Advice please: child 'bored' at school

Plans_all_plans

bylromarha wrote: »

R

Is she bringing anything home like spellings or homework? Can you gauge from that if the teacher has her pitched at the right sort of level?

The homework they bring home is stuff that the whole class are sent home with. It is all literacy based so far. She is 4 at the mo. They also have the Oxford Reading Tree books and she is a book or so from the end of stage 6. She reads them with ease (only one word so far she's had trouble with out of all the books) and her comprehension is good. I think she could probably move up a stage in the ORT books, but then the teachers may have hung back on this as they may feel it could test her comprehension too much at this stage.

She is quite good at spelling and she has a good stab at words she doesn't know for definite. There are no spellings from school as yet, though I do the odd one or two at home with her.

I am sure that she has the potential to do more than she is at present, but I just really want her to be happy to be honest and I feel that if everyone pushes her too much (at such a young age as well!) then it might be too much.

meritaten

Plans, its NOT pushing her if she is bored with what she is doing! and if the teacher does think you are pushy (which I doubt) does it matter?

I would definately either have a word right now, before the teacher gets totally caught up in Christmas activities or leave it til January. She is like a little learning sponge right now - you do not want her to decide learning is boring and switch off - that just leads to trouble!

bylromarha

I agree that pushing too much is not good, but not pushing at all is not good either. To reach her potential, she needs the balance and the teacher will know how to get that right.

Don't worry too much about going through ORT - just keep on with a range of books at home (which you're probably already doing!). TBH I find Kipper and co deadly dull, so many more exciting books about which children can access if they have basic reading skills. Keep working on the comprehension as that is just as important as reading the words.

I agree with those who are saying if she's bored still in January, then make sure the teacher knows. Your DD won't tell the teacher herself and teacher will presume all is well. Then teacher can give her a bit more of an in class challenge and hopefully relieve the boredom.

Or she may be like my 2 and just hate reception all year as she doesn't want to learn through playing but wants the teacher to teach her something with a bit of meat on it and then to make her sit and do a page of sums or write something which she is told to write by the teacher. Foundation stage curriculum doesn't really allow for this formality to happen, even though some kids are more than ready for it and want it...

mumps

Some schools are not good with the bright kids, my DD was a good reader before school age. We went to school for a visit before she was due to start and were told she would be starting on prereading skills, basically books with no words. I explained to the teacher that she was reading things like The Secret Seven but she said she would have to do the whole programme like everyone else. We decided not to send her, I think she would have gone mad with boredom. When she got to year six she had a teacher who said she was a nuisance as she did her maths too fast, she was thrilled when her teacher was off for a term and the temporary teacher gave her special work. I hope your school is better at dealing with this, good luck.

FBaby

I think it is not just schools but individual teachers too. My two were lucky to have excellent reception teachers (ironically one in her last year, the other in her first!) who recognised the ability of more able children and made sure they were challenged appropriately. They both progressed very well, however, although my DD had a very good teacher in year 1 too and continued to progress to her level, my DS had a teacher who just didn't bother with more able children. He always came home with books way below is ability, did maths exercises who was able to do even before reception! I did speak to her, but there wasn't much progress this year. He did have a good teacher in Y2 and picked up again, and to my horror, had his Y1 teacher again for y3, but to my surprise, she had really developped as a teacher and turned to be great with my DS that year. He progressed most that year.

I had the same issue with my DD this year starting Y7. The work she was given, despite being different to the rest of the class as much too easy for her. She ended up doing French homework in Maths! I debated whether to bring it up right away with her teacher or wait until after Christmas but decided to send an email to her Head of year. I'm glad I did, I had a great response from him passing it on to the Head of Maths who got back to me within a week, telling me about how they challenged G&T children and I felt much more reassured. Do go and speak to the teacher, your child is entitled to be challenged and learn to her level just like any other pupil.

doodoot

I'm not a teacher but have been volunteering in a Reception class at a local primary school.

I think you should have a chat with the teacher and raise your concerns.

Most of the work done at that level is repetitive to ensure the information is retained, hence why I think you daughter is getting frustrated.

A couple of the children in the class that I've been helping out with are very good at remembering key words and basic literacy/numeracy but they are the exception to the rule - a lot of the children are still struggling to remember the sound of the letter 'a'.

If your daughter is above average, then you should work with her teacher to make her school experience a more enjoyable one.

She sounds like a very bright little girl and it would be a shame if she became restless - I was a quick learner and used to get in trouble because I would distract the others who were slower than me.

Courgette

I wouldn't worry about seemig pushy and I wouldn't leave it until January either. You don't need to make a big deal of it, just ask the teacher how she's doing then mention that your daughter says she finds the work very easy. Perhaps not mention the word 'bored' as it could seem like an unintended criticism but ask teacher how your daughter can be challenged more

Bufger

I was bored all the way through school, i thought that was part of the experience!

pollypenny

I'd talk to her teacher soon, on a friendly basis. After all, kids flourish when there is good team work between home and school.

I'm pretty sure there will some internal grouping soon, the squirrels' table may work faster than the hedgehogs.