kellyjamie Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Hi all, My daughter has been placed into year one here as she missed the cut off point for yr 2 by 5 days. But coming form Scotland where she was in primary 2, the work she is doing here is easy for her. she towers above the other kids in her class, and is finding it a little hard to relate to the other girls in class. She has friends in the street we live in who are yr 2 and yr 3 and relates and communicates far more easily with them. Her teacher has told me she is on the highest reading level shes allowed to be in yr 1 and that she will find this year very easy but will level out next year! this isnt really what we would expect, for us thats not a great answer. I have a meeting with the head today about possibly putting her up to yr 2...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickled Pink Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Change schools? others may be more accommodating. Or could private education be a possibility? likely to be far more flexible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harpodom Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Hi, its one of those differences in primary education here: a more 'leisurely' pace of learning compared to the UK. Personally I think its a good thing, though I totally understand where you're coming from. At least she didn't have to endure the kinder program which IMO IS largely a waste of time for all concerned How old is she? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellyjamie Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share Posted March 4, 2013 Hi guys, she's 6 and IM not just saying this but she's pretty smart even back home she was on the higher levels. She said the other day maths bored her because they are using blocks to count and she's done that and doesn't need them. She's reading books for recommended ages 7/8 . It worries us she will get bored with learning and lose interest. I will give the school a chance today when we first went all they were concerned with was her birth very for age the deputy head who held the interview didn't even look at her work she said give it to the class teacher who then told me when I asked my daughter is at a higher level but she can't teach her any higher as she needs to stay in line with the class. I would like to see what work they are doing in yr 2 and if I get no joy I'll see about private Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Look for a school that does mixed classes, but really you have to remember that this is a totally different education system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Hi all, Her teacher has told me she is on the highest reading level shes allowed to be in yr 1 I don't understand this approach to reading at all. My grandson was in yr 1 (and age 6) last year, but was reading 3 years ahead of his peers. The books his class are given progress in difficulty and each child masters them at his/her own pace before going on to the next. I can't see why there should be a problem with this - reading is, after all, an individual activity. They should also have the flexibility for children to proceed at their own pace with maths if they are ahead of the core group. If the school can't manage to be more flexible, I would certainly look around for one which can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harpodom Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Hi guys, she's 6 and IM not just saying this but she's pretty smart even back home she was on the higher levels. She said the other day maths bored her because they are using blocks to count and she's done that and doesn't need them. She's reading books for recommended ages 7/8 . It worries us she will get bored with learning and lose interest. I will give the school a chance today when we first went all they were concerned with was her birth very for age the deputy head who held the interview didn't even look at her work she said give it to the class teacher who then told me when I asked my daughter is at a higher level but she can't teach her any higher as she needs to stay in line with the class. I would like to see what work they are doing in yr 2 and if I get no joy I'll see about private Ultimately it depends on which approach you want to take. You have 2 options as I see it. 1. Go with the flow and accept that she'll lag behind her peers in the UK (for the time being, but not by the time they get to 11/12). You could be doing stuff at home to keep her stimulated. But remember that there is more to primary school than maths and reading. or 2. Move her up a year If it was me (we have a boy same age as your daughter, also in year 1) we have/would do option 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal2 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I'm not sure whereabouts you are, but at my daughter's school they adapt the reading level to the child, there's no such thing as the highest level for the year, some parents sent in home books to read, however, she will need to pass the comprehension test before being moved up and that can confuse some children at first as it's different to the UK Cal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellyjamie Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share Posted March 4, 2013 Thankyou everyone for your advice I'll see what the headteacher recommends today maybe staying in yr one with some extra work maybe th e way forward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickled Pink Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Ultimately it depends on which approach you want to take. You have 2 options as I see it. 1. Go with the flow and accept that she'll lag behind her peers in the UK (for the time being, but not by the time they get to 11/12). You could be doing stuff at home to keep her stimulated. But remember that there is more to primary school than maths and reading. or 2. Move her up a year If it was me (we have a boy same age as your daughter, also in year 1) we have/would do option 1. I have to say I totally agree with this. At this age, there is so much more to learn than just the academic side. If a child is going to excel, then they will - but at year 11-12 is the place they really need to do this. If the appitude is there then it isn't going to ebb away. I have seen lots of children burnout (in the UK system) because the expectations put upon them just become a bit overwhelming. Kids should just have time to be just that, discover, learn and become well rounded little people. One thing I hate about the UK system is everything seems to be about exams and targets SATS almost every year, mock GCSE's, then GCSE's, then A1's, then A2's, then (if they go to Uni) exams every year... Many schools in the UK now actiavely encourage taking additional GCSE's early... I feel its too much. I personally would welcome a more laid back system for the younger ones. Whilst I could be free to encourage them further at home if they showed they wanted to. But, this is a very subjective thing, and this is purely my take on it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob1 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 the highest reading level shes allowed to be in yr 1 This strikes alarm bells for me. There should be no such thing - the work is differentiated at both ends - adapted for the poor ones, and stretched for the brighter ones, particularly in Year 1. I blame the teacher - I hope you reported what she said to the Principal? There should be some open ended work where she can be extended, so for example poor readers colour in a work sheet about ants and label legs and count them, and bright ones find some interesting facts about them to write down and share with the class. Any decent teacher would be doing that sort of teaching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest74886 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Hi . You have just had your first run in with the bureaucratic thinking which controls how everything is done here in Australia from controlling when the dam gates on the reservoirs can be opened when the country has the worst floods in its history to which children are allowed in which class, its an irrelevance as to how smart you are only whether you were born 24 hours before that cut off date. "She'll be right mate" and if I do what the instruction manual says no one can blame me and I don't have to tire my brain out with having to think about this one!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy1 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I don't quite believe that a Teacher would tell you that your daughter is at the highest reading level allowed in year 1 - there is no such thing. However, if that really is the case then bring that up when you have the meeting with the Principal and the Classroom Teacher. You will find every single classroom has a huge range of abilities - whichever country you living are in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northshorepom Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I'd be inclined to follow Harpo's option A personally. This is one of those things that happens in the change between systems and at primary level, I think you're better just going with the flow and keeping her with her age peers. I think if you pushed really hard to move her up (which is not the done thing here) you might get a better academic outcome, or feel you had, but you'd run the risk of creating other issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKC Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I am surprised that the teacher stated that she was at the highest reading level 'allowed'. My daughter has just gone in to year two, and is a very good reader. She just went up and up in reading levels, until she had finished all of the home reading books for all years (part way through year one) and was allowed to have extra library books for free reading instead. Unfortunately her new year two teacher put her back on to the home readers, so I wrote a very long list of all of the other books she has read over the past week at home, which I hope will illustrate her ability so that she is put back on to free reading. If I were in your situation I don't think that I would want to put my daughter up a year, as I would want her with the correct age group, but I would definitely be seeing someone about her reading levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I think it depends on the child. If she's happy and making friends and all is calm and good , then that is the best transition you can hope for. This approach didn't work for my son yr 4 , who found he was bored and even picked on for being bright. Judge how happy your child is I'd say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 In all honesty though, even in the UK children are rarely put up in age groups, In year 4 my daughter had the reading age of a 13 year old and the teacher no longer gave her spellings what she did was encourage her to read different sorts of books and establish the meaning of more difficult words. So it may be that the compromise is different reading - children need to develop socialisation with their peers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I would also go with the flow instead of making her stand out by being different. They have to have a cut off date somewhere and there are always some children that will be nearly a year older than some other children and then there are a whole load of them in between as well. You have changed countries and changed education systems, I think it will be more beneficial for you and her to try to adapt and fit in. You can give her whatever books she wants outside school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I know where you are coming from. I accept that the systems are different. For example we came into Prep Year when DS had done 6 months in Reception. Compared the UK it wasn't "academic" at all and I accepted this completely even though he has gone backwards in his writing, maths skills etc (his reading has kept up as he wanted to do that at home and we managed to get readers from the school to continue his level). They did lots of work on confidence etc which was great. However now he has gone into Year 1 it seems like they are looking to get them all to an "acceptable standard" rather than tayloring to the individual. For example they are all bringing home the same homework - eg Circle 6 balls, circle 5 trains. They are all bringing home the same sight words (that are very basic). They are all doing the same tasks in school which seem to be aimed at the lowest children again. It is basically a shock when we came from a school that really did work to their strengths etc. They were put into reading groups for children on similar levels etc and it really worked. To me, it is different to simply accepting a different "education system". I think any education system should challenge the children whether it be academically, socially etc. I am more than happy to support learning at home but think that it is all it should be - supporting not actually having to do the challenging. I have found quite a lot of "well, that's how it's done" thinking when anything has been questioned even if it doesn't always make much sense! Like the school were initially very reluctant to let DS have readers in Prep (even though he could read and was really keen to carry it on which I thought was great) as "we don't let them have readers until Year 1". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kellyjamie Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share Posted March 4, 2013 Just seen the principal and she was excellent. The Learning support teacher was th ere also. They said it's quite hard to place UK kids as the curriculum doesn't always marry up great. They want Megan to be challenged with work so will assess / test her level tomorrow and see what they think is best for her. If not moving her to yr 2 is best they will advise staying in yr one with extra work so we will see what they say tomorrow.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob1 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Take notes of what was said and date it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harpodom Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Take notes of what was said and date it! sorry but don't you think this approach is just a bit..OTT? she's only 6 FFS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Take notes of what was said and date it! Mmmm just a bit too defensive. Talk about starting a negative relationship! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harpodom Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Mmmm just a bit too defensive. Talk about starting a negative relationship! I agree. IMO, at this age, school should be a fun and positive experience. If you're getting into the realm of 'taking notes' etc, its just going to ramp up anxiety levels all round. Not least the child in question! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Just seen the principal and she was excellent. The Learning support teacher was th ere also. They said it's quite hard to place UK kids as the curriculum doesn't always marry up great. They want Megan to be challenged with work so will assess / test her level tomorrow and see what they think is best for her. If not moving her to yr 2 is best they will advise staying in yr one with extra work so we will see what they say tomorrow.... The thing is though - if they move her up a year she'll probably still end up repeating a year so to speak as she won't be able to start HS until her cohort do. Better to repeat now than when she's older. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.