to think that new reading scheme is holding dc back?

[Snowfire]

DD (yr6) has been on free reads since early year 4. Sometimes the books she has chosen have been a bit naff but she has read and enjoyed lots of different books such as; Roald Dahl, Michael Morpurgo, Harry Potter etc and really enjoys reading. Sometime last year I was told she had a reading age of 13 so I thought this would mean she can read pretty much anything with age appropriate content.
Last week she came out of school moaning that she had been put back on the reading scheme and had been given (no choice) a book to read. Looking at it at home, it's OUP tree tops level 14 which is apparently aimed at year 5. It seems very similar to the ones she had a few years ago with large print, short chapters and lots of pictures. I had a bit of a read myself and thought it was pretty simple in terms of storyline and language compared to what she has been reading for the past 2 years and she feels that she is being put back. I've spoken to a few other mums and I think it's the whole class who have been put back, not just DD.
Has this happened to anyone else?

[Snowfire]

I've also posted this in primary education

[Callisto]

Reading schemes suck in my opinion. DD (6) reads very well and is still on stage 7 of the oxford reading tree rubbish. It is a very prescriptive system and not at all engaging.

Personally, I would be having a word with your DD's teacher about why she is back on a reading scheme if she is reading so fluently and well.

[buzzskillington]

Take her to the library.

[slavetofilofax]

It may be because the teacher is introducing comprehension excercises or something, I would just ask the teacher nicely. They often have some reason for these things that parents wouldn't automatically realise.

There is no reason why she can't continue to read the books she enjoys at home, you can provide books for her yourself.

[McPie]

Is it a new teacher she has trying to see where they think the kids should be rather than trusting another teachers judgement? I honestly thought they had to teach a child as an individual rather than as a group even if the later is easiest. My Ds1 is in p6 (Scotland) but is working with p7 for his maths as its the level he is at and he worked with the same group last year (p5/6 class).

[Snowfire]

I've told her to just wizz through the school book then she can read the ones she enjoys but it just seems such a shame for her to feel despondant about reading at school.
I'm going to quiz the teacher after school today!

[aldiwhore]

My eldest adores reading, so much I've had to hide some of my unsuitable books else he'd read them and everything else, he's 7. He's in a reading scheme, he finds it way too easy and dull. As for holding him back though, no I don't think it does, because he reads other books as well.... I just have to make sure I have plenty of challenging and suitable books to feed him with.

[worraliberty]

It doesn't matter though does it? As long as she reads at home and you take her to the library...what she reads at school is neither here nor there.

It's good for kids to 'have to' read a book they're not keen on anyway because that's what they have to do in senior school and they'll have to write all about it.

She may find she's not keen on Shakespeare for example but she won't have a choice if she's told to study it.

Reading 'levels' tend to be a sore point for some parents who think they're some sort of massive indicator of reading ability.

[Ephiny]

If she's such a good reader, she should be able to whizz through the 'easy' books for school in a matter of minutes, so they can tick whatever boxes they need to, and get on with reading whatever she wants to.

Is this for reading at home, or do they have to sit and read the books in class? Sorry not up to date with how the reading schemes work these days!

[Snowfire]

McPie, she has the same teacher as last year (small school) who is well aware of all of their abilities so I just don't understand what their trying to achieve. Surely if they were working on comprehension, they would all have the same text to work from, not different books in the same box.

[mumto2andnomore]

For a younger child I would agree with reading them and then choosing what she wants to read at home but at Y6 if shes a good reader it does seem mad to put her back on the scheme ! Be interesting to see what the teacher says.

[vmcd28]

Op, I agree with u. DS1 is 6 and has a reading age of 10, as assessed by the school - yet they WON'T put him onto a more advanced level of books because the grammar etc that they teach goes hand in hand with the books they read for homework. We're in Scotland, I don't know how we differ from in England - should I be pushing the school to move him up a level or two?
I know we can buy/borrow more challenging books, which is what we do, but as the OP says, I hate that this makes him feel a bit "meh" about reading books from school when it should be encouraged.

[Marymaryalittlecontrary]

Give it time - the teacher is probably doing her own reading assessments and 'correct' level books will be sorted shortly. She probably wants to check that comprehension levels match technical reading ability, because some children can read anything put in front of them but not understand a word! Not saying this is the case for your daughter, but her teacher probably wants to assess the whole class before she decides on reading books.

As long as she is enjoying reading other books at home then I wouldn't worry.

[blackeyedsusan]

what are the words in the book like, they may have chosen them to increase vocabulary. (though hp has a lot of interesting words and is fab for phonics with all those magic words) it may be a whole school policy to go onto those books and the teacher not have a choice, though it would seem to be more sensible to introduce them to the children who re just coming off the old reading scheme.

come back and tell us what the teacher said.

[catpark]

I got told by DD's school that all children have to read the books through teh levels regardless of ability. DD finds them boring as she has been reading roald dahl, enid blyton etc. since she was 5.5 years. She has just turned 7. Her group were on stage 12 in March but then they were advanced to basic chapter books which were a bit better. Her new teacher (P3 ) however has put the whole group back on the ORT stage 12 books again ! I did leave a note in her reading book but it was ignored.
She goes regularly to the library and soaks up anything she reads so I know she is reading fluently.

[Marymaryalittlecontrary]

X post, see now it's the same teacher. Well, it could be that at the end of Year 5 the pupils' comprehension work wasn't matching their reading ability. Therefore she is putting all pupils on more simple books to help them to understand more of what they are reading.

[Snowfire]

I'll try & talk to the teacher after school to find out what the story is and see if there is any scope for the dc to choose books they are at least interested in rather than being given one. I'll pop back later to let you all know what happens. Thanks for all the input btw!

[pippilongsmurfing]

If your DC's are keen readers then mostly the reading scheme's suck.

The library is your friend!

Your DD can whizz through the scheme stuff if she's such a good reader and read other things she finds more rewarding, it's not either/or!!!

[Snowfire]

Had a chat to the teacher after school & explained the issues DD has with the new system. He was very understanding and said that as these books are very new to the school they are still trying to work out how to use the system to suit everyone. He did agree that DD shouldn't have been given the book (by TA) and he's going to get the (former) free readers together tomorrow to talk to them about the system properly so they can all have their input

[dementedma]

my goodness what a lot of gifted, brilliant DCs you all have!
Waiting for someone to come on and post "My DC is an average reader and enjoys the school reading scheme" What are the chances?

[MCos]

Well dementedma, my two girls do actually enjoy the school reading scheme. DD1 is a good reader, and just flies through the school reading, and enjoys 'ticking' off the boxes when she is finished. And even thought she has read all the harry potter books several times, she has no problem with picking up an Oxford learning tree book (she'll finished it in 5-10 mins anyway).

DD2 is struggling a bit with her reading, so a below average reader. And she is enjoying the reading scheme books too. She even picks them from the library and we read them together at home, and I'm seeing an improvement in her reading as a result.

So these books are not hated by all...

[Feminine]

I have come to the conclusion that it matters not one bit what the school dole out...

As long as they are able to read well ,and enjoy what they are reading ...then so be it!

I agree with worra. At my elder sons Primary,it was an competition for the parents to try and catch a glimpse of what levels each child was on...

I don't mean to be disparaging to you op ...just don't think you should worry about reading schemes. I have actually given up ...after going cold turkey mind

[vmcd28]

but I think part of the problem I have isnt so much whether DS gets anything out of the books he's sent home with, but it would be nice if the one thing he is particularly good at was encouraged and recognised.
Kids in his class got prizes at the end of last year, for sports achievements, trying hard all the time, scripture union, 100% attendance etc etc etc, but nothing at all throughout the year to say "well done, you're really good at reading!"

[Feminine]

I understand that feeling vmcd28 :)

Both my sons are both light years ahead with reading ...nothing has ever been recognized by the school.

My eldest son is able to script , in computer class they ask him to just type I think I have just started to give up caring what the school think I guess?

But, I will say well done to your son now!