Is this G&T?

[AMumGoingMad]

My DD (6yrs old, yr2) has just been assessed by school to have a comprehension level of the average 9yr old (reading age much higher). They have never recognised this before and we've had a lot of dialogue with them to get to this point of them actually assessing her beyond what they want her age to do (they don't differentiate, they couldn't cope with our below average ds and we had to move him from the school). We are meeting with them next week to discuss DD and her literacy. What should we be expecting them to say and do? Can we actually ask if they have a G&T program because I wouldn't want to ask if she isn't and is just bright, I don't know at what point the gap above your peers makes you G&T.

[Iamnotminterested]

How does her writing compare?A lot of children are very competent readers quite quickly but often their writing is not as strong. She sounds able but not off the scale. You are right btw to not mention G&T when you meet with them

[AMumGoingMad]

I don't know what level her writing is at. This is the 1st time they have ever shared levels with us and I have told you all I know which isn't much! In her report at the end of the year she got an A for reading, an A for writing content and a C for handwriting. C is expected for age, B is above average, A is well above average. I don't know what a 6yr olds writing should be like. I have a 6yr old ds whose writing I know is a level 1b and I know DD's is way better than his but I don't actually have any idea what sort of level it is. This is all a bit difficult for me. All we really want at the end of the day is our DD to be happy and at the moment she isn't with her reading from school and she moans constantly that literacy hour is boring. It doesn't help that the school haven't even shared with us her next steps so we don't actually know what she's meant to be working towards. We're frustrated that we can't help her that much because she's a fluent reader (so we're not teaching to read per se) and I don't know what I'm meant to be doing other than listening and asking her a few questions but I don't know what the questions should be getting her to tease out of the text so they're probably not useful questions.

[onesandwichshort]

We're in a not dissimilar boat - DD is in Yr1 with a reading and comprehension age way above that, just been assessed. And yes, your DD should definitely be counted into a g&T programme,

If our school stick to the plan (big if) DD will be doing project work and twice weekly writing/ICT lessons on her own,plus we are going to try and organise music and language lessons within the school. And we are taking her out a day a week to do Forest School (her motor skills are below average for her year).

But you need to decide what you want - and what will make her happy. Would she like to go up to another class for phonics and literacy? Or do other things that stretch her in other ways? We've gone for the latter approach, for the moment at least.

There are also ways though that she can still be pushed with her reading - for example reading plays and poetry out loud, or factual books that extend her vocabulary.

[Tiggles]

In our school I think they place children on the A&T list if they have to specifically differentiate work just for them. So DS1 reads at an age about 4 years ahead, but there are lots of good readers in his class, they work together and aren't A&T. DS2 however only reads/writes and does maths about a year ahead but he is taught with the year above to make sure he is stretched so he is on the A&T list.

[AMumGoingMad]

Thank you for your thoughts. We will now see what school say next week. I will not mention G&T and just see what they are planning to do with her to continue her to progress. I'm fed up of being the only person who educates her, I thought that was why she went to school! Now at least we have a chance of that happening.

[AnxiousElephant]

If you look at the NAGC website there is lots of good info. Writing is not an indication of gifted - critical thinking and synthesis of ideas beyond the year group and not just reading is. Pulling ideas from one text to another, questions like 'what do you think the author means when he/ she says this' What does this phrase mean? etc My dd is also a free reader age 6 but I still read her interesting books with difficult language and explain what things mean. Ask her what a word means.