Choosing own reading books in Year 1

[MissPB]

My daughter has justed started Year 1. She is allowed to choose a new book whenever she is ready and we read every day after school.

My slight issue is that because she is allowed to choose her own, she is bringing home books she has already read in her reception class and some books that are 2 levels below the level she ended up on at the end of her reception year - because she likes the pictures on the front (aaah bless her).

She reads the books through quickly/with understanding etc. I understand that any reading she does is good practise and good for her confidence but I wish she was being a little more challenged!

Is there a polite way to ask the teachers to guide her to something at least at her level or to get something a little more challenging? Or should I just use our own books for her at home reading?

[Mashabell]

Why not take her to library and guide her choices a little yourself?

[ElaineReese]

I used to annoy my parents by doing this!

I would tell yourself it's good she's developing a love of books - not just racing from box to box - and the joy of re-reading. Maybe once in a while encourage her to bring something home from the next level, but chill the rest of the time. Reading shouldn't be all about being stretched.

And then just buy books at home/borrow from the library which you do think are appropriate

[MissPB]

Oooh ElaineReese! Did you do it every year to them? I understand the motives for the choosing her own books I really do! Maybe I am just getting slighly hot under the collar about reading levels (hangs head in shame...).

We go to the library every couple of weeks and she has loads of her own books at home. Perhaps we could read a school book one day and one from home the next to broaden her horizons a little?

[tellthetime]

Someone should be making sure she picks books from the level she is at. I think it really helps to read books that are progressively harder so they can gradually get used to more text, smaller writing etc without being put off. I would definately have a word with the teacher to ask if someone can help her choose books from the level she is at. It doesn't look pushy. But definately get books from the library about things that she likes. If they seem too hard read alternate pages and help her with the difficult words so it is fun.

[ElaineReese]

Oh no, but I did get attached to some books they thought were too young (I still sneakily read my cousin's Topsy and Tim when I was 12, for example), and my parents were the sort who wanted me to be on the hardest books ASAP.

Don't hang head in shame though - I was exactly the same when my dd was in Year 1 and kept coming out with the same sodding book day after day! It's normal - just with hindsight I probably should have chilled a bit about it!

And yes - just mix it up a bit with the challenging stuff and the easier ones, I reckon.

[MissPB]

Thanks for your thoughts on this. ER I thought you were writing as a teacher!

It is parent/teacher night soon so I will raise it then.

[redskyatnight]

DD also picks her own books (actually she did it from Reception). But she knows to pick books from the level she is on. If your DD is constantly bringing books home from the wrong level maybe she is unsure what level she is on, or the boxes are jumbled?

DD also likes to pick books she's already read. As long as it's not all the time (I suggest that next time she might like to try a book she's not read before) I don't see this as a problem.

[ElaineReese]

Oh I see! No, just as a kid who was good at reading but liked to read 'young' books sometimes, and as a parent whose own (now very good at reading!) had an infuriating teacher in year 1 who never gave them time in the day to change their book!

Basically I got more wound up about that than I probably needed to, with hindsight!