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When do they start bringing home reading books with actual words in?

26 replies

N0tinmylife · 05/10/2012 12:37

DS started Reception in September, and seems to be getting on fine so far, as far as I can tell. He has been bringing home reading books every week, ORT ones. So far they have had just pictures, and he has to tell me the story from that. I am just curious, does anyone know how long it is likely to be before he starts coming home with books containing actual words for him to read? I am ridiculously excited about my PFB finally learning to read and therefore a little impatient! Grin

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redskyatnight · 05/10/2012 12:41

It really depends on the school (DC's school never used wordless books at all). I'd suggest asking a parent with an older child at the school (or the teacher)

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DeWe · 05/10/2012 12:56

Depends on the school and the child.

Mine were reading before school (older ones) and never had them. I know one child (late summer born) who didn't have one with words until summer term. The later child caught up with mine over year 1 and 2, so it didn't make any long term difference.

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Fuzzymum1 · 05/10/2012 13:00

None of the children, whatever their ability they had, brought home any books until after october half term at DS3's school.

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givemeaclue · 05/10/2012 13:02

Yes mine have had them since day one of reception. Had some non words ones too sometimes. Ask the teacher? Or start doing at home if the suspense is too much!

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N0tinmylife · 05/10/2012 13:19

Thanks for the responses, I don't want to ask the teacher in case l look like I'm being horribly pushy. He is starting to sound out short words, so we have been picking out the words he can read when we are reading his own books. I guess I will just have to try and be patient!

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Glittertwins · 05/10/2012 13:21

Our two have brought reading books home with them from the beginning of reception. They used to choose books to bring home from nursery too.

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simpson · 05/10/2012 13:33

DS now yr3 did not get a reading book with words in till feb of his reception year but DD currently in reception got reading books from when she was in nursery (attached to the school). It will depend on when they feel your child is ready...

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noramum · 05/10/2012 14:29

We hardly got any as DD calls them BabyBooks and just refuses to tell the story. She came home with ORT 1 and then would tell us what was going on in the picture?

do you have a parent evening coming soon? I would just ask what the general procedures are.

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N0tinmylife · 05/10/2012 15:30

noramum, DS has already complained they are babyish! He does do them quite willingly at the ,moment though. I don't think there is a parents evening until after half term.

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MegBusset · 05/10/2012 16:49

Our school doesn't give them reading books til Y1, bypassing the tedious early-level books.

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Brockle · 05/10/2012 16:54

We have got our first reading books with words in today and DS2 has had ORT books without words for the last two weeks. We got a printed hand out with the text to read and questions to answer on each page which were great. They just help with starting off their comprehension skills. Loved teaching DS1 to read so quite excited at our first reading book so I understand your impatience!

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weedonleg · 05/10/2012 17:36

lots variety in approaches between schools! DS brings home a new book every day, but none he is expected to 'read' - they are all books like 'Six dinner Sid' 'Mog visits the VET' which we have to read to him.

I think you'd need to ask the school, and in the meanwhile, just read your own books from the library.

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mrz · 05/10/2012 17:42

How odd Meg ... what books do they start on in Y1 ?

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mrz · 05/10/2012 17:47

There isn't really any point in sending home books for the child to read if they haven't got the skills to read it, much better IMHO to send books home for parents to share with their child.
There's also no point in sending home wordless books if a child can read already.

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coldcupoftea · 05/10/2012 20:33

In DD's school they don't send books home until after half term.

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lljkk · 05/10/2012 20:39

Mine brings home books with lots of words in them already; it's pointless since he can barely recognise a few letters & can only sound out a tiny number of words (if he/we try hard). I would prefer books without words & him just storytelling to me from the pictures, tbh.

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MegBusset · 05/10/2012 22:20

Mrz in Y1 they bring home normal reading books mostly from the Big Cat reading scheme. DS1 brought home his first book last week, he is on turquoise level.

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Shodan · 05/10/2012 22:27

DS2 brought his first one home two weeks into reception, but it varies hugely. Ds1 was much later in the year, iirc.

Still bloody Kipper though- 12 years later!

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ash979 · 05/10/2012 22:36

In my class, they tend to get words after half term. This half term they get the wordless ort books. In class we are learning the first sounds and how to word build so until I'm confident a child can do that I don't give them books with words at home. I do however always have some who can already read therefore they are slotted into the reading scheme where I see fit

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wonkylegs · 05/10/2012 22:47

We were told they'd have wordless books first but DS has had very basic word ones home from the beginning. (I think it's the pink ones) This is fine except it ignores the fact that he did the red ones at his nursery (very good early years - responded to DS's love of books) which they know. Bonus is that he gets very excited when I tell him he's done very well as he reads them all himself, downside is he gets bored very quickly. We are just continuing to read loads at home (combination of stuff he can do and more complicated stories by mummy)

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maillotjaune · 05/10/2012 22:50

Asking isn't being pushy is it? As long as you aren't saying you think he should have reading booksSmile

Our school sends them home with books when they think the child is ready. So DS1 - after half term. DS2 - day 1 reception as they knew he was reading in nursery.

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beezmum · 05/10/2012 23:00

I remember the zealous light that lit up in my dd's teacher's eyes as she declared at the curriculum meeting that ALL children would begin with picture books. Weeks and weeks of picture books did my head in as my dd could do some vey basic reading and was perfectly familiar with how books work. I can see that these books are a nice stimulus for story telling but they seem pretty pointless to teach reading.

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mrz · 06/10/2012 07:34

I'm assuming they are using books in reception but not sending them home

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RiversideMum · 06/10/2012 08:34

In my class I send home lovely story books to share until the child can decode and blend for reading. Sometimes they come into reception being able to read, sometimes it takes til towards the end of the summer term.

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2cats2many · 06/10/2012 13:08

My school don't use the wordless books. DD started bringing home reading books after Christmas. By that stage, she'd learnt quite a few sounds and could read stage 1 books.

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