I want to ask DD's teacher if we can read our own books instead of school reading books. Any reason why this might be a bad idea?

[AubergineArtichokeAsparagus]

DD is five years old and has just graduated from Oxford Reading Tree so is sent home with random chapter books. A lot are very boring e.g. one was Pocahontas but a very historical narrative about family heritage and how officers are better bred than sailors etc. It totally went over her head. She tells me she hates school reading books.

At home she loves reading books like "Daisy and the Trouble with..." or the Pippi Longstocking stuff. However, we never have time to read these in term time as she must read her school book each night.

Is there any reason why I can't read her preferred books each night and write about them in her reading log? How might a teacher react to this suggestion?

[redskyatnight]

I did the same with my DS's teacher in Y2. He was on a similar stage but the books were so awful that we used to read a chapter and DS would beg not to have to finish it. It was putting him (already a reluctant reader) off reading altogether.

I asked his teacher if we could just choose our own reading books - I even suggested that I would make sure he read a variety of things and to my surprise she agreed with me that the school reading books at DS's level were awful (especially for boys) and that she was totally happy with my suggestion.

incidentally the PTA have since given the school money for books and I notice that the books at this level have been totally replaced.

So it may be that your DD's school are also stuck with no money to replace books and will be happy with your suggestion!

[littlemachine]

As a teacher, I would be delighted! She will be getting the necessary practise with books she enjoys. Her teacher will still be able to teach further reading skills and assess her reading in school as normal. Does the teacher listen to her read from the book that is sent home?

[Castleford]

We've done this before. I just had a word with my DC's teacher and explained, "Little Julie has started reading xxx, is LOVING it, so is it ok if this is her main reading book for home and school, because she can't put it down." Wasn't a problem at all. I then provided her with all her reading material all year after that.

[BleatingRose]

I was free-reading in Reception, and my school just allowed me to choose anything from their library, or anything from home. I don't think there's any harm in asking. They may want to specify fiction or non-fiction this week perhaps, but I'm sure that's easily accommodated by using your local library.

I enjoyed The Moomins, Mrs Pepperpot, Pippi Longstocking, Little Women, Chronicles of Narnia, Chronicles of Prydain, Ramona and Beezus, Any Enid Blytons, particularly the Adventure series and Mallory Towers...

My DD enjoyed Lotta stories (by Astrid Lindgren), Winnie the Witch and (if you can stand them) Horrid Henry when she was in Reception.
If they're covering particulary phonemes in class then Dr Seuss can be great too.

[crazygracieuk]

Our school was fine with it and asked us to record what we read in her reading record.

[mrsbaffled]

My DS (7) reads freely at home, but school still insist on sending home scheme books too. I get him to read it (takes about 15 minutes), then he spends the rest of his time reading very long chapter books. He reads 1-2 hours a night, so the scheme book only goes so far...I write down what he's reading in his reading record.

[RueDeWakening]

I didn't ask, just recorded that she's read 1 or 2 chapters of whichever book we're on in her contact book. She still gets 2 books from school to read, we do them but as they're only changed twice a week max they never last her (I've never made her read a book more than once though, do most people do that?). Also she's a free reader in reception and picks her own books - they tend to be too easy really, so I'd rather she reads her chapter books at home instead tbh.

[Sandalwood]

Or suggest new books to the PTA.
We have 'Daisy the trouble with ...' books etc in the school reading baskets.

[Littlefish]

At dd's school, we are encouraged to do this!

[CupOfBrownJoy]

If she's a free reader I, as a Y2 teacher, would have no problem with this, as long as she was reading a wide variety of texts, eg some non-fiction and poetry too.

[NormanTheForeman]

Ds has been on free reading since year 1 and we soon found there was very little he liked in the classroom to read. We have supplied stuff for him to read since then, and the school have been fine about it.

[countessbabycham]

I have done this with both of mine,but my Yr 3 DD has been told she should read her school book rather than her Famous Five book she was really enjoying.
I just aim to do a bit of both if thats what she wants,now. But it is a shame when she does get a really boring book.

[mumblesmum]

I wouldn't even say they had to be free readers. if a reluctant reader wants to read books from home and doesn't want to read school books, it would be churlish to deny them the pleasure!
The aim, surely, is to encourage children to enjoy reading.

[Ambersivola]

As well as reading the school books chosen by Granddaughter and recorded in her Reading Diary, there are pages at the back of the diary to record books read at home.