Reading

[Itsallkickingoff]

Ds has just started year 3, he has never been a really keen reader although he is fairly competent. Have really struggled over the years with ways to motivate him and get him interested, I have always loved reading. Anyway over the summer he did the library reading scheme and loved it, hooray! He really enjoyed picking his own books and now has a bit of a mania about Roald Dahl. He was so happy when he started year 3 and was allowed to pick his own reading books rather than have to read any more dire reading scheme books and has been so enthusiastic, says its so much fun being in year 3 now. However they took some computerised reading test at school and he said he didn't understand the instructions, the words were too fast and he didn't know what syllabul meant and it was asking how many syllabules where in a word. Clearly he didn't do that well as teacher is now putting him back on reading scheme books. Ds is devastated and was crying his eyes out to day. Spoke to teacher who said we should read both the scheme books and then also his own books, but it is so hard to read two sets of books with him every day and I am so worried and upset that his new found enthusiasm will soon be gone. Any advice?

[BlueHair]

Ignore the scheme books - get him to read to you from books of his choosing...enjoyment and pleasure in reading seems to be completely undervalued by lots of teachers who seem as obsessive about reading levels and some of the parents on here.

This is a long term game you are playing - nurture his new found love of books at all costs and if you must tell the teacher you will not be doing the scheme at home as you don't feel it will benefit your child but personally I'd be more covert.

[moajab]

I'd ask to speak to the teacher and express your concerns about the reading scheme. Maybe it's possible to pick some from the reading scheme that he would enjoy, depending on how the school organises them. At my DS's school each reading level seems to have quite a wide variety of books.
Perhaps your DS could also demonstrate to the teacher how well he can read other books. I would be a bit concerned about judging a child's reading ability purely on a computerised reading test. The teacher needs to hear your DS read him/herself and make a judgement based on that.

If the teacher still feels that your DS should be on a reading scheme then compromise - read the reading scheme book a couple of times a week (that tends to be how often the books get changed in any case) and books he loves the rest of the time - and then go back at half term and see if the teacher feels he's ready to move on.

[Itsallkickingoff]

Unfortunately at Ds school reading scheme books get changed every day, but I think that we will try to read them as little as possible. I agree that he shouldn't be judged on the basis of a computerised reading test. Whilst he has been read with a couple of times since the term has started and has had great comments in his reading record book, his new class teacher hasn't read with him at all yet.

[Itsallkickingoff]

Any other views? I would really welcome some different opinions.

[Itsallkickingoff]

Thanks.

[SleepingLion]

Ignore the reading scheme, read the books he loves and write that in his diary.

The onus is then on the school to get in touch with you to find out why you aren't doing the reading scheme books and you can tell them!

And really - what can they do about it?

[minimathsmouse]

" he didn't know what syllabul meant and it was asking how many syllabules where in a word."

From my exp with two DS, none of the reading scheme books gave a factual description of the finer points of the english language. That is what English lessons are for.

I would ignore the reading scheme books and enter the details for all the new books that your son has chosen to read. If the teacher hasn't listened to him read you could suggest she listen to him read a book of his choice brought in from home.

[mrz]

We teach about syllables from nursery (in very general term - clapping the syllables in words) so I'm sure he has just been confused by the test.