Mumsnet Talk

He's coming to the end of stage 3 and he finds them a bit dull. Made worse by the teacher's technique of going over the book in school, then reading it at home, then rereading it but looking for double letters, then rereading looking for three letter words etc ad nauseum. We're getting 2 to 3 books a week max.

DS wants to read, loves reading signs, packets etc, and enjoys having chapter books read to him at night. But he gets really distracted by the second or third read and is guessing or substituting words because he knows the story. I'm thinking if I get some different books for home he night feel a bit more inspired?

i got some "learn to read" batman and wonderwoman stories for ds and dd which they found a lot more exciting than biff and chipper

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Can-Read-Phonics-Batman-Fun/dp/0061885428/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1359883024&sr=8-12

OMG he would LOVE those! He's Marvel mad! Thank you!

What books do you read to him at home? Can you encourage him to take turns with you, so you read one then he reads one to you, eg anything by Julia Donaldson, Oliver Jeffers, others like that? Just read your home books for fun without using any techniques so he keeps his pleasure in reading. My 5yo can cope with some Roald Dahl being read aloud (eg George's Marvellous Medicine, The BFG) but some is too advanced for him and in more demand from my 7yo. We're just getting into Horrid Henry.

For what its worth, Biff and Chip get slightly more exciting later one when the magic key takes them on adventures - my DDs were much happier after this began. Stage 5 I think?

I also have the same problem with the rereading aspect. DD2 in particularly would just recite the book on the third "read"- gaining no benefit whatsoever.

Dorling kindersley publish a series of books - loads of different ones at different levels. DS1 loves the star wars ones.

It's important to remember that generally kids love Biff and Chip! It's the grown ups who find them boring, and I suspect that's only because they haven't read any other reading schemes books (Mr Red Hat, anyone?)

Any book would be boring if it was dealt with the way your child's teacher is doing it- can you ask for a different book for home to the one they are using for guided reading?

We tend to read Dahl to him, and some library books, while we do a mixture of picture books together.

It never crossed my mind to look for superheroes ones - I've just ordered Batman and Star Wars sets for him. I shall make a list for the library too, thanks very much!

seeker I think Biff etc are quite good for the level they're at, but DS complains. I think it's the repetition, he just loses interest. I think I'll mention it to the teacher.

I would mention it to the teacher with reference to the repetition generally. Don't mention B and C or she'll tune you out- teachers get used to parents complaining about those particular books all the time. Not sure why!

Roger, Billy and Jennifer seeker and that naughty Percy Green (I wonder where his hat went) but I'll raise you The Gay Way ...do you remember The Fat Pig?

poachedeggs most books are less boring than early ORT but you need to remember school reading schemes are "text" books intended for teaching specific concepts.

"It's important to remember that generally kids love Biff and Chip! It's the grown ups who find them boring"

That's certainly how it works in this house.

I certainly find them hugely better than the awful ones we read when I was small - see Jane, see Jane run, see Spot, see spot run, see Spot run after Jane, see spot maul Jane...

These are the Oxford Owl e-books that are free online for ages 5-6. There are lots of Chip and Biff ones, but there are other books too. Maybe read these with your DS at home instead of the books being sent.

I have no issue with what he's doing and I understand that we need to support what the teacher is doing. I just hate seeing him bored by books already, and I get frustrated with him just tripping it out instead of actually reading the words.It feels like there's no benefit because he's not interested enough to concentrate without me nagging him to read each page again, properly

I think finding him more interesting things to read a home is a good idea and doesn't undermine the teacher. Its more important that you foster a love of reading and an eagerness to learn.

He has my sympathy poachedeggs personally I wouldn't inflict them on anyone

Thinking about this, I was an avid reader as a child, and I still don't have the patience to savour books. I guess he could be like me, or I could be projecting myself onto him a bit...

I'll think it over. Maybe I need to persist in encouraging him to concentrate better.

or alternatively spend 10 mins reading the book and then share a story

Both my dc love magic key stories with Biff, Kipper etc.

They start ORT level 5.

Thanks for this - just bought the Batman books!

I agree with seeker, that these books are not bad as books for complete beginners go, but the teacher seems to be wringing all possible enjoyment out of them. If they are going over and over them at school, there seems little point in also doing them at home so, in this case, just about anything would be less boring.

I disagree CecilyP I think they are dire for complete beginners but get better in the later stages

They are very predictable and pretty easy to memorise which is why some children like them

I was thinking in comparison to Peter and Jane or Janet and John or the dreaded Ginn 360. I am sure there are also better books. I did say, 'not bad' rather than wonderful!

I guess how bad they are depends on what the reader feels about them?!