but she was basically taking the side of the socially disadvantaged child. The child had little fucker itis and it was interesting to note that when he left in YR1 my DS soared.

Ignore her, you do not have long to go.

Mr E is brilliant from what I have heard, however Mrs M is also fab.

Hope to see you soon.

I drop on a Friday, what days are you there ??

Original poster

galaxy · 27/04/2008 16:36

I didn't know about her history!

I don't have a regular drop day and dh does most of them but this week am dropping Tuesday as working from home and Friday before I head into London. Friday's 1st meeting not scheduled until 1pm at the moment - do you fancy meeting up for a chat at coffee shop by the station (not FO as that's now closed).

Will check back later as have to do dd's school reading book with her now!

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NotABanana · 27/04/2008 16:40

My DD is 4 and can read practically anything you give her. Her teacher told me they didn't know what to do with her and she is allowed 2 school books a week. Her teacher is lovely but it has annoyed me. I have asked several times and written in her book but all I got was it has changed since DS1 was in Year R and she can't have more books as the other mothers might not like it. Roll on year 1 when she might actually get books that don't take 3 seconds for her to read.

popsycal · 27/04/2008 16:45

Ok
Popsy's guide to young, more-advanced-than-chronological-age-readers.

Read the books sent home from school as routine.
Try M&S fairytale books
Once on around level 5/6 of ORT, try Corgi Pups linked below.
Once they are to easy, try Sprinters series and Magic Tree House series.
Supplement with non-fiction books which interest your child (Kingfisher publications series springs to mind)
Let them read their own choice of books no matter how 'easy'.
Build up stamina by sharing the reading of longer books, like sprinters, to begin with.
Keep reading to them and with them as they are still little

popsycal · 27/04/2008 16:46

too easy

popsycal · 27/04/2008 16:50

Collision - ds1 is reading the Ninja one. He has been desperate to read it as we bought it a while back from a charity shop.....but I insisted he read them in the right order

Caz10 · 27/04/2008 16:51

just wondering if the school meant they might struggle in terms of actually getting the books as oppposed to identifying them? i've sometimes had to shout and fuss a bit to get budget to buy extra books for more able readers in my classes.

BreevandercampLGJ · 27/04/2008 16:53

Friday is fine for me, for a swift one, but how does next Saturday sound for you ?

DS is having lessons at FSC with F Swimming Club, if Saturday was ok for you and 11.00 was a good time, and if the weather was good they are generally setting up in Bs yard at that time.

Was very civilised this weekend.

Other option is to go to the B Hotel and let the children roam about on the back lawn.

suwoo · 27/04/2008 16:54

My DD is a free reader in year one and was only 6 last month. She read up to level 9 at school on ORT before they stopped her and classed her as a free reader. At home, she has just finished Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Is reading High School Musical. I do as another poster says, check her understanding and encourage expression and character voices etc. She is no way G&T, just a fabulous reader- she is only one year ahead in maths .

NotABanana · 27/04/2008 16:55

My 4 year old has been reading Charlie and the chocolate factory for the last couple of weeks!

pointydog · 27/04/2008 17:20

There really is no point buying all teh ORT books for a child to read before starting school, knowing that is exactly what he will be reading at school.

There are so many beautiful books - avoid personal sets of school scheme books.

bozza · 27/04/2008 17:31

I think popsycal's ideas sound good and I have also noted her advice on other threads. I think as long as you supplement what they read with your own/library books it will be OK. DS has gone through phases when the school books were too easy for him but we had our own books to read.

Hulababy · 27/04/2008 17:38

I can't see why any primary school would find it too hard to provide suitable books. Surely they just bring in books from the years aboves, just checking that the story line is okay.

At DD's school the older children in the school are free reading and chose their own books either from school or home - so no chance of running out of options.

Original poster

galaxy · 27/04/2008 18:29

Pointydog. I didn't know that ORT books were what they read at school or I obviously would have chosen something else - why spend the money on something she'll get from school?!

Thanks again all and specially Popsy.

LGHJ, Saturdays are non-starter for me as it's the only family day we have as dh works Sunday so we try to do something together , just the 4 of us.

Sundays are always good as it's just dd and me . But if you're still on for Friday for a quick chat/coffee I'm up for it. dd has her swimming with FSC but 9am.

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Original poster

galaxy · 27/04/2008 18:32

What is wrong with my typing today. Right hand not working properly with spending too much time boxing on the Wii

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silverbirch · 27/04/2008 19:50

This thread is useful for reading material for young fluent readers:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=43&threadid=35909&stamp=040915222132

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