To talk to teacher?

[STARE2016]

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster.

Just would like some other opinions please. DD is 6, in Yr 1 at school. She has always been a very able reader. Her side of the school (it's split into Yr R, 1 and then Y2+) only has up to stage 10 ORT books - she has read all of these. She has come home last week with some very easy 'first reader' books, which aren't challenging & very boring. Spoke to teacher & she had TA find her some books from the 'other side' of school. 1 of them a ORT stage 9 All Stars book, the other a stage 14 something or other book. Both horrifically boring again.

DD asked her teacher if she was a free reader last week (gets a magazine when she goes up a reading stage) and was told "not yet". Would I be a horrible pushy parent if I went in & offered to supply her reading books? Teacher has previously admitted they're finding it hard to get a balance of the level she needs & appropriate content. The books they are sending home are making school reading a battle & I really don't want it to tarnish her love of reading. Does anyone know if Level 11+ of ORT contain any important "lessons" that they won't want her to miss?

For context, at home she has read all Roald Dahl, David Walliams, Enid Blyton, the Humphrey Hamster series and is now a third of the way through the 1st Harry Potter book.

Sorry it's so long - WWYD?

Thanks in advance to anyone who made it this far!

[EarthboundMisfit]

How many school books does she bring home? Ours have to read one school book each week. In between they are free to exchange this up to daily for anothet school book, or to read a book from home, which is counted if recorded in their readimg diary. Is this an option for you?

[EarthboundMisfit]

Sorry for the typos.

[IoraRua]

They may be doing in school work with the ORT to gauge prediction/inferring/recount etc skills. That could be the rationale behind no free reading just yet. I'm unfamilir with ort as my school doesn't use it, though.

Yanbu to ask though, at all! If her comprehension is good I think this is very reasonable

[STARE2016]

Thanks all for your replies.

She currently brings home and reads 1 school book a night (about 40-50 pages each) as once she starts she just wants to get them out of the way. I think they are really struggling with what to give her. Last week we also had a Toy Story 2 Joke book sent home - I can't think this is extending her reading in any way. It's a shame because I'm sure it's affecting what they hear at school - her expression etc is greatly reduced with these than with a "proper" story.

Comprehension, inference, recount skills are all good, I'm a TA (but not in a school setting) so have access to lots of materials which we use regularly at home. She uses a dictionary and thesauras regularly for when she is unsure of spelling/meaning (this doesn't happen with school books, more with home books) & when she is writing stories, so her vocabulary isn't likely to be extended by anything they give her either.

I think I will try & talk to teacher on Monday & fingers crossed they don't try & return her to reading scheme books when she moves to the other building next year!

Thanks again!

[AugustRose]

You can certainly ask. Some school like the children to read every book in a level before moving on (as one of my DC's teachers did) and others want to make sure they have read most of them, to know the comprehension is there.

I'm on DC4 who is in reception and if he hasn't changed his books I just let him read one from home - luckily he is still keen to read what they give him. DD1 & DD2 were both bored by Y2 so read books from home mostly, the school were OK with that.

[STARE2016]

I do record how much 'home' reading she has done in her contact book too - but other than a "wow, she read loads" comment after the Easter holidays it's never been acknowledged.

If school disagree may have to do what was suggested above & read 1 school book a week & just write her home books in for the other days.

Thanks again!

[EarthboundMisfit]

She does sound rather an advanced reader, so it's well worth asking.

[starry0ne]

My DS has moved a year ahead of books in each year..However..If she finds them dull make sure she has a good choice of books at home..

I tended to ignore the books my ds has bought home unless he wanted to read them and then let him read what he wants at home..

My DS has also taken books into school and read them during quiet reading...He is a junior now but taken the new David Walliams in this week. He was bringing books home we had read and moved up to next level and his teacher has moved him up a years books so has re ignited passion.

I would have a word saying how DD feels and your concerns rather than can she be moved up a level.

[PerspicaciaTick]

I just quietly do the bare minimum with the school's reading scheme. DS and I read all sorts of wonderful books (thank you library). It is clear he is a very capable reader, so we cheerfully ignore all the levels.

[STARE2016]

starry0ne - she loved the new David Walliams book - got through it super quickly & found it hilarious! They don't get quiet reading time in her current year AFAIK, she'll love it when they do! Did you get any comment from school about not reading what they were sending home? I'm pretty much at that stage, but DD's teacher is lovely, so feel like I should offer to provide books & give her a heads up!

Yes, Perspicacia, I know what you mean about ignoring readng levels - I really couldn't care less what level she's supposedly on - but that she's enjoying it etc, which sadly is definitely not the case with what they're sending home.

[ComaToes]

I had a chat with the teacher and for a while she brought in home books. Now she seems to get plays / poetry at school for guided reading (which makes sense) and whatever she finds on the shelf that appeals (never stretching but often funny and quick to read) as her school library book.

Meanwhile at home she's demolishing my old Chalet School collection, re-reading Harry Potter and writing her own magazine. We will do the Reading Challenge again this summer and get some ideas for new stuff from the lovely librarian, but for term time this is fine.

[STARE2016]

Thanks ComaToes, I'm hoping they'll take my suggestion as it's meant. Letting her choose her own from the library/classroom would also be an improvement as she'd actually want to read them.

She loved the summer reading challenge last year, so will definitely be doing that again this year - I'm told it's going to be Roald Dahl themed in our area, so she can revisit a couple of old favourites as well as finding some new stuff.

[starry0ne]

His teachers have been fine...I write in reading record..Write what we discussed..So long as at year 1 I would want to be listening most nights.. I do make the token effort to listen to school books...My job is to keep his love of reading going..

He had an assessment this year due to writing difficulties..His reading was on 98th centile...so I think they knew he wasn't struggling with what he was reading..

[MrsBenWyatt]

DD has just turned six and she's a free reader. As you say, once they get to a certain level they don't really need to read the scheme books. We found that expression and fluency were not as good with the school books anyway as they are deathly dull and she was bored.

It got to the point where we were doing the bare minimum of school reading and then reading books from home instead. I didn't want to be 'that parent' (I'm a teacher so I've encountered a few of them) but when she'd had 46 (I counted) books of the same colour I asked her teacher to move her and she ended up skipping a few bands to free readers.

As others have said, I couldn't care less what colour she's on, but I'm happy she has more interesting books to look at!

[MrsKCastle]

Yes, speak to the teacher. Make it clear that the school readers are actively putting her off reading, and ask if it is really necessary for her to read them? As a teacher, I have no issue whatsoever with children reading their own/library books in place of school books, unless I have specifically planned some discussion or follow-up work. And if that were the case, I would be happy to explain. As a parent, my DD didn't Really read school books in Y2 and often chooses her own books now in Y3. I know that she's reading at an appropriate level, and an appropriate variety, so it's not a problem.

[STARE2016]

Thank you MrsBen & Mrs K. Will definitely pop my head in to ask. Seems so horrid to make her read boring stuff when she's quite capable of reading a really good story! Thank you!

[STARE2016]

Hi all, popped my head in today and luckily teacher is happy for me to send in our own books. She already had a school book in her book bag, so we've read it tonight. It informed her santa doesn't exist. I'm so cross!! Having googled it's meant for children age 9-11. Will definitely be sticking to own books from now on. Can't believe they've sent a 6 year old home with a book that says that!

[starry0ne]

Fantastic result... MY DS(9) still believes.. Although having doubts..I wouldn't be happy.. Sadly they can't read every book.. I just would tell my DS it is fiction and explain what that means

[STARE2016]

Totally agree they can't read every book, but would hope when they're giving books to.kids 3 years younger than the recommended age they might check content? She's the only one in her class needing these AFAIK.

Have explained it was fiction, the rest of the book is clearly just a story about a dog. But she's not having any of it unfortunately! I'm going to try again in the morning! Will perhaps ask teacher to reinforce, she's lovely so I know she'll be mortified to have sent it home.