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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

Is this reasonable?

16 replies

dolphin79 · 15/09/2011 21:56

To expect a year 3 child to read 3 books per week at home. Failure to achieve this means loss of breaktime. Bearing in mind most are now reading chapter books.

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LucyLastik · 15/09/2011 21:58

I don't think its reasonable.

It pisses me off actually. Its as if the school think you have nothing better to do than sit there listening to the child read when they very obviously don't want to do it anyway.

DD1 brings home long chapter books and we do read every day but she can stay on the same book all week because it takes so long.

I think as long as they are doing regular practice then that should be enough.

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Hassled · 15/09/2011 22:01

Absolutely barking mad. They're making reading a chore, not a pleasure. Talk to the Head.

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dolphin79 · 15/09/2011 22:02

Maybe a word with the teacher is necessary to check ds's understanding of it.

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amistillsexy · 15/09/2011 22:03

My Y3 Ds can read a chapter book a night...but he doesn't get enough sleep if I let him!
He has hyperlexia so reads very quickly. I wouldn't be surprised if he got this level of reading for homework, but I think it is too much for most Y3s, especially if they have other homework as well.
I don't think it's reasonable for the books to be read aloud to a parent either-maybe if they are for silent reading it could be just do-able.

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exoticfruits · 15/09/2011 22:12

I don't agree with loss of playtime-not a way to make reading enjoyable. However at that age I would have got through more than 3 books. However my DSs wouldn't have had many playtimes.

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dolphin79 · 15/09/2011 22:16

I suppose on balance 3 isn't alot if you include weekends. However, ds didn't get a book till tuesday so i would say it's nigh on impossible to read one chapter book per night.

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missmapp · 15/09/2011 22:18

I teach yr3 and we excpect 15 mins a night, the amount of book read in this time will, of course, vary greatly depending on the reading ability. We dont punish for non-reading, just reward for those who met the target. It seems a bit harsh to me.

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Sam100 · 15/09/2011 22:26

I think quality of reading is more important than quantity. I would much rather sit with dc and hear them read 1 page with good expression and understanding of the plot and be able to discuss what happens next and it take them 2 weeks to get through a good book. I want them to develop a love of reading and not see it as a chore.

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firstgreatholswiththree · 15/09/2011 22:31

Not a chance in this house. To be totally honest we are in week 2 and I'm struggling this term to get organised and routined enough to get the books done before they are too tired. I've worked some evenings, toddler has been a PITA and the kids have had activities. DD in year 3 doesn't like reading and it's gone 8pm when we sit down to read and she's past it at the moment..... I'm picking my battle and reading 3 books per week would not have been 1 of them in our house... Last year the class got spoken to about what a waste of time it was going to the library if they didn't read the book they had picked. I did say something because I didn't think DD should be moaned at when it was me that didn't have the space / time to sit and read chapter books to her along with her home reader. New term and the same thing is happening again. Library book is a novel. Unless DD is picking it up herself it aint getting read as we all don't have the time or energy at the end of the day to read it ....

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kipperandtiger · 15/09/2011 22:42

How would they check that each book has actually been read through, and not just skimmed, or read at the beginning and at the end? As someone who was an avid reader and loved Eng and Eng Lit, I think this is excessive. As others have said, it's the quality of the reading, not a list of chores to be ticked off. A book a week is more than enough, IMO.

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Hulababy · 15/09/2011 22:47

Silly at this age to set a number of books. It depends on what they are reading as to whether it is achieveable or not. If they are reading chapter books like many are at this stage they not even finish one book in a week!

Seems like a good way to put children off reading too.

DD's school just gave a recommended time frame - 15-20 minutes a night, but optional, so if the chid has a busy night it didn't mater if they missed it occasionally.

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rainbowinthesky · 16/09/2011 07:11

I read a lot and I couldnt read 3 chapter books a week. Dd is in Y3 and is on "proper" books, enjoys reading, does it most days and get through maybe 1 1/2 book a week.

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redskyatnight · 16/09/2011 09:07

um ... are you absolutely sure 3 books a week is required? My Y3 DS came home last week and announced that they had to read 3 books each week or they might lose golden time. On checking with his teacher it emerged that this was actually 3 times a week.

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cat64 · 16/09/2011 19:47

This reply has been deleted

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Choufleur · 16/09/2011 19:50

How does the school know? Do you have to sign to say they have read it? I'd probably just sign it even if DS hadn't read it so that they aren't punished. Seems a lot to me.

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dolphin79 · 22/09/2011 12:57

Surprise, surprise it wasn't right. Just 3 timer week. Moral of the story do not believe a word your child says.