what can do do to help my advanced KG girl in reading?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all rather ridiculous. What to do to "help" your daughter who is already advanced? Obviously give her challenging reading materials at home and make sure her school is giving her challenging material. I feel like starting a thread for those of us whose kids struggle with reading. They actually need "help".

Every child could use help, regardless of the level they are currently at. Its statements like yours that people use to justify defunding gifted services, implying that differentiated instruction is only appropriate for students who are below grade expectations. All kids need and deserve support to do advance, no matter where they are starting. Otherwise, why require advanced kids to go to school?

I do agree with the rest of your post--give the kid more challenging things to read, and discuss them with her.

No where did I say the school shouldn't provide challenging material to the advanced child. Just that I find it ironic that someone is on here looking for "help" for their kid who is at the top of the class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all rather ridiculous. What to do to "help" your daughter who is already advanced? Obviously give her challenging reading materials at home and make sure her school is giving her challenging material. I feel like starting a thread for those of us whose kids struggle with reading. They actually need "help".

Every child could use help, regardless of the level they are currently at. Its statements like yours that people use to justify defunding gifted services, implying that differentiated instruction is only appropriate for students who are below grade expectations. All kids need and deserve support to do advance, no matter where they are starting. Otherwise, why require advanced kids to go to school?

I do agree with the rest of your post--give the kid more challenging things to read, and discuss them with her.

No where did I say the school shouldn't provide challenging material to the advanced child. Just that I find it ironic that someone is on here looking for "help" for their kid who is at the top of the class.

op here: the teacher simply doesn't have the time to give her extra work or to focus on her specifically. she gets her reading time with one other child and it lasts about 10 minutes. i just wanted some ideas to keep her interest and ability up. i can see that if i left her alone in these big classrooms, by third grade, the other kids would have caught up and kept on going and DD wouldn;t have advanced very much b/c there was no time to focus on her - no time for the school to push her or give her more or new things to do,

that/s all

[Anonymous]

We did not worry about it. DD kept advancing without any instruction. We just let her read, and she read a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ps. as a former K teacher, I would have said that your daughter scored at the top of the group--not "the" top. The reason is that some parents would go bragging to other parents and that creates problems.

NP here. My teacher doesn't have to tell me that my kid is the top of the class with reading. He's the only kid in his class -- actually the entire school -- who is reading fluently and reading complex chapter books. No one else in his class is reading anywhere close to where he is. those of us who have kids with exceptional abilities are quite aware of them.

how do you know every kid's reading ability in the whole school???

The school is small - there are less than 15 kids older than my child.

Still, why do you know every child's reading level? My child was reading chapter books in preschool, and I can guarantee you know other parent knew that.

+1 She can't possibly know what other kids are able to do. As for the only kid in the "entire school" reading "complex chapter books" he has to be in some kind of a preschool setting...and even then the mother couldn't know this to be true. After all, do you believe the entire school knows what your kid can do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all rather ridiculous. What to do to "help" your daughter who is already advanced? Obviously give her challenging reading materials at home and make sure her school is giving her challenging material. I feel like starting a thread for those of us whose kids struggle with reading. They actually need "help".

Every child could use help, regardless of the level they are currently at. Its statements like yours that people use to justify defunding gifted services, implying that differentiated instruction is only appropriate for students who are below grade expectations. All kids need and deserve support to do advance, no matter where they are starting. Otherwise, why require advanced kids to go to school?

I do agree with the rest of your post--give the kid more challenging things to read, and discuss them with her.

No where did I say the school shouldn't provide challenging material to the advanced child. Just that I find it ironic that someone is on here looking for "help" for their kid who is at the top of the class.

op here: the teacher simply doesn't have the time to give her extra work or to focus on her specifically. she gets her reading time with one other child and it lasts about 10 minutes. i just wanted some ideas to keep her interest and ability up. i can see that if i left her alone in these big classrooms, by third grade, the other kids would have caught up and kept on going and DD wouldn;t have advanced very much b/c there was no time to focus on her - no time for the school to push her or give her more or new things to do,

that/s all

this is PP. the sad thing is - my child is struggling and I don't feel like she gets the attention she needs either. the class size is way too big and the teacher just doesn't seem to be able to handle it at all. i'm sooooo discouraged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ps. as a former K teacher, I would have said that your daughter scored at the top of the group--not "the" top. The reason is that some parents would go bragging to other parents and that creates problems.

NP here. My teacher doesn't have to tell me that my kid is the top of the class with reading. He's the only kid in his class -- actually the entire school -- who is reading fluently and reading complex chapter books. No one else in his class is reading anywhere close to where he is. those of us who have kids with exceptional abilities are quite aware of them.

how do you know every kid's reading ability in the whole school???

The school is small - there are less than 15 kids older than my child.

Still, why do you know every child's reading level? My child was reading chapter books in preschool, and I can guarantee you know other parent knew that.

I don't know every child's reading level, but I do know that no other child in my child's class is reading at all, and I have pushed for him to be teamed with a child or children from other classes or the grade above who is at a similar reading level and been told that there is no one.

I can't imagine how you can guarantee that no other parent knew that your child was reading chapter books in preschool. Did you make him or her keep it a secret? Did he or she not talk to other kids? Did the teacher not call on your child to read things to the class? Since preschool I've had other parents ask me about my child's reading abilities -- what we did to encourage it, etc. (the answer is nothing short of reading to him) - because they have seen him before school or during class in the reading nook with a chapter book he's bought in from home reading to himself or to a group of other children, or helping point out sight words to other kids. Most recently a couple of his friends' parents have told me that their kids told them that they want to learn to read "like [my child]". Particularly last year, I can't imagine that anyone who spent time in his PS classroom didn't notice that he was reading fluently - but I guess if a child is taught to be ashamed of their reading or to hide it it might not be so obvious.

Anyway, to get back to OPs question -- I tend to work with my child outside of school to increase comprehension. I ask him about what he's read -- who the main characters are, what is his favorite part, what has happened so far or what the book is about (if he's finished it), what he thinks might happen next, how this book compares to books in the same series etc etc. I try not to make it too taxing because at times it's clear that he just wants to read. Also, I let him pick his own books, so sometimes it's a picture book aimed at kids his age or younger, and sometimes it's a book at a 5th grade reading level with lots of text and complex story lines aimed at kids much older than him. He reads alone, but occasionally he'll sit with me and we'll alternate reading different pages. To be honest, I wish they'd do more at school but they seem content that his comprehension is on a par with his reading ability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ps. as a former K teacher, I would have said that your daughter scored at the top of the group--not "the" top. The reason is that some parents would go bragging to other parents and that creates problems.

NP here. My teacher doesn't have to tell me that my kid is the top of the class with reading. He's the only kid in his class -- actually the entire school -- who is reading fluently and reading complex chapter books. No one else in his class is reading anywhere close to where he is. those of us who have kids with exceptional abilities are quite aware of them.

how do you know every kid's reading ability in the whole school???

The school is small - there are less than 15 kids older than my child.

Still, why do you know every child's reading level? My child was reading chapter books in preschool, and I can guarantee you know other parent knew that.

I don't know every child's reading level, but I do know that no other child in my child's class is reading at all, and I have pushed for him to be teamed with a child or children from other classes or the grade above who is at a similar reading level and been told that there is no one.

I can't imagine how you can guarantee that no other parent knew that your child was reading chapter books in preschool. Did you make him or her keep it a secret? Did he or she not talk to other kids? Did the teacher not call on your child to read things to the class? Since preschool I've had other parents ask me about my child's reading abilities -- what we did to encourage it, etc. (the answer is nothing short of reading to him) - because they have seen him before school or during class in the reading nook with a chapter book he's bought in from home reading to himself or to a group of other children, or helping point out sight words to other kids. Most recently a couple of his friends' parents have told me that their kids told them that they want to learn to read "like [my child]". Particularly last year, I can't imagine that anyone who spent time in his PS classroom didn't notice that he was reading fluently - but I guess if a child is taught to be ashamed of their reading or to hide it it might not be so obvious.

Anyway, to get back to OPs question -- I tend to work with my child outside of school to increase comprehension. I ask him about what he's read -- who the main characters are, what is his favorite part, what has happened so far or what the book is about (if he's finished it), what he thinks might happen next, how this book compares to books in the same series etc etc. I try not to make it too taxing because at times it's clear that he just wants to read. Also, I let him pick his own books, so sometimes it's a picture book aimed at kids his age or younger, and sometimes it's a book at a 5th grade reading level with lots of text and complex story lines aimed at kids much older than him. He reads alone, but occasionally he'll sit with me and we'll alternate reading different pages. To be honest, I wish they'd do more at school but they seem content that his comprehension is on a par with his reading ability.

My daughter at newly 4 read chapter books. No, she was never called on to read to other preschoolers. She didn't really talk to other kids about it. Maybe the other kids to whom you are comparing are more modest?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ps. as a former K teacher, I would have said that your daughter scored at the top of the group--not "the" top. The reason is that some parents would go bragging to other parents and that creates problems.

NP here. My teacher doesn't have to tell me that my kid is the top of the class with reading. He's the only kid in his class -- actually the entire school -- who is reading fluently and reading complex chapter books. No one else in his class is reading anywhere close to where he is. those of us who have kids with exceptional abilities are quite aware of them.

how do you know every kid's reading ability in the whole school???

The school is small - there are less than 15 kids older than my child.

Still, why do you know every child's reading level? My child was reading chapter books in preschool, and I can guarantee you know other parent knew that.

I don't know every child's reading level, but I do know that no other child in my child's class is reading at all, and I have pushed for him to be teamed with a child or children from other classes or the grade above who is at a similar reading level and been told that there is no one.

I can't imagine how you can guarantee that no other parent knew that your child was reading chapter books in preschool. Did you make him or her keep it a secret? Did he or she not talk to other kids? Did the teacher not call on your child to read things to the class? Since preschool I've had other parents ask me about my child's reading abilities -- what we did to encourage it, etc. (the answer is nothing short of reading to him) - because they have seen him before school or during class in the reading nook with a chapter book he's bought in from home reading to himself or to a group of other children, or helping point out sight words to other kids. Most recently a couple of his friends' parents have told me that their kids told them that they want to learn to read "like [my child]". Particularly last year, I can't imagine that anyone who spent time in his PS classroom didn't notice that he was reading fluently - but I guess if a child is taught to be ashamed of their reading or to hide it it might not be so obvious.

Anyway, to get back to OPs question -- I tend to work with my child outside of school to increase comprehension. I ask him about what he's read -- who the main characters are, what is his favorite part, what has happened so far or what the book is about (if he's finished it), what he thinks might happen next, how this book compares to books in the same series etc etc. I try not to make it too taxing because at times it's clear that he just wants to read. Also, I let him pick his own books, so sometimes it's a picture book aimed at kids his age or younger, and sometimes it's a book at a 5th grade reading level with lots of text and complex story lines aimed at kids much older than him. He reads alone, but occasionally he'll sit with me and we'll alternate reading different pages. To be honest, I wish they'd do more at school but they seem content that his comprehension is on a par with his reading ability.

My daughter at newly 4 read chapter books. No, she was never called on to read to other preschoolers. She didn't really talk to other kids about it. Maybe the other kids to whom you are comparing are more modest?

Wow, aren't you superior!

But seriously, how ducked up is out that you made your daughter hide her reading skills while in school! What's to be ashamed of? It's not a case of being called on to read to the entire class, but a fluent reader will read everything around him, what the teacher writes, what is on the walls, the books in the library corner, the other kids names. Did your kid hide this from her teacher too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ps. as a former K teacher, I would have said that your daughter scored at the top of the group--not "the" top. The reason is that some parents would go bragging to other parents and that creates problems.

NP here. My teacher doesn't have to tell me that my kid is the top of the class with reading. He's the only kid in his class -- actually the entire school -- who is reading fluently and reading complex chapter books. No one else in his class is reading anywhere close to where he is. those of us who have kids with exceptional abilities are quite aware of them.

how do you know every kid's reading ability in the whole school???

The school is small - there are less than 15 kids older than my child.

Still, why do you know every child's reading level? My child was reading chapter books in preschool, and I can guarantee you know other parent knew that.

I don't know every child's reading level, but I do know that no other child in my child's class is reading at all, and I have pushed for him to be teamed with a child or children from other classes or the grade above who is at a similar reading level and been told that there is no one.

I can't imagine how you can guarantee that no other parent knew that your child was reading chapter books in preschool. Did you make him or her keep it a secret? Did he or she not talk to other kids? Did the teacher not call on your child to read things to the class? Since preschool I've had other parents ask me about my child's reading abilities -- what we did to encourage it, etc. (the answer is nothing short of reading to him) - because they have seen him before school or during class in the reading nook with a chapter book he's bought in from home reading to himself or to a group of other children, or helping point out sight words to other kids. Most recently a couple of his friends' parents have told me that their kids told them that they want to learn to read "like [my child]". Particularly last year, I can't imagine that anyone who spent time in his PS classroom didn't notice that he was reading fluently - but I guess if a child is taught to be ashamed of their reading or to hide it it might not be so obvious.

Anyway, to get back to OPs question -- I tend to work with my child outside of school to increase comprehension. I ask him about what he's read -- who the main characters are, what is his favorite part, what has happened so far or what the book is about (if he's finished it), what he thinks might happen next, how this book compares to books in the same series etc etc. I try not to make it too taxing because at times it's clear that he just wants to read. Also, I let him pick his own books, so sometimes it's a picture book aimed at kids his age or younger, and sometimes it's a book at a 5th grade reading level with lots of text and complex story lines aimed at kids much older than him. He reads alone, but occasionally he'll sit with me and we'll alternate reading different pages. To be honest, I wish they'd do more at school but they seem content that his comprehension is on a par with his reading ability.

My daughter at newly 4 read chapter books. No, she was never called on to read to other preschoolers. She didn't really talk to other kids about it. Maybe the other kids to whom you are comparing are more modest?

Wow, aren't you superior!

But seriously, how ducked up is out that you made your daughter hide her reading skills while in school! What's to be ashamed of? It's not a case of being called on to read to the entire class, but a fluent reader will read everything around him, what the teacher writes, what is on the walls, the books in the library corner, the other kids names. Did your kid hide this from her teacher too?

No, an early reader reads aloud still. One with more experience reads quietly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ps. as a former K teacher, I would have said that your daughter scored at the top of the group--not "the" top. The reason is that some parents would go bragging to other parents and that creates problems.

NP here. My teacher doesn't have to tell me that my kid is the top of the class with reading. He's the only kid in his class -- actually the entire school -- who is reading fluently and reading complex chapter books. No one else in his class is reading anywhere close to where he is. those of us who have kids with exceptional abilities are quite aware of them.

how do you know every kid's reading ability in the whole school???

The school is small - there are less than 15 kids older than my child.

Still, why do you know every child's reading level? My child was reading chapter books in preschool, and I can guarantee you know other parent knew that.

I don't know every child's reading level, but I do know that no other child in my child's class is reading at all, and I have pushed for him to be teamed with a child or children from other classes or the grade above who is at a similar reading level and been told that there is no one.

I can't imagine how you can guarantee that no other parent knew that your child was reading chapter books in preschool. Did you make him or her keep it a secret? Did he or she not talk to other kids? Did the teacher not call on your child to read things to the class? Since preschool I've had other parents ask me about my child's reading abilities -- what we did to encourage it, etc. (the answer is nothing short of reading to him) - because they have seen him before school or during class in the reading nook with a chapter book he's bought in from home reading to himself or to a group of other children, or helping point out sight words to other kids. Most recently a couple of his friends' parents have told me that their kids told them that they want to learn to read "like [my child]". Particularly last year, I can't imagine that anyone who spent time in his PS classroom didn't notice that he was reading fluently - but I guess if a child is taught to be ashamed of their reading or to hide it it might not be so obvious.

Anyway, to get back to OPs question -- I tend to work with my child outside of school to increase comprehension. I ask him about what he's read -- who the main characters are, what is his favorite part, what has happened so far or what the book is about (if he's finished it), what he thinks might happen next, how this book compares to books in the same series etc etc. I try not to make it too taxing because at times it's clear that he just wants to read. Also, I let him pick his own books, so sometimes it's a picture book aimed at kids his age or younger, and sometimes it's a book at a 5th grade reading level with lots of text and complex story lines aimed at kids much older than him. He reads alone, but occasionally he'll sit with me and we'll alternate reading different pages. To be honest, I wish they'd do more at school but they seem content that his comprehension is on a par with his reading ability.

I'm impressed. What types of 5th grade books did your son read and how old is he?

[Anonymous]

Why so harsh?

I am not PP with DD who read chapter books at 4, but we have a DS who was pretty fluent reader at age 3 (Frog & Toad) and could also read chapter books when he turned four. I would be shocked if any of his classmates noticed or cared.

We never told DS to hide anything and I don't think he was trying to hide anything himself. It would just never have occurred to him to read stuff out loud and comment on it at that age. Usually the things he commented on to friends and his teachers were things like, "Bug!" Plane!" "Look I'm Spidey!" In fact, when DS went to K he seemed really surprised that only a few other kids could read well. He had just assumed everyone could.

The teachers did comment on it but only in the context of DS being a good sport about participating in all the activities like coloring in letters and singing the alphabet song with everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter at newly 4 read chapter books. No, she was never called on to read to other preschoolers. She didn't really talk to other kids about it. Maybe the other kids to whom you are comparing are more modest?

Wow, aren't you superior!

But seriously, how ducked up is out that you made your daughter hide her reading skills while in school! What's to be ashamed of? It's not a case of being called on to read to the entire class, but a fluent reader will read everything around him, what the teacher writes, what is on the walls, the books in the library corner, the other kids names. Did your kid hide this from her teacher too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ps. as a former K teacher, I would have said that your daughter scored at the top of the group--not "the" top. The reason is that some parents would go bragging to other parents and that creates problems.

NP here. My teacher doesn't have to tell me that my kid is the top of the class with reading. He's the only kid in his class -- actually the entire school -- who is reading fluently and reading complex chapter books. No one else in his class is reading anywhere close to where he is. those of us who have kids with exceptional abilities are quite aware of them.

how do you know every kid's reading ability in the whole school???

The school is small - there are less than 15 kids older than my child.

Still, why do you know every child's reading level? My child was reading chapter books in preschool, and I can guarantee you know other parent knew that.

I don't know every child's reading level, but I do know that no other child in my child's class is reading at all, and I have pushed for him to be teamed with a child or children from other classes or the grade above who is at a similar reading level and been told that there is no one.

I can't imagine how you can guarantee that no other parent knew that your child was reading chapter books in preschool. Did you make him or her keep it a secret? Did he or she not talk to other kids? Did the teacher not call on your child to read things to the class? Since preschool I've had other parents ask me about my child's reading abilities -- what we did to encourage it, etc. (the answer is nothing short of reading to him) - because they have seen him before school or during class in the reading nook with a chapter book he's bought in from home reading to himself or to a group of other children, or helping point out sight words to other kids. Most recently a couple of his friends' parents have told me that their kids told them that they want to learn to read "like [my child]". Particularly last year, I can't imagine that anyone who spent time in his PS classroom didn't notice that he was reading fluently - but I guess if a child is taught to be ashamed of their reading or to hide it it might not be so obvious.

Anyway, to get back to OPs question -- I tend to work with my child outside of school to increase comprehension. I ask him about what he's read -- who the main characters are, what is his favorite part, what has happened so far or what the book is about (if he's finished it), what he thinks might happen next, how this book compares to books in the same series etc etc. I try not to make it too taxing because at times it's clear that he just wants to read. Also, I let him pick his own books, so sometimes it's a picture book aimed at kids his age or younger, and sometimes it's a book at a 5th grade reading level with lots of text and complex story lines aimed at kids much older than him. He reads alone, but occasionally he'll sit with me and we'll alternate reading different pages. To be honest, I wish they'd do more at school but they seem content that his comprehension is on a par with his reading ability.

I'm impressed. What types of 5th grade books did your son read and how old is he?

He's 5 and he reads anything and everything at a variety of grade levels up to about 5th (not sure off the top of my head which are the highest levels here): Magic Treehouse, Roald Dahl (BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach etc), Charlotte's Web, Magic Schoolbus, Little Prince, Boxcar Children, Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Captain Underpants.... also Doctor Suess, Junie B. Jones, picture books, Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and lots of non-fiction (dinosaurs, animals, planets, human body, geography). No he doesn't understand them in the same depth as a 10 year old, but well enough to keep his attention, and for him to be able to discuss the storyline, characters etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ps. as a former K teacher, I would have said that your daughter scored at the top of the group--not "the" top. The reason is that some parents would go bragging to other parents and that creates problems.

NP here. My teacher doesn't have to tell me that my kid is the top of the class with reading. He's the only kid in his class -- actually the entire school -- who is reading fluently and reading complex chapter books. No one else in his class is reading anywhere close to where he is. those of us who have kids with exceptional abilities are quite aware of them.

how do you know every kid's reading ability in the whole school???

The school is small - there are less than 15 kids older than my child.

Still, why do you know every child's reading level? My child was reading chapter books in preschool, and I can guarantee you know other parent knew that.

I don't know every child's reading level, but I do know that no other child in my child's class is reading at all, and I have pushed for him to be teamed with a child or children from other classes or the grade above who is at a similar reading level and been told that there is no one.

I can't imagine how you can guarantee that no other parent knew that your child was reading chapter books in preschool. Did you make him or her keep it a secret? Did he or she not talk to other kids? Did the teacher not call on your child to read things to the class? Since preschool I've had other parents ask me about my child's reading abilities -- what we did to encourage it, etc. (the answer is nothing short of reading to him) - because they have seen him before school or during class in the reading nook with a chapter book he's bought in from home reading to himself or to a group of other children, or helping point out sight words to other kids. Most recently a couple of his friends' parents have told me that their kids told them that they want to learn to read "like [my child]". Particularly last year, I can't imagine that anyone who spent time in his PS classroom didn't notice that he was reading fluently - but I guess if a child is taught to be ashamed of their reading or to hide it it might not be so obvious.

Anyway, to get back to OPs question -- I tend to work with my child outside of school to increase comprehension. I ask him about what he's read -- who the main characters are, what is his favorite part, what has happened so far or what the book is about (if he's finished it), what he thinks might happen next, how this book compares to books in the same series etc etc. I try not to make it too taxing because at times it's clear that he just wants to read. Also, I let him pick his own books, so sometimes it's a picture book aimed at kids his age or younger, and sometimes it's a book at a 5th grade reading level with lots of text and complex story lines aimed at kids much older than him. He reads alone, but occasionally he'll sit with me and we'll alternate reading different pages. To be honest, I wish they'd do more at school but they seem content that his comprehension is on a par with his reading ability.

I'm impressed. What types of 5th grade books did your son read and how old is he?

He's 5 and he reads anything and everything at a variety of grade levels up to about 5th (not sure off the top of my head which are the highest levels here): Magic Treehouse, Roald Dahl (BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach etc), Charlotte's Web, Magic Schoolbus, Little Prince, Boxcar Children, Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Captain Underpants.... also Doctor Suess, Junie B. Jones, picture books, Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and lots of non-fiction (dinosaurs, animals, planets, human body, geography). No he doesn't understand them in the same depth as a 10 year old, but well enough to keep his attention, and for him to be able to discuss the storyline, characters etc.

Most of those books are really 2-3rd grade level, and many 6 and 7 year olds are reading them at our school. This is where DD was before starting kindergarten as well. She had finished every magic treehouse and rainbow magic in order and was gobbling up other series as well before turning five. She read for an hour a night to herself, so that continued when kindergarten started, and then in January they let her read at school during nap time. She really broadened her interests that year. She started first grade having read half of the warrior series as well as these old Sherlock Holmes books called the Baker Street Irregulars. Her first grade teacher was not flummoxed at all and has even provided her more 5th and 6th grade reading texts to read during school.

I want to say it is not exceptional like you say it is. It is a little. But her preschool teachers did not know because it was not a part of their curriculum. It was nearly the same in kindergarten. She is also really good at chess, but her teachers do not know that either. It is like that. The advanced reading is not that exceptional. Her teachers barely care. They have never ranked her in class, and they don't give me reading levels like it some badge of honor. Assessments are more of a procedural thing. She is allowed to read anything in the school. But she goes to really good private school, and they meet every child where they are at without much fuss. Reading is actually a very small part of the day. When she reads in a reading group it sounds like there is a large group of them at the Magic treehouse level, which is fine for her. There are issues that come up with early reading (we deal with 6yo reading books meant for middle-schoolers and how that distorts her reality,) but the school thing has been very easy. She is ahead. There are no issues. It gets about one minute of conference time.

I am not sure how other parents would know she routinely reads 300 page novels in three nights unless I told them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ps. as a former K teacher, I would have said that your daughter scored at the top of the group--not "the" top. The reason is that some parents would go bragging to other parents and that creates problems.

NP here. My teacher doesn't have to tell me that my kid is the top of the class with reading. He's the only kid in his class -- actually the entire school -- who is reading fluently and reading complex chapter books. No one else in his class is reading anywhere close to where he is. those of us who have kids with exceptional abilities are quite aware of them.

how do you know every kid's reading ability in the whole school???

The school is small - there are less than 15 kids older than my child.

Still, why do you know every child's reading level? My child was reading chapter books in preschool, and I can guarantee you know other parent knew that.

I don't know every child's reading level, but I do know that no other child in my child's class is reading at all, and I have pushed for him to be teamed with a child or children from other classes or the grade above who is at a similar reading level and been told that there is no one.

I can't imagine how you can guarantee that no other parent knew that your child was reading chapter books in preschool. Did you make him or her keep it a secret? Did he or she not talk to other kids? Did the teacher not call on your child to read things to the class? Since preschool I've had other parents ask me about my child's reading abilities -- what we did to encourage it, etc. (the answer is nothing short of reading to him) - because they have seen him before school or during class in the reading nook with a chapter book he's bought in from home reading to himself or to a group of other children, or helping point out sight words to other kids. Most recently a couple of his friends' parents have told me that their kids told them that they want to learn to read "like [my child]". Particularly last year, I can't imagine that anyone who spent time in his PS classroom didn't notice that he was reading fluently - but I guess if a child is taught to be ashamed of their reading or to hide it it might not be so obvious.

Anyway, to get back to OPs question -- I tend to work with my child outside of school to increase comprehension. I ask him about what he's read -- who the main characters are, what is his favorite part, what has happened so far or what the book is about (if he's finished it), what he thinks might happen next, how this book compares to books in the same series etc etc. I try not to make it too taxing because at times it's clear that he just wants to read. Also, I let him pick his own books, so sometimes it's a picture book aimed at kids his age or younger, and sometimes it's a book at a 5th grade reading level with lots of text and complex story lines aimed at kids much older than him. He reads alone, but occasionally he'll sit with me and we'll alternate reading different pages. To be honest, I wish they'd do more at school but they seem content that his comprehension is on a par with his reading ability.

I'm impressed. What types of 5th grade books did your son read and how old is he?

He's 5 and he reads anything and everything at a variety of grade levels up to about 5th (not sure off the top of my head which are the highest levels here): Magic Treehouse, Roald Dahl (BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach etc), Charlotte's Web, Magic Schoolbus, Little Prince, Boxcar Children, Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Captain Underpants.... also Doctor Suess, Junie B. Jones, picture books, Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and lots of non-fiction (dinosaurs, animals, planets, human body, geography). No he doesn't understand them in the same depth as a 10 year old, but well enough to keep his attention, and for him to be able to discuss the storyline, characters etc.

Most of those books are really 2-3rd grade level, and many 6 and 7 year olds are reading them at our school. This is where DD was before starting kindergarten as well. She had finished every magic treehouse and rainbow magic in order and was gobbling up other series as well before turning five. She read for an hour a night to herself, so that continued when kindergarten started, and then in January they let her read at school during nap time. She really broadened her interests that year. She started first grade having read half of the warrior series as well as these old Sherlock Holmes books called the Baker Street Irregulars. Her first grade teacher was not flummoxed at all and has even provided her more 5th and 6th grade reading texts to read during school.

I want to say it is not exceptional like you say it is. It is a little. But her preschool teachers did not know because it was not a part of their curriculum. It was nearly the same in kindergarten. She is also really good at chess, but her teachers do not know that either. It is like that. The advanced reading is not that exceptional. Her teachers barely care. They have never ranked her in class, and they don't give me reading levels like it some badge of honor. Assessments are more of a procedural thing. She is allowed to read anything in the school. But she goes to really good private school, and they meet every child where they are at without much fuss. Reading is actually a very small part of the day. When she reads in a reading group it sounds like there is a large group of them at the Magic treehouse level, which is fine for her. There are issues that come up with early reading (we deal with 6yo reading books meant for middle-schoolers and how that distorts her reality,) but the school thing has been very easy. She is ahead. There are no issues. It gets about one minute of conference time.

I am not sure how other parents would know she routinely reads 300 page novels in three nights unless I told them.

You missed the point here, I was giving examples of the type of books (UP TO about 5th grade), not starting a pissing match about which books were more advanced or whose kid was smarter. My child doesn't go to a private school, but a diverse DC public school. Yes, he is alone in his abilities. Very much. (Despite a lot of middle class involved parents -- I'm sure other kids will catch up eventually). I know that some parents know about his reading because they've asked me about it, either because their kids have mentioned it, or because they've seen him reading before or after school. He has to bring books from home (the library) because they don't have sufficient suitable books for him at school and he reads very quickly and enthusiastically. His preschool did include readiness to read as part of the curriculum (again a public school) so yes, of course his teachers knew and encouraged his reading. They even had him read a poem on stage in front of all the parents last Christmas (Preschool - just turned 4). Certainly it wasn't secret.

Other than that he sounds a lot like your daughter. He also read every single Magic Treehouse before turning 5 (though only in the order we could get them from the library!) And reads for an hour or more each night. I've never heard of Rainbow Magic, I'll see if if it's something he's interested in. He might like the Baker Street ones. We need recommendations! Like you said it's really hard to find books that are challenging yet appropriate for a young five year old.

[Anonymous]

You implied your DS was in PreK and in a school with only 15 kids older than him. I was sharing my experiences from kindergarten and first grade in a much larger school. We have been lucky that her experiences have not been in schools that emphasized early academics in the way you describe. Paradoxically, they have had no problem meeting her needs. This is our experience at a well regarded private school. It is as much information for you as it is the OP or anyone else reading.

I do not recommend rainbow magic for boys necessarily. I'm not sure they would go for it. The Warrior series is great, as are the Sherlock Holmes books, but it is not something I am proud to expose to a 6yo. There is a lot of death--but she loves them. And she started reading them before we realized.