Calling all primary school teachers - summer reading for year one

bylromarha

efrieze wrote: »

Incidentally, I just appeared on a TV programme this week...I was the "pushy mum" on the documentary!

Was it you on Cherry's parenting programme? Enrolling for Kumon? I shouted at the TV quite a lot watching the programme...so many parenting extremes that frustrate me on show there, edited to look worse than they are-not least Cherry herself with the 11 hour "bolognaise battle".

BTW DD just read this this morning - nice balance of pics and text.

patchwork_cat

I have just watched the documentary, I think you should not send a note, but talk to the teacher (which would be a good idea anyway considering your aspirations for your dd). You very much remind me of 2 other Oxbridge mums I know. Personally IMO it really doesn't matter as long as you stimulate your child and provide them with plenty of learning opportunities. It is not a race, the cream will always rise to the top. I really would go easier on the ORT as you run a risk of her getting bored. If she makes anything like good progress she will have finished the reading scheme by end of year 3 as she will have a reading age by then of above 11 where the scheme stops.

efrieze

Yes - that was me on the programme. And I admit I am a whole lot worse now than when I was filmed a few months ago. I thought it didn't make me look that bad at all so if you were shouting at the TV at me, you would definitely disagree with me in person!

efrieze

bylromarha wrote: »

Was it you on Cherry's parenting programme? Enrolling for Kumon? I shouted at the TV quite a lot watching the programme...so many parenting extremes that frustrate me on show there, edited to look worse than they are-not least Cherry herself with the 11 hour "bolognaise battle".

BTW DD just read this this morning - nice balance of pics and text.

I loved the bolognaise battle - well done Cherry!

And Kumon is fab - we do English and Maths now

efrieze

patchwork_cat wrote: »

I have just watched the documentary, I think you should not send a note, but talk to the teacher (which would be a good idea anyway considering your aspirations for your dd). You very much remind me of 2 other Oxbridge mums I know. Personally IMO it really doesn't matter as long as you stimulate your child and provide them with plenty of learning opportunities. It is not a race, the cream will always rise to the top. I really would go easier on the ORT as you run a risk of her getting bored. If she makes anything like good progress she will have finished the reading scheme by end of year 3 as she will have a reading age by then of above 11 where the scheme stops.

Thanks for this. I don't this talking to the teachers abot my aspirations for my DD will make any difference and I doubt she wants to hear it anyway. I did meet her at the end of last year and implied that I am very pro education (ie push her really hard) but I didn't get the impression that she really listened to me or would do anything about it. Don't all parents want their children to be pushed as hard as possible and go as far as possible in life - I used to think that they mus, but it surprises me the number of people who simply disagree with me - and I accept that my way is not the only way, it's just the only way I know.

milliebear00001

efrieze wrote: »

Thanks for this. I don't this talking to the teachers abot my aspirations for my DD will make any difference and I doubt she wants to hear it anyway. I did meet her at the end of last year and implied that I am very pro education (ie push her really hard) but I didn't get the impression that she really listened to me or would do anything about it. Don't all parents want their children to be pushed as hard as possible and go as far as possible in life - I used to think that they mus, but it surprises me the number of people who simply disagree with me - and I accept that my way is not the only way, it's just the only way I know.

But what happens if your children don't want to be 'pushed' as you put it? Or if she simply isn't able to live up to your expectations? Have you read the 'tiger mother' book that came out recently? A classic pushy mother who came to acknowledge that she had almost irrevocably damaged her relationship with her daughters. It makes for interesting reading.

In terms of your daughter's teacher, it is likely she's dismissed you as a typical 'helicopter' parent. You are the type that gets discussed in the staffroom and whom the last teacher will warn the next about. Your daughter is entitled to precisely 1/30th of her teacher's time. Some parents forget that. What exactly did you expect the teacher to 'do' after realising you are 'very pro-education'?

efrieze

Firstly, I think I know more what is best for my children than they do. Secondly. I have always said that if my DD resists the pushing, I will have to reassess but at the moment, she is willing and able and a sponge and I want her to progress as much as possible. I don't have specific expectations for her, I just want to give her every opportunity possible/.I am not a tiger mother as such, as I couldn't care two hoots if she is the best swimmer or dancer in her class. I want her to enjoy what she does and gain things from it at the same time.

I don't ask for any more than our share of teacher time. In fact, i make a point of not bothering the teacher (hence the original reason for the thread becasue I don't want to be a pain). I would haev hoped when meeting my daughter's teacher next year and telling them that I am looking forward to proper homework etc she might have said "don't worry, we will be learning a lot next year" or something like that rather than smiling at me and looking away. I would much rather trust the teachers at school than feel that I need to supplement my DD's education outside school.

milliebear00001

efrieze wrote: »

Firstly, I think I know more what is best for my children than they do. Secondly. I have always said that if my DD resists the pushing, I will have to reassess but at the moment, she is willing and able and a sponge and I want her to progress as much as possible. I don't have specific expectations for her, I just want to give her every opportunity possible/.I am not a tiger mother as such, as I couldn't care two hoots if she is the best swimmer or dancer in her class. I want her to enjoy what she does and gain things from it at the same time.

I don't ask for any more than our share of teacher time. In fact, i make a point of not bothering the teacher (hence the original reason for the thread becasue I don't want to be a pain). I would haev hoped when meeting my daughter's teacher next year and telling them that I am looking forward to proper homework etc she might have said "don't worry, we will be learning a lot next year" or something like that rather than smiling at me and looking away. I would much rather trust the teachers at school than feel that I need to supplement my DD's education outside school.

But why do you feel you can't trust her teachers - what evidence is there that they are doing a bad job? I too would have hidden a smile at your desire for homework for a five year old! You need to trust in your daughter. She will do fine given normal support and normal school life. She doesn't need anything extra at this stage.

You say you have no particular expectations, but the fact you are doing all these things that are 'additional' to what is required of most very young children suggests you do have deep seated expectations of her. Why do you think she won't achieve unless you push her?

patchwork_cat

Proper homework in my experience in the state system doesn't start until GCSE years!!

My children would bring home a reading book every night until end of year 1 and then a longer book for 3 nights until end of year 3 and 10 spellings a week, rising to 30 by about year 4/5, once in Juniors they would do a project every half term.

My DS has just completed his A levels and is awaiting his results next week! My DD is in Year 8 and starting her GCSE work at the Grammar school next year. She brings home about 1 to 11/2 hours homework a week, although a lot of it is finishing work from class and as my 2 are quick workers, I think this is why they don't seem to have enough homework!

Children do tend to go a stage backwards after the long summer holidays even with the best will in the world.

When we talked to our DD's reception teacher she told us that there is no advantage in children being any higher than a level 5 at the end of key stage 2 and they do not put children in for level 6 as it doesn't mean anything at secondary school. I really feel that particularly our primary did not cater for gifted children.

If you are a pushy mum I think you will have to have to not care what the teachers think of you and just do what you think best.

efrieze

milliebear00001 wrote: »

But why do you feel you can't trust her teachers - what evidence is there that they are doing a bad job? I too would have hidden a smile at your desire for homework for a five year old! You need to trust in your daughter. She will do fine given normal support and normal school life. She doesn't need anything extra at this stage.

You say you have no particular expectations, but the fact you are doing all these things that are 'additional' to what is required of most very young children suggests you do have deep seated expectations of her. Why do you think she won't achieve unless you push her?

There isn't evidence that they are doing a bad job, but as you say, they have to share the attention with all the other children in the class and I know my child is capable of more than what was asked to do in reception. Capable and willing.

With all due respect to you, you don't know what my daughter needs at this stage. I started her on Kumon because she couldn't recognise that 2 and 4 was 24 and she had done no numeracy at school at all at that stage. I felt she needed to know these basic things. She is also nearly 6.

She is not in a Prep school and i know what they are teaching in prep school is far beyond what she was learning at her school.