AIBU to expect reading book for Y1 child to be changed when I've asked 3 times!!

[Honeymum]

In DD2's class the reading books are changed once a week (when the TA hears her read). She got one book a week until I requested two. Last week her books were not changed on the designated day and I asked the TA two days later to change the book. She assured me she would. It didn't happen, so I sent DD back to class to ask again yesterday (they will be changed tomorrow was the response), then today I asked myself. The TA said she'd change the books tomorrow and that they'd had a busy "non-timetable" day. So it will be two weeks since she's had any new books at all. I am . AIBU? And what should I do next? (I will talk to the teacher tomorrow - I've already explained to her that DD is just clicking with reading and finds getting new titles motivating).

PS we are new to this school. DD has been to two others - the last (in a different town) got "1s" at OFSTED across the board, and the reading policy was you finished a book, you got a new one - often 2 or 3 times a week.

[fatzak]

We are in a similar position - have had this one two weeks and have written in his book that he has read it. I've decided to take the advice of lots of people on here that I shall just read lots and lots with him at home with our books and not worry about the school books! I've bought some phonics reading books from the Book People so will let him have a go at those as well.

[Honeymum]

I'm doing the same but it annoys me that I have to worry about it/invest in (more) books myself/worry that the level is appropriate when the school should be providing books and monitoring progress weekly. I mean, it is the foundation of all learning isn't it? And what does it say about the school if I have to keep asking and nothing happens?

[Buda]

Seems crazy. DS is in Yr 2 and his book is changed every day if I sign that we have read it. In fact we have asked for 2 books recently - some nights we read the 2 and others only 1.

[Reallytired]

My son's reading book was not changed for three and half weeks! I dealt with this by telling the head teacher that my son desperately needed his book changing as it had been three and half weeks.

It is very hard to talk to my son's teacher as I work full time. The only reason I spoke to the head was that he happened to be in the same room as the after school club. It certainly wasn't formal.

We found that my son was diliberately subverting the school's reading system. He discovered that if she did not put the books in the tray they didn't get changed. This meant he avoided school reading books.

Inspite of my son's reading book not being changed he still progressed with his reading. We borrowed lots of books from the library. Infact my son whizzed through stage 6 of the ORT in those 3 and half weeks inspite of not having his book changed.

[Bellavita]

Tbh I think that as long as your child is reading a book from home or the library, it does not matter that the school book is not being changed.

I have two sons, Yr3 and Yr6 and some parents see it as the be all and end all having their DC's book changed all the time at school.

As long as they are reading "something" your child's skills will improve.

[Honeymum]

Thanks for the help. I am sure all will be well but at this early stage it helps to have books that are at the appropriate level, and that's why school books are important iykwim.

[NAB3wishesfor2008]

My DD was complaining as she wanted to read her brother's book tonight. She gets 2 new books a week and that is it. We let her read home books and write them in her reading record.

[Hulababy]

YANBU

My DD (Y1 quivalent) reads to her teacher or TA every day at school, and me every day at home. Her book is changed as soon as she finishes it - so daily with quicker/shorter books, less often with longer, chapter type books.

[fartmeistergeneral]

Am in same position. But I've tried to calm down about it and get books from the library constantly and make ds2 read them to me every single day. I'm still slightly annoyed that his reading ability is not being acknowledged by the school (they don't get tested at all to see if they can move up groups - just get the books in the designated order [ORT]) but I guess what matters is that their reading is improving.

I can totally understand your frustration though.

[bozza]

Well DS only reads at school once a week, but his book was changed as required in Y1. If they wanted their book changing they had to put their book bag in the designated box rather than their tray. So ensure that your DD is following the system.

Now in Y2 it is DS's responsibility to change his own book.

[lottysmum]

Funny enough i was talking to my Dd's teacher (yr1) last week, because I didn't want to push my daughter to far at home with her reading ....she stated that school reading books were ok they served a purpose but the children benefit more from extending their reading at home outside the boundaries of ORT or whatever other scheme is used and also benefit from being read too.

She also said that she writes this on reports but the parents rarely do anything about it.

[Honeymum]

But, MinkVelvet, when a child is just starting out learning to read, misjudging the level and trying to get them to read a book which is perhaps too difficult, can do more harm than good. I have tons of books we can use, but, at this early stage when DD is, as I said in my original post, just clicking with reading, I want the ORT books that they use at school. I will supplement with our own books, but I do want at least a couple of books a week from school. DD finds it motivating to see where she is on in terms of the the books on her particular level.

So, you see, there's no need for sarcasm

[kentgirl73]

My dsughter is in Yr one and gets 2 books 3 times a week, she read to the teacher and TA 3 times a week too, we do read at home...but I would still expect a school to be changing the books at least twice a week

[aintnomountainhighenough]

YANBU. My DD started reception last September, her reading is coming on a treat. After speaking to the TA who is in charge of reading last week we are now getting 2 books home twice a week and she is reading 2 books at school twice a week. However in the year 1 class I understand parents are changing their own books as the teacher isn't in control of it (according to another parent). The clearly varies from school to school and teacher to teacher, I think you should speak to the TA and ask if there is a reason why the books aren't being change and try and ascertain if there is a policy on this in the school.

There have been a number of threads on reading in recent months and I am actually quite surprised at some of the comments. Many people comment that there are other places to get books as if the OP should be told off for expecting the school to actually do what is afterall their job. I think most of us know that a range of reading books is important, as is reading regularly to our children. However I have realised very quickly that actually unless you do a lot of extra reading (actually a lot of everything) with your child out of school they will progress very very slowly. The schools clearly know this however don't seem to do much to help parents. I don't understand why all schools don't have:

• more reading material that supports phonics (or whatever method they are teaching) early on. The old ORT Biff and Chipper don't.
• have a separate library full of books that parents can use to broaden the reading material for their children
• support classes showing parents how they are teaching reading - using phonics or whatever they are using
• have set policies about how they are going to ensure children get their books changed regularly and are reading books appropriate to their ability

There is a real problem in schools at the moment with standards. Many many children are leaving school unable to read or write properly. There are many parents out there who cannot afford to buy extra books, don't have time/don't want to take their children to the library, don't know how they can support their children, don't want to support their children. Many parents are having to work full time just to keep their heads above water, fitting reading etc in is difficult. Rather than keep pushing back onto parents I would like to see schools doing more for example after school reading clubs to help these children.

Sorry went a bit off topic but I think a lot of MN should stop saying there are libraries, the book club etc. I think people on here know this and are doing that stuff what they want is to feel that they can trust the school to keep their part of the bargain which is to actually teach their children.

[mynaughtylittlesister]

Its a real shame that every school has a different way! I have to say i am a TA in a yr1 class and this is the way we do it - If a child is heard read at home and complete the book then it gets replaced. this means they could have 5 new books a week! There is a mixture of books that they can choose from - From ORT, Non fiction, Jelly and Bean, Storyworld etc. It works really well, and it soon becomes apparent which parents help their DC read at home!
We do have boxes that are colour coded and they have to read a certain amount of each section before they move up a level.

DC do not get heard everyday by TA or Teacher, but they do get heard once a week in Guided reading and either by Teacher or TA. We also have a parent helper in twice a week.

[bozza]

aintnomountain as the children move along with their reading and get longer books, sometimes with several chapters, they will not be changed as often. I am quite happy now in Y2 with DS having the responsibility to change his own books. Although sometimes a bit about his choice. But DS has got to the stage where he reads anything and everything.

[aintnomountainhighenough]

Yes I think it is great that children can do this and appreciate they may need to have the same book for longer. I just feel very sad for the children who aren't given the opportunity at home that we all take for granted because I expect it is taking many of them a very long time to be able to reach this stage.

[hellywobs]

I'm in a similar position in that my son's books are changed weekly and as the day alters it can sometimes be well over a week before his book is changed - or a bit less.

I have discovered that a girl in another class gets 2 books a week so have asked for that in his reading diary and explained he gets bored with the books when they are changed less frequently. We do read other books such as the Ladybird Peter & Jane and Phonics but I feel the school should differentiate by ability - and without having to be prompted by a pushy mother.

I remember reading a comment on here from a teacher that schools want children to have fun reading with their parents so the books sent home will be a bit easier than they are capable of, and goodness knows they start school so early so we should not put pressure on them but I don't want his school progress to lag behind his home progress.

[cory]

Honeymum on Thu 07-Feb-08 21:07:35
"But, MinkVelvet, when a child is just starting out learning to read, misjudging the level and trying to get them to read a book which is perhaps too difficult, can do more harm than good."

IME this damage only happens if you try to push them to read what you think is appropriate, not if you let them choose a pile of books and then work on what seems good.
In Yr 1 my children were responsible for changing their own books.
But I often found that library books that might not look the right level to me (or to the teacher) turned out to be right for them. Both my dcs found longer words easier to read than short ones. They got on all right with the ORT but not with the other series the teacher introduced as supposedly being easier.

[TrinityRhino]

I haven't read the thread but

the children do not only have to be able to 'read' the book to move onto the next
they do comprehension work with them
why did you ask for another book?
beleive me, you do not want to be seen as pushystep a fine line between making sure your daughter has the best and pissing opff the teachers
go to the library get 14 books and chill

and btw I speak as a mother whos dd1 could read all her books fluently and talk about the story and everything on the first day she brought them home and begged for more

guess what I mentioned it to the teacher, no pressure
and then just got hold of tons of books so she could read to her hearts content
honestly breeeathe

[TrinityRhino]

I have now read the thread and I realise that my school is actaly vry good

at the very beggiing of school it was slow with the books
but she could already read
now that they have realised that she is on books for 2 years above her so I kind of meant give them a chance to see her ability
but sounds like that isn't going to happen
good luck