What is expected of a reception student?

DS1 started school at the beginning of the year, and recently it has occured to me that I really don't know a great deal about the curriculum or what is expected of reception students.

I'd really love some feedback from teachers if we have any around that can offer some information, and I'm also looking for replies from a parent point of view as well.

What is expected of them both academically and behaviour wise?

What learning outcomes are expected by the end of the year going into year one?

DS1's teacher has asked that we come up with some behaviour and academic learning goals that we feel are achievable, however, not knowing the curriculum or what the teacher expects makes it a hard question to answer!

So what do you think is exptected of a reception student?

They are expected to be able to read the "magic 100 sight words".

DS's teacher set their individual learning goals based on what they already knew.

DS didn't know any sight words so his "reading" goal was to learn the "golden sight words" (the first 12).

They also have math and writing goals. Most of his classes goal was to write their first and last name. Math goals were writing numbers 1-20 in order (no numbers back to front etc).

I seem to think we have a bit of a communication problem with DS1's teacher, this is why we are having a meeting tomorrow, I want to go in well prepared with questions to ask and of course the goals that she's asked us to come up with.

I am not aware of any current goals that she's set for DS1, should she have set some and let us know?

I'm also not completely aware of what we should be doing at home with him, obviously reading both us to him and him to us with his reader. We go through his sight words list on a daily basis and often he will come home with a list of words that he needs to practice at home, but again, this isn't mentioned to us, I've come across the list in his sounds book and he mentioned to me then that he should be doing them at home as well.

I just want to give DS1 the best start to school possible and support and help him along as much as possible, I'm just not sure of the right way to go about it!

By now the teacher should have completed a couple of standardised testings so should know where your child is academically. they should then guide you on what you should be focusing on at home.

DD has had readers, sounds and sight words as "homework"
i think they expect a reception to be able to read/write their name know the alphabet, by now know the sounds and starting to put them together when reading.

questions to ask the teacher should just focus on your child, what reading level? how often is that tested? do gross motor and/or fine motor skills need to be practiced? how is his behaviour in class? what can WE do as parents?

I think it would be reasonable for you to say that you don't know what's expected... That's why you send him to school.... And what does she think.... :)

I think it's okay to ask parents what they want for the child, and maybe that's all she wants from you.... But actually asking you to set the goals seems a bit .... :dunno:

Thanks girls, I don't want to go in to this meeting unprepared and looking foolish.

DS1 has been having a little trouble at school, nothing extreme, however his behaviour, mainly his concentration, needs some work. He's by no means a naughty kid, however he is currently easily distracted, sometimes doesn't know when to be quiet and often speaks when the teacher is speaking, which lands him in to strife.

The reason for this meeting, in her exact words, is for us to let her know what our goals, both behaviour wise, and academically, are, and for her to do the same so we can then sit down and come up with goals that are suitable from both sides. As I said before it's really hard for me to do that not knowing what is exptected from him, but I also don't want to look foolish or unprepared.

So far I have broken it down into:

What we expect from the school:
To be kept up to date on reading level progression.
Updates on curriculum, what is being taught, either on a weekly or monthly basis. Perhaps a quick email each week with topics for the week.

For example, I had no idea that DS1 was doing a topic on past and present toys until he came home with an excursion form for a trip to celebrate end of topic!

What is expected from us (the parents) (apart from the obvious, which is to discipline and parent our child)
Daily reading (us to him and him to us)
Daily revision of sight words
Daily word practice (writing)


What is expected of DS1 academically and behaviour wise:

This is where I'm needing help setting some goals. So far I have:

Reading level to progress to level 3 by end of term and level 6 by end of year.
To know 3 sets of sight words by end of term.
To listen and follow instructions.
To be courteous and respect fellow students and teacher.

Any more ideas?

If he is easily distracted it could be worth getting his hearing checked, as that sometimes affects concentration...


i don't think you will look foolish and unprepared saying "my goal for my child is to get an education, I'd like him to read and know some maths...I would like him to be a useful and courteous member of society. Unfortunately I don't know what should be expected from a child his age, so I don't know what specific goals from an academic perspective are appropriate. Do you think level 3 by the end of term is achievable??"

Having said that, I can tell you are worried about what they will think of you - So it will probably help you feel a bit more in control if you have some ideas.... You've done a great job - i think your goals seem good (I still think its the schools job to work that out... But she may be trying to see if you are on the same page, and want you to work together...)

Might not be possible for the school to tell you what is going on with the curriculum, teachers don't really have time to email each parent... But you can only ask :)

Just don't let her make them too hard so he is set up for failure... That will only make you all feel bad.

Remember that this is not a test to see how good a parent you as, or whether your goals are "right"... It's just you and the teacher sitting together making a plan that you both think are right for your child... Don't worry too much.. You won't look silly at all

its stressful trying to get i right for your kids,isn't it? :hug:

We had his hearing checked at his kindy check up last year and all was fine :)

My turn, thanks so much for the support and encouragement, I really appreciate it!

I think you're right, she is trying to ensure we are on the same page with regard to his learning abilities and goals. I do, to some degree, feel like I am being tested lol, I'm an intelligent woman but I guess I just want to make sure my little man gets all the support we can possibly give him and I'm having a little trouble working out how to go about doing that!

Hopefully this meeting will provide me with the tools I need to do just that!

My primary goal is for my child to have a settled and enjoyable first year at school. To establish the foundations of a lifelong love of learning. To further develop his independence, his social skills and his emotional resilience.

I expect the school to celebrate his strengths and to support him in his weaknesses. I expect them to value him as an individual.

Academically, I want my child to realise his own potential in a caring and nurturing environment.

If you are interested, look up the Australian Curriculum website. It'll give you a guide on what is expected in each year level.