Silver Spring elementary schools + reading above grade level

[Anonymous]

We are in DC now but contemplating a move to Silver Spring. DD is almost 5, in preK-4, and reading at a second-grade level. In her current school, they let her do reading with the first grade class. Wondering if anyone has had experience with this in Silver Spring ESs and how they handled - specific elementary schools' examples would be helpful!

[Anonymous]

A second grade level will be able to be handled in the k classroom in all schools. My dd goes to Oakland Terrace and we have been thrilled. That said they are older than the immersion program so I’m not sure how that changes things.

[Anonymous]

My son is also reading at a second grade level in K in a title one SS elem. it’s not that unusual really.

[Anonymous]

What DC school can't handle a kid reading at a 2nd grade level in PK?

[Anonymous]

MCPS will let her be grade level. A lot of kids are "advanced" readers so it means nothing. If you are happy at the school, stay.

[Anonymous]

You want Bethesda

[Anonymous]

My DS read on a 3rd grade level when he started KG but the only thing keeping him from going up to first grade for reading was that he couldn't write on the same level. That is also a consideration.

[Anonymous]

That level of advanced reading is fairly common in kindergarten in MCPS, yes even in Silver Spring. DD had 16 kids in her kindergarten class, and four of them were reading at that level when school started.
As another poster mentioned, after a certain level, mcps does limit advancing reading levels until the child’s ability to answer comprehension questions in writing catches up. But that’s just for reading group. Your kid can read whatever she wants at other times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want Bethesda

No, you don't. Larger class sizes and less personal attention than you'll get in SS.

[Anonymous]

We are in a SS Focus school, and both kids read at a 2nd grade reading level in K.

It was fine, but not great. It's public school, so the teachers main goal is to get the kids who need extra attention up to speed. There are kids who started K at our ES with very little knowledge of letters and letter sounds, even not knowing how to hold a book and read right to left.

Often times, DS' reading group doesn't meet as much as the others. It's usually the last one to get called. Or, if it does get called, the teacher has them 'read to self' and she is either dealing with keeping other kids on task, or finishing up something she needs to get done.

MCPS doesn't offer much for kids who are above grade level, especially in early ES. If you are happy where you are, it might be worth staying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That level of advanced reading is fairly common in kindergarten in MCPS, yes even in Silver Spring. DD had 16 kids in her kindergarten class, and four of them were reading at that level when school started.
As another poster mentioned, after a certain level, mcps does limit advancing reading levels until the child’s ability to answer comprehension questions in writing catches up. But that’s just for reading group. Your kid can read whatever she wants at other times.

I'm the PP, and I agree. There were 3 kids in my DS' reading group, that was the highest in K. However, that doesn't mean much (IMO). It's not like the kids can teach each other. And, even kids in that reading group would have benefited from reading aloud with the teacher, versus 'reading to self'.

[Anonymous]

I would visit the schools you are targeting and ask how they would handle this. My guess is they will not let her have English class with an older grade. Takoma Park ES has the only early elementary magnet.

[Anonymous]

My daughter attends a focus school in eastern Silver Spring. They allow children to move between grades to accommodate their reading levels when necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That level of advanced reading is fairly common in kindergarten in MCPS, yes even in Silver Spring. DD had 16 kids in her kindergarten class, and four of them were reading at that level when school started.
As another poster mentioned, after a certain level, mcps does limit advancing reading levels until the child’s ability to answer comprehension questions in writing catches up. But that’s just for reading group. Your kid can read whatever she wants at other times.

I'm the PP, and I agree. There were 3 kids in my DS' reading group, that was the highest in K. However, that doesn't mean much (IMO). It's not like the kids can teach each other. And, even kids in that reading group would have benefited from reading aloud with the teacher, versus 'reading to self'.

I’m the pp you quoted. My child’s kindergarten teacher did read aloud with her group, and focus on them when it was their group time. Her group didn’t meet every single day, but it’s not as if she got no targeted reading instruction. Her reading certainly improved over the course of the year.

[Anonymous]

I teach K in SS. Your child will likely be instructed at her level in her classroom, even if she is in a guided reading group of one. I’ve never heard of a school that mixed grade levels for guided reading, but I don’t want to dismiss PP’s experience.