Effect of Early Learning when Child Reaches School

[Fludo]

My daughter is 21 months and we've been taking a very relaxed approach to learning to read.  Using the Doman Method loosely, and have started phonics, just learning the sounds of the letters of the alphabet.  She can recognise 20-30 words and really loves it. She also knows her colours and a few shapes.

I am really excited about what she's able to learn already, and I wasn't worried about her being ahead of others at school (in my opinion, she's a really bright little girl and will be ahead whether I teach her anything intentionally or not!), until I read a conversation on facebook about a teacher complaining that some prep teachers were giving the kids readers to take home (age 4 and a half to 5 and a half).  I asked her how many kids can already read before prep and she said only a few (and that they had been "forced" in another state of Australia) and that they are now "burnt out" and "switched off".

So I'm wondering, if my daughter can already read to some extent and do basic math before she gets to school, is she going to be a "problem child" in the classroom - be inattentive, disruptive, and then hate learning???  How hard is it for the the teacher to give her more advanced work if needed?  Does this ever happen?

Sorry this is a long post.  Just wondering what others' experiences have been once their children reach school.  I don't want to home school for a variety of reasons, but mostly because I believe the social interaction at school is really important and my husband and I both work.

Thank you.

[hypatia]

I could read when I started shcool. I remember my mum telling me to let the other kids a chance to reply if I knew the answer. I remember quite well learning maths and all the other activities like personal care etc.. but not reading! I must have been bored and switched off. I know it wasn't possible to skip grades in that school at the time.
I think the only way to go would be to find a school where children are learning to read & maths earlier than other school. Or homeschool her?

[shadah]

  I was bored in Kindergarten. But, my first grade teacher had about 6 students that were more advanced. She gave us different work in math and reading. We also had challenge projects. My second grade teacher acquired third grade books for me and another student. We were also teacher's helpers, ran errands, etc. In third grade I was placed in a combination third/fourth class. Fourth- sixth grade I was sent to a gifted class once a week.
  I was bored in the regular classes. But, I could look forward to being out of the classroom one day a week. It made the rest bearable. School was still incredibly boring, but most of my teachers, even the ones who were horrible worked something out.My 5th grade teacher would send me to the library the minute school started and not expect me back until lunch. In 6th grade I taught two subjects for the teacher. She had me making lesson plans, presenting it to the class, and grading everything.
  After that teacher my parents realized I was wasting my time going to school. I was home-schooled.

[Niniedney]

Where do you live? My husband and I were talking to a neighbor the other day. He has a few grandkids who were able to read before they started school and they were bumped up a grade. They do that regularly now. And if the school doesn't mention it I'm sure you will insist on it. And for good reason. Parents like us try to give our kids stimulation all the time. And when they go to school and recieve no real stimulation they get bored and start to hate school. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just look for a good school.

[Fludo]

I'm in Brisbane, Australia.  The other bad thing is daughter just misses the cut off to start school, so has to wait another year - she'll be the oldest in the class!  I think they are pretty strict about starting early here.

[NBailey]

We also live in Australia. Our son is born in May and the cut off is in April so he will also be one of the older ones in class. He isn't even 2 yet, but school issues will probably be a concern closer to school age. I do sometimes think about all the things he has learned so far and how rapidly he learns new things. I can't imagine what he will know when he is 6. I guess we will just have to find a great school who will be able to provide him with appropriate challanges. My husband and I both work full time so home schooling is not an option. All I know is we will continue to do what we are doing as we surely won't stop any early education in order to conform with others. I do believe that our son has benefited from early education. He seems to be able to communicate more easily with a larger vocabulary than his peers and we are able to reason with him more easily as a result.

[L and J]

I know that in the United States there are special schools for children who are advanced, but I do not know which and the requirement that the child can go to those schools. I live in Virginia in the United States and have taught my daughter to read from 8 months (without success in the beginning) now she can read 44 words in Portuguese, some in English and some Spanish. but my husband started to worry and said I should teach more English than Portuguese, since we live in a country whose language and English. If I continue to teach Portuguese, and encyclopedic knowledge in Portuguese, will she have problem when I start school? I do not want to homeschooling my children because I believe that I am not able because I have no discipline.
And if I teach in English, how do I deal with the situation that she entered the school already know? I'm really confused.

[teachermom]

I am writing now as a parent and a teacher. It really depends on the classroom, the teacher and the school. In private school, I taught multi-age classes which works out really well for gifted students if they are in the lower grade because then they can also learn with the older students. In this school, because of the way the grades were arranged, I always had to plan well for activities for students who were more advanced. I always had activities students were supposed to do if they finished early. In lesson planning, though, I was taught (in school) to plan goals that everyone would reach and then some that only a few (more advanced) might reach. So, for example, once all the students finished the mandatory 5 questions, there might be a 6 and 7th question or activity the more advanced students could do and would usually enjoy because it was more creative.  I hope that makes sense.

Now, as a parent, what can you do? I would try to communicate with the teachers as much as possible about having activities in the classroom for gifte or more talented children.  It can be anything from worksheets and workbooks (least desirable) to writing and computer activities.We always had lots of CDs for the computer (Magic schoolbus, encyclopedias or anything related to the theme we were working on at the time), a writing centre, a reading centre/library, etc so no one ever had reason to be bored.

[teachermom]

Sorry, wasn't finished . . . toddler in my lap learning with me, .

Because each student had a writing portfolio too, they could work on that as well. All students had a required amount of writing material they had to do but they could always do extra and there were ideas in the center. As a parent, you could look for activities, learning games, computer games (if they have one in the classroom or let your child use one elsewhere) that children can use once they are done.  Books, magazines, etc for reading are easy to have for your child as well.  YOu could also may packets of activities each month/week as needed that your child can complete once they are done in school (did this once for one of my nephews).

I don't remember elementary school so much but I did leave the classroom for gifted/talented classes though I don't remember how often. When I did my student teaching in college, I remember, some classes were grouped my ability.  So, you may have to do some research on the school your child would attend to see if she has any options but I wouldn't stop teaching her.  I have this same concern now teaching my daughter especially with the schools where I live. If anything, she can go to to the library or read, read, read on her own. Reading independently does wonders for the achievements of children.

[teachermom]

Also, make sure to be an advocate for your child.  Have a presence in your child's school but make it a positive one. If your child or their classroom needs things, if you can, volunteer to buy them and make sure those things will benefit your daughter. For example, one of my parents (of a more gifted child) bought our class a printer which the advanced students were able to use more to print out their published writing.  So, when most students only were able to publish a few pieces during their alotted time or in the computer lab, the ones who finished early could always work on their writing on the computer in the class, for example. Also, in general, teachers tend to look out more and make special arrangements or passes for students whose parents they have a relationship with. It's just human nature to have more of a vested interest in children whose parents you KNOW care or seem to care more than parents that you say, never see. 

Hope that makes sense.

[Fludo]

Thanks for all the replies.

Teachermum - I think you've hit the nail on the head with your final comment:  about teachers having more interest or putting in more effort with students whose parents they talk to a lot, who seem really interested in their child's learning.  I am a teacher myself, but not in the school system, I teach private music lessons, 1-on-1, and it's very true, you sort of try harder I guess with the students whose parents are always checking up on what's happening rather than those whose parents you never see and who don't really care if the kid practices or not.

we'll have to wait and see exactly where my child is at when she's ready for school and then I'll talk with the teachers and see what's best for her.  I was just reading up on the school she will most likely be going to and their website said they have 5 teachers for gifted and talented children - not sure how it works, but maybe they visit the kids, or the kids go and see them at some time in the week for extra projects or something.  So that would be good.

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