Hi Sisters
With my 5yo starting school tomorrow I am really worried because she doesn't know how to read or write words..
She can copy words, and letters and numbers but lacks comprehension.
She is very clever but has not had the desire or the need to read and write at the stage..
I am not sure what stage she is meant to be at or what the school expects of children so I thought I would ask you?
7 Replies
She doesn't need to be able to read or write to start school. They teach them to read and write at school.
Basically her first two years of school will be devoted to literacy.
There will be some kids like my weird niece who can already read and write but they are in the minority.
Thank you!
This really puts my mind at ease.
Funny the things we stress over when they start school!
She will learn all of this in school, it is not expected some teachers even prefer a 'clean slate' to teach from. also there is a school of research that supports the benefits of children NOT learning academics before 7 and spending that time on self development and learning through play.
One thing that could help is knowing her name, or the first letter, so she can find her water bottle, hat peg, book, etc etc. but even if she doesnt she will be fine!
Thanks so much!
She does recognize letters and basic numbers which is great, and knows what her name looks like.
The school does an assessment to gauge where the kids are so I have been a bit worried, prob for no reason!
We all want our kids to do well and not be unprepared, its natural! Theres no need to worry about the school test, its not to rank kids against each other, teachers know that starting kindy they will be all over the place, so this is a tool to give an understanding of each student individually, to find out roughly what she knows and where her gaps are so they can provide her the best learning environment.
Exactly.
My son could write the first three letters of his name only, didn't pick up any of the flash cards we did over summer before school and he is in grade 4 now and is well above average academically, so don't stress!