I Wonder How Long Gulliver Will...
Politics2 mins ago
Reading above average
32 Answers
My 8 year old son is a very good reader. He reached a certain level at school and I was told that he couldnt progress any further as its school policy for children in year 4 or lower not to moved past this level (regardless of ability). His previous teacher allowed me to choose his books to read and he could bring them into school. No such luck with his year 4 teacher. He got told he cant read The Hobbit and has to read a school book, some rubbish thing that he reads in one eveing. Why are they stopping him from progressing? Should I go in and speak with his teacher (i'm worried i'll get really cross at the stupidity of it all and loose my rag).
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Thank you all for your points. Annie said ity exactly as I tried too but couldnt (dont know where my son gets his brains from - not me!).
As he can do the work thats set with no problem, he's just left to it, nothing harder given, no challenge,
He is on their 'more able list', but I didnt think about looking at the policy - I am going right NOW to ask (schools at the end of our road).
Ice maiden i do understand what your saying and to be honest I aggree, (although I have never read the book myself), I couldnt even follow it properly at the theatre!
Trish, Curiosity and Lil'o lady - Will you come with me? lol
My son did actually get a place at a 2 private schools but only with a 50% bursary and although at a squeeze we could possibly do it, I couldnt for my daughter aswell and thats not fair (will have to just make do with Kumon). I just want the school to do its job, its generally quite lazy on a whole and this is a criticism fom lots of parents.
I am actually a TA in a school and I see some teachers not liking brighter kids 'because they always know the answer'! err hello, thats what theyre supposed to do.
As he can do the work thats set with no problem, he's just left to it, nothing harder given, no challenge,
He is on their 'more able list', but I didnt think about looking at the policy - I am going right NOW to ask (schools at the end of our road).
Ice maiden i do understand what your saying and to be honest I aggree, (although I have never read the book myself), I couldnt even follow it properly at the theatre!
Trish, Curiosity and Lil'o lady - Will you come with me? lol
My son did actually get a place at a 2 private schools but only with a 50% bursary and although at a squeeze we could possibly do it, I couldnt for my daughter aswell and thats not fair (will have to just make do with Kumon). I just want the school to do its job, its generally quite lazy on a whole and this is a criticism fom lots of parents.
I am actually a TA in a school and I see some teachers not liking brighter kids 'because they always know the answer'! err hello, thats what theyre supposed to do.
just nipped up the school to ask for a copy of their gifted and talented policy, I can collect it monday. They asked me for my name which I hate, as I feel there will be a mark against my name (or the kids) or I'll get chatted about in the staff room, who cares who I am, I'm just a parent getting a policy.
Quote the ECM agenda at your child's teacher. EVERY child matters and that includes your son who appears to be a G and T pupil. Go over the teacher's head and arrange to speak to the headteacher or whoever is in charge of G and T provision in school and ask them about their provision for G and T pupils. I am sure they will act then.....as an assistant head these are the questions we get a lot- but action is often taken. As for "school policy" i would ask to see a copy of this and if necessary take it to governors. The threat alone will see the correct resolution. Your son sounds like a talented young man. Encourage him to read series such as 'horrible geography and history' which will stimulate his love of the humanities as well as his reading skills
thank you benchmarrow, its good to have the opinion of someon that is 'on the job'. I always took the every child matters as more for the disadvantaged children, but obviously not. I am going to compile a list of all the important points etc, so I am prepared. I've waited and waited hoping things will get better, but now I will act, thank you.
I'll get some of the books in that series too. x
I'll get some of the books in that series too. x
Unfortunately we don't have the gifted and talanted thing in Scotland - I am going to have to go with Plan A and punch her lights out! Only kidding!
How's this for an example though.
They have a star pupil system in the school where every week 1 child is chosen from each class as star pupil for the week. They get extra priviledges such as chosing who they get to sit beside and they go for tea with the head mistress and their name goes on a big chart in the corridor. In Ciar's class last week, the star pupil was a boy who constantly misbehaves and is now banned from being on door duty at break time - apparantly he had behaved a little bit better that week, however, he ended up losing his priviledges after two days for strangling his brother. This week the star pupil for his class is a little girl who got it for "being so quiet that the teacher said that sometimes she didn't even notice she was there".
Neither seems right to me.
Either they are rewarded for being a bit less badly behaved or for being invisible.
Ciar incidentally has never had star pupil this year despite never losing any golden time, and covering the other boy's door duty which means he misses 2 play times a week.
I have trouble explaining why this is fair.
How's this for an example though.
They have a star pupil system in the school where every week 1 child is chosen from each class as star pupil for the week. They get extra priviledges such as chosing who they get to sit beside and they go for tea with the head mistress and their name goes on a big chart in the corridor. In Ciar's class last week, the star pupil was a boy who constantly misbehaves and is now banned from being on door duty at break time - apparantly he had behaved a little bit better that week, however, he ended up losing his priviledges after two days for strangling his brother. This week the star pupil for his class is a little girl who got it for "being so quiet that the teacher said that sometimes she didn't even notice she was there".
Neither seems right to me.
Either they are rewarded for being a bit less badly behaved or for being invisible.
Ciar incidentally has never had star pupil this year despite never losing any golden time, and covering the other boy's door duty which means he misses 2 play times a week.
I have trouble explaining why this is fair.
oh totally! In Williams class when they were younger there were 2 boys always in trouble, yet they were put on a chart to improve their behaviour. When they behaved they got to play with the plastic dinosaurs, however all the other kids who behaved really well, virtually all the time, never ever got to play with these dinosaurs. William couldnt get his head around that one, neither could I actually.
However on the other hand, I teach synthetic phonics everyday for an hour to a group of children (3/4 of which have real trouble behaving) and I will reward the 'naughty' children for behaving in just a reasonable way. You have higher expectations for some children, it is unfair but from a teaching point of view, if it gets them listening and interacting in a positive way, then it has too be done.
However on the other hand, I teach synthetic phonics everyday for an hour to a group of children (3/4 of which have real trouble behaving) and I will reward the 'naughty' children for behaving in just a reasonable way. You have higher expectations for some children, it is unfair but from a teaching point of view, if it gets them listening and interacting in a positive way, then it has too be done.
Just looking back at some of my answers given. missrandom, I completely agree that it isn`t fair for one to get into private schooling, when you have other gifted children.
When my older grandchild got in, conservatives were still in power, then labour got in. I think that`s why they had to start paying.
I think, that had my daughter realised that the choice wouldn`t be available for the other children, she wouldn`t have taken the option of private.
It was quite a dilemma, when they had to pay, it was either take him out of a lifestyle he had become accustomed to or send him to the local comprehensive. They chose to keep him there.
As an afterthought, his brother is doing brilliantly at the comprehensive.
Personally, I think if it`s there, they will succeed.,,
When my older grandchild got in, conservatives were still in power, then labour got in. I think that`s why they had to start paying.
I think, that had my daughter realised that the choice wouldn`t be available for the other children, she wouldn`t have taken the option of private.
It was quite a dilemma, when they had to pay, it was either take him out of a lifestyle he had become accustomed to or send him to the local comprehensive. They chose to keep him there.
As an afterthought, his brother is doing brilliantly at the comprehensive.
Personally, I think if it`s there, they will succeed.,,
Hi
Had parents eve last night and was told by his teacher that he is already at the level expected of him when he leaves primary school and he still has 2 and a half years to go! She also said his spelling is that of a 10 and a half year old, minimum. You'd never have guessed I'm very proud :-)
She is also going to find out about the gifted and talented thing - although 2 weeks after asking the head for a copy of the policy, it still hasnt shown up!
She also said they dont do it often but they dont mind him reading other books from home.
She said she'll be challenging him more after half term, which she intended on doing anyway.
Slight progress I feel.
Had parents eve last night and was told by his teacher that he is already at the level expected of him when he leaves primary school and he still has 2 and a half years to go! She also said his spelling is that of a 10 and a half year old, minimum. You'd never have guessed I'm very proud :-)
She is also going to find out about the gifted and talented thing - although 2 weeks after asking the head for a copy of the policy, it still hasnt shown up!
She also said they dont do it often but they dont mind him reading other books from home.
She said she'll be challenging him more after half term, which she intended on doing anyway.
Slight progress I feel.
