Metaliachain, you made me laugh when you send about it driving you potty the constant need for information. My little girl turned 4 last week and started school yesterday. She started reading just before she turned three and is reading really well now. She also constantly asks questions (that sometimes drives me potty) and loves me reading factual books to her. It amazes me what she learns. The other day I told her that her friend had gone to Portugal and she told me that it is next to Spain, which is next to France. I was totally shocked - I don't know where she learned that from.

By the way, I just wanted to let you know that I do fully understand where you are coming from.

Many members may remember my endless messages on here about the content of education, how my son was bored, not given enough to do etc.  Ifyou search on my name, heidih, you will see hundreds of posts, and other peoples responses.

He was given a reading assessment of 10.6 when he was 6, he is now 7.5 and this level has not increased.  I have been told by an external reading expert who visits schools with gifted children, that the test at 6 assesses they can read the words, but the tests require greater detail of knowledge of understanding each year as they get older.

He has a fantastic ability to read big words but more is expected of him now.  His teacher says now that they expect better written content and wider vocabulary in his writing because this assesses better their true understanding.  My son hates to write anything so now he isnt progressing as he was at the age of 6-7. (Have to say he is still in the top sets for everything in his class even though his English (as far as I am concerned) is appalling.  But, he can write the correct endings for plurals, he can spell, and this goes a long way in his work.  Even though he writes the minimum he can get away with, he has developed an excellent way to precis, so is getting away with murder.

SOme parents have said I expect too much, being too harsh etc.  I have backed off now, his teacher is now giving him ability appropriate work and he is much happier in school.  He still has an easier time though than he would in a UK school.   I help in the classroom and Ihave to say, they have a brilliant time, and I am really impressed.  I have learnt so much recently, which I never ever did when I was at school, t

heidih

I think you will need to discuss your child with the teacher

the teacher will be assessing all children - irrespective of what they did previous year they have to have markers and all assessments are at a certain time

some schools do not use higher level reading books, they follow a particular system and dont/wont deviate from it.  For example, some schools do not allow children to go beyond level 8, for example, in the ORT reading books, others encourage children to go through all the books.

In the classroom you will probably find that work will be given at the appropriate level, but probably not at the moment.  Ask to see your childs books.  Ask about the school policies

Just allow your child to continue to read, write, spell, discuss, evaluate, research at home at the level she is happy at

The school my son is at doesnt focus at all on the academic side, its all about learning about the whole person, the world around them, discussion, evaluation, exploration, and in the long term, this is better for the children.  The are encouraged to ask why, understand why things the way they are and not accept "because I said so" scenario. 

At school, the children read plays, as part of their reading, and present them in assemblies, which encourages reading aloud, expression, communication, discussion etc.  They then write about the stories they have read.  This applies to all levels of abilities, including the ones that can barely read to the highest abilities.   They dont have books sent home, but if they do, they have to read them every night.

Schoolkids have a lot of fun at school and learn in all sorts of different ways.  Its hard for us a parents when we see our child being given work that we feel is beneath them.  But the school has to ensure the foundations are laid, understood and fixed before they move on

I am sure that your school will be assessing your child and will give appropriate levels of work shortly, so dont worry.  If she is bored, you must talk to the teacher

Heidih

DD1 is nearly 8 and although she started school unable to read she was reading Charlie and the Chocolate factory by herself by the end of primary 1. In primary 2 she was in a class with 11 primary 3s and 14 primary 2s and by the end of the year her teacher was planning on moving her and another girl into the primary 3 reading group as they were both so far ahead. It didn't happen though as the classes were reorganised and she ended up in a class all at the same stage. Last year (primary 3) we gave up doing her reading homework with her as it was a waste of everyone's time. The teacher knew she and her friend were both very advanced in their reading but didn't seem to want to help them. She has now been back at school for over 2 weeks and we're seeing no improvement so our next step is to speak to the teacher. The other family involved is of a similar mind so we will do it with them.

If I were you I'd make an appointment to see the teacher. One of the buzz words in schools is differentiation. The teacher should be able to give those who need it work that is at their level. I would not be happy if my DD started to get bored. I'd raise your concerns now (in a nice way) so that something can be done quickly before your DD starts to switch off! Ask the school what facilities they have for gifted and talented as they have special needs as well as those who are not performing as well. Good luck. Also remember that you know her really well and the teacher may need some help to understand what she is capable of.

She sounds very similar to my dd who is almost 6.  The constant need for information drives me a little potty, but she is fab one the less.  that is one huge thing they look for when they have a child who is good with reading, and what alot of parents dont understand.

I am sure the teacher will see her abilities once the assessments have been done. 

hi ya she does understand what she reads cause she can be heard laughing along and will often read out a funny passage from a story to us! although she has great reading ability she also has great perception skills, can recite a song back after listening once or twice, can add and take away anything up to 25, learns most things very quickly too.she asks questions all day long and has been teaching baby sis 2, to read her books!

I think it is to early to be overly concerned about the work she is given on the first day.  I know that teachers do have an idea from previous teachers of the levels of the kids in their class but they will want to make their own assessments at the beginning of each year and take it from there, so all kids will be given the same things to make sure they all know the minimum of what is expected.

I know alot of kids do nothing over the six weeks, (reading/writing wise) and their brains often turn to mush for little while and they need a good kick start when back at school.  Teachers dont realise some of us parents do give our kids a bit of stuff to do over the hols.

I don't even listen to my dd read her school reading books anymore, that was back in reception, she was on stage 9 ORT and it was quite frankly boring, so she reads them herself then to her teacher, I listen to her read a chapter from her favourite books at home, such as roald dahl and enid blyton.  I intend to go with the same approach this year with the books she is given although I hope she is take off the ORT and put on free reading.

I have also bought for her the work books from whsmith, in a age 6-7 years for maths and english, she did find most things easy but she learnt alot of new stuff as well, she has self taught herself times tables, division etc with the help of these books, she is also now familiar with the different terms used when dealing with these.  I am now confident she not only reads but understands alot of what she reads as well.  often you will find that some kids who are good with reading are only doing just that, reading he words rather than understanding what they read.

hi i have a DD who is almost 6. she is highly intelligent and is a gifted reader (is reading for age 9-10 level) . she is in senior infants (2nd yr in infant school in ireland) and came home yesterday with her homework folder which had 2 sheets in it for them to revise words that they learned last yr like.... is,can,was.. etc. when she was reading it with me she said 'mam these are all too easy for me and i can always read them so why did teacher give these to me? ' but when i explained that just because she knows them, the rest of the class may not and will have to learn to read them. i fear that she may become very bored and not challenged. i had to hide her schoolbooks before she started school because she would have them all read and worked out before she even started back!   her teacher last yr was the one that pointed out to me her great reading ability, although i always knew she could read well, i thought that all the others in her class could too! until teacher showed me what level the other children were reading i could not believe it. i understand when the school says that they try not to make it seem that she is way beyond others academically, but this could cause her to become bored and think that she doesnt need to do work as she already can do it. how do other parents cope if in this situation?? thanks in advance, lisa.