[Guest_tashmrgn_*]

.

This post has been edited by tash343: 17/12/2011, 05:25 PM

[kyrrie]

tashmrgn DD's area isn't maths so I'm not really talking from experience. She is ahead but not to the extent your DS is.

Truthfully I'm disappointed with the extension they offer. The school uses Go Maths and they first year of using it was DD's kindy year, other parents have commented the extension used to be better.

In year one the children worked at their own pace through the activities the teacher set but they can't do that in kindy because not enough children can read, so you really do need to advocate for him, otherwise he may get quite frustrated.

Two good things now . Firstly DD's school uses Mathletics so totally own paced. Last year DD went through year one (aus), yr one (international), yr 2 (aus) and year 2 (international). Then they refused to let her do more for some reason so she had little to do in those lessons for the last two terms. Both teachers from both years would always include extension in their teaching.

The other good thing is that in kindy they do a lot of concrete maths activities, in groups using counters and lots of everyday materials. Although this will seem to you to be too easy, roll with it for a bit because often you'll find that this really reinforces the basic mathematical concepts that lots of children who can leap to the abstract early on, miss out on and have gaps in their knowledge. This is really important for later on.

Where you will need to advocate, is that there may be some holes in your son's knowledge. Don't let them say "oh we can't extend him because he needs to do this first". Ideally they do both together. Easier said then done though. A child who understand abstract concepts needs to continue with that just as much as they need grounding in the concrete ideas. I think both are important.

It's easy for me to say you have to advocate for him. I had the same thing said to me before DD started and the idea totally freaked me out. I am incredibly shy with those sorts of things and at first bringing something up with the teacher nearly sent me into panic attack. But I've got heaps better and last year even went up to speak to the deputy on behalf of other parents with an issue that had nothing to do with my child at all. It's still really hard but forcing myself to do it enough means I can keep doing it. And I don't really care anymore what they say about me. I do it all very nicely though, no confrontation. The school has shown they care about DD, my contribution is either helpful or not but it's not wrong.

Hopefully the school will have a parent/teacher interview early on. Ours give us a best start report and an interview to go with that (either halfway through term one or near the end, we have a long transition program concentrating on social skills so don't get into real classes for a while). This is your ideal time to talk about all this. That way you've given the teacher time to get to know your DS plus given him time to settle in, honestly I imagine the social side is the major priority first term in all schools. That way you don't feel as if you're up there week one as the ranting "my child is gifted and none of you realise it" parent. If they don't have interviews make an appointment about week 4 or 5 and have one then.

This post has been edited by kyrrie: 07/01/2011, 02:52 PM

[Guest_tashmrgn_*]

.

This post has been edited by tash343: 17/12/2011, 05:24 PM

[Lu-Bell]

I am a bit worried now as DD has only basic reading/comprehension skills and I thought she was all set for mathematics.... but I dont think so now after reading what all your littlies can do! What is the base expectation for their first year in formal schooling at the beginning/end of year?

[kyrrie]

kyrrie Thanks heaps for your post, it is really helpful to hear about other parents' experiences .

Yeah this is all pretty scary for me & I know it's my little boy it will afHfect if I don't say something when I should, it's working out what is the right thing to say & how & when that is tricky for me, knowing as much as possible helps me to feel more confident about it all. Any info is good info so I really appreciate that you took the time to reply .

No worries. I would discuss it at you first meeting. Let us know when it's coming up (here or in G&T thread) and we'll brainstorm what you should say.

I am a bit worried now as DD has only basic reading/comprehension skills and I thought she was all set for mathematics.... but I dont think so now after reading what all your littlies can do! What is the base expectation for their first year in formal schooling at the beginning/end of year?

She'll be fine. Both Tash and Cheekymonkey's little boys sound quite exceptional. My DS is much more normal. I don't think anything at all is expected of them apart from recognising their name. You can find info about what they will learn this year on your state's website. For example in NSW it's the Board of Studies and there are work samples on the curriculum support pages. If you need links just ask and I'll get them tomorrow when I'm on my computer.

AFM it looks like we are ready for school here. Everything's bought and now I just need to label some clothes (joy of joys).

[cheekymonkey]

Lu-Bell - please don't worry. My sister is an early primary teacher and she said all she expects kids to be able to do is hold a pencil the right way up with a grip ready for writing (ie NOT like they're going to stab someone with it like DS#2 was doing earlier last year). Anything else is a bonus.
My DS#2 is reading at a year 2-3 level. I was floored when his pre-school asked me how I'd taught him to read. I had NO idea he could, let alone to the level he does. We mentioned to my sister that he could so she sat him down with my DS#1 (just completed NSW second YOS) and her son (just completed NSW FYOS) and was really surprised when he read better than both of them, with full expression, fluency and comprehension. He is far from doing what a 'normal' about to start school child should be which brings with it a whole array of concerns, like tashmrgn is writing about.
DS#1 showed no interest in academic skills prior to starting school. He knew the alphabet and could write his name and most of the other letters (there were quite a few he had to see first to then be able to 'copy' them) and recognised some simple words to read. He could count to 30 and had to use objects to physically add/subtract things and count them all from scratch once he'd done that to do any mathematic problems. He's thrived at school anyway and is about to start year 2 in the higher levels of reading and maths for his year group. So, as I said above, don't worry about your DD. It sounds like she's heading to school with a great foundation to her learning already.

[Lu-Bell]

Thanks for the info girls. I will stress less now, take a breath and relax.

[*littlemiracles*]

We only have 10 more sleeps until my "baby" starts Prep!!!!! Getting excited/anxious/overwhelmed but overall trying to make it sound the like the best thing in the world is going to happen for her to help ease her fears. She is pretty excited about it but still very attached to me and this change is turning her little world upside down. We are taking things one step at a time. Next week is last week at kindy (with Mummy too ) then its the start of big school, then its her birthday (the big 5) and then she starts at her new ASC the following week. Big changes happening here.

[atua]

add us

we start first year in NSW this year and there's a bit of dancing going on in this house 2 weeks today and off they go 5 days a week - woooooooooooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooooooooo!

they're also being split into separate classrooms (ID) which is exactly what we wanted - they know what is going to happen and tbh i think DH is a bit more emotional about the whole starting school thing than i am

[NorthernLife]

atua - my boys are ID too and we split them in kindy last year. It was the best decision because they are very different personality wise. DS1 is right handed as well, and DS2 is left handed! So that was interesting to find out!!

I am off to the school today to put in OOSH forms, to Target to pick up some skorts for DD (who is my FYOS11 child), and see if they have nice hair clips for her. I already have quite a few black / purple ones (her colours for school), but you can never have too many!

We start next THursday.. so 8 days for us!! I must admit these holidays have been so long (8 weeks because we moved interstate), and I am looking forward to it in some ways but also going to miss the three ratbags heaps!

This post has been edited by ~*Rach*~: 19/01/2011, 09:34 AM