Home reading

[SongBirdsKeepSinging]

Dd1 has just started year 4. Last year she really went off reading all of a sudden, I think in part because her sister was put on the same reading band and she's a year younger.

Tried to have a relaxed approach to her new reading book but she broke down and sobbed after only a few words. I managed to get her to open up about what was bothering her about reading - she just hates it. Dh and I had a chat with her about how dh had always hated reading because he didn't like the books chosen for him. He told her his favourite book at her age was about an Indian in a cupboard and that it is still in his mums.

We asked her if she'd like to read that with him even if it's only one page and then some time talking about the page. She said she'd like that. I feel at the minute the last thing I should do is force her to read the book sent home by school, but I don't know if I can swap the school book to the one she actually wants to try. Does anyone know if this is ok to try?

Her teacher is the same from last year so Dd1 likes her and has a good relationship with her as do I.

Does anyone have any tips or ideas that I could try to get her more interested in reading?

At our school, in ks2, children don't get sent home with books. They ask children to read at least 20 minutes every night, but book can be anything from school/library/home, etc.

If she doesn't enjoy chosen school book, it's worth asking teacher if she can read home books instead.

Thank you. I'm pretty sure that her teacher will be fine about it, she was very supportive last year. Dd is ahead of targets and is very capable with reading I just don't want to make the situation worse for her if continuing with the school reading program would be more beneficial.

It was awful seeing her so upset tonight.

My Son used to hate reading school books too, I didn't wanna put him off reading so I let him read what ever he wanted and didn't push School books. She's probably tired after start of school . X

Our school insisted that he needed to readySchool books. I just dodged it!

I would certainly ask.

I presume the book you/DH are talking about is The Indian In The Cupboard by Lynn Reid Banks. This is a great book, on many school's reading lists, so I wouldn't see it would be objected to as a selected book. I think there are three (?) books in the series, so plenty to keep you going!

Yeah I think tiredness was a factor but she was the same during the holidays when I tried to get her to read. I just don't want her to be worried or upset if it's an easy fix to let her choose her own books to try and find what interests her.

Yes that's the book, I didn't know there were more of them, I'll have to get them if she does enjoy it thank you. She is much closer with dh than me so I'm hoping she will enjoy the one to one time with him.

Maybe she would enjoy comics? My brother was very behind in reading until he discovered comics and just shot up

Was she able to articulate what it is about reading that she hates? It’s quite unusual to find an able reader hating it. Poor thing. By year 4 she should probably be choosing her own books from a wide range at school so hopefully she should find something that interests her.

I teach a mixed year 3/4 class and I would certainly be happy to talk to you/her and support if she was in my class, so I don’t see any harm in chatting to the teacher early on this term.

No not really she was sobbing and when she calmed down all she would say is she doesn't like it because it's boring.

She's in a mixed 3/4 class too and after school she was really happy, she'd done well in her spelling and times tables test and was very proud that she's on (what she considers to be) the clever table.

Literally the only thing she's upset about is reading. Her teacher got her a reading buddy last term to see if she would prefer to read with an older pupil but it didn't make any difference.

I'll ask to speak with her teacher tomorrow and see if she has any ideas. I don't want to pressure dd but reading is an essential life skill even if she never reads for pleasure.

Thank you all for your replies, I just feel like I've let her down somehow. Mum guilt as dm calls it.

Ds1 doesn't enjoy reading. But it does help that he is allowed to choose what he wants to read and his teacher last year even let him read her own personal books (David Walliams). He much prefers non-fiction to stories to read himself so we allow him to pick those types of book if he wants.

Non fiction is a good idea thank you. I just need to find something that sparks her interest. I'm hoping she feels better this morning. She doesn't want me to say anything to her teacher but I need her help and experience.

My oldest daughter just doesn’t like reading (she’s 8 too), again, she’s a very able reader. She will occasionally pick out a book herself and read it, but it’s not her default. I try not to make a big thing of it. I do read to her, and she enjoys that.

Son was a 'reluctant ' reader preferring non friction books (so not really reluctant). I took the approach that I would let him read whatever and it has worked (10 yr old with reading age of 14 yr old).

Let her browse a book shop, library, second hand book shop and see what she fancies!

We all read and enjoy different stuff

Ps son would rarely read to me but we read to him every night

Thank you all for your replies. Dds teacher said to just let her read whatever she likes and fill in the record accordingly. I'm going to read to her if she doesn't feel like reading.