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Original poster

How do I encourage reading while still supporting school?

21 replies

KindergartenKop · 12/09/2018 19:41

DS's school sends home a book every night and children are expected to read them and parents be are supposed to write in the reading record. DS reads all sorts of stuff at home and I encourage him to read difficult books on his own and we discuss words he doesn't understand etc. The reading band he's on is below his ability. I don't really want to be that parent and demand that he be moved up. Since he's been back at school I've found myself telling him to stop reading interesting and challenging texts in order to read the stuff for school. Wwyd? Should I just get him to read a page of the school book and lie a bit on the reading record?

OP posts:

coldrain2018 · 12/09/2018 19:44

its normal for children's performance in a class to lag behind their performance at home with a parent.

How much reading is he required to do for school? can he just finish the whole lot each night and move up?
and still have time for his own reading?

is he choosing his own books at school? Is he enjoying reading the easier books?

JuiceBoxMonster · 12/09/2018 19:47

Maybe get him to read on the way home or as soon as he gets in before he gets into any other books.

Or at breakfast?

student26 · 12/09/2018 19:55

I’m a teacher. Please don’t tell your child to stop reading what he wants, all reading is great! I encourage children to read their reading pages and everything and anything else. All reading is good. If you think he is on the wrong reading band, could you ask him questions about what he has just read? Sometimes they can read the words but not fully understand what is going on in the story. Maybe a word with the teacher and she can explain further her reasons? I hope this helps :)

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Original poster

KindergartenKop · 12/09/2018 20:02

The problem is that the school books are getting long and it seems a waste of time! At school they choose from a box of their book band. He doesn't mind some of the easier books but sometimes I have to tear him away from his own books. The school policy seems to be to read with the teacher every 3-4 weeks and then if they do ok they go up to the next band, this doesn't really solve the problem though. He's in ks1 and can understand ks3 texts.

OP posts:

student26 · 12/09/2018 20:10

He and the rest of the class really aren’t reading enough with the teacher if that’s the only reading time with her, unless they read with the teaching assistant? Reading in ks1 should be with teacher at least 3x a week. Seems an odd system. I’d keep going with what you’re doing. Read a bit of his school book and then read his own books. He sounds very good for his age!

Original poster

KindergartenKop · 12/09/2018 20:12

I think they read with volunteers more frequently but I don't think they have the 'power' to move the kids up.

OP posts:

Foslady · 12/09/2018 20:21

Does he have a reading diary? I’d jot down what home reading he’s fine in there.

Longtalljosie · 12/09/2018 20:24

Do you not have a parents’ evening coming up?

Just tell them what he’s reading at home.

ShowerOfMonsters · 12/09/2018 20:24

Thing is you can't tell him now that homework doesn't matter! I don't call his school reading "reading", I call it "homework". It's a distinction which he accepts! Either do it as soon as you get in, or ask him to read it out loud whilst you're doing something else (getting food ready etc). Save your time for reading his interesting books together.

Heratnumber7 · 12/09/2018 20:25

We never bothered with the school books, and therefore it took DD ages to move up the bands because she hated the books.

She was a prolific reader at home though - anything and everything she could lay her hands on.

We took the view that it was more important that she enjoyed reading, and read well. The banding at school is irrelevant really. That's just a way for the teacher to demonstrate kids' progress.

MrsJonesAndMe · 12/09/2018 20:44

In your position, I'd sign the reading record with what he read - be that school or library books.

Is there a parents eve on the cards for October?

GhostPerfume · 12/09/2018 20:48

is it the reading out loud to the teacher that is the issue? Can you ask him to read a few pages to you to see how he is getting on with it?

SouthWestmom · 12/09/2018 20:54

Why not just put a comment that he is finding them quite easy and could they check his band.

Jessicabrassica · 12/09/2018 20:57

Dd (ks2) has never complied with the school reading scheme. She always had a book from a given band - frequently one she'd read a couple of years previously - so her school book level was around 24 months behind her ability. School knew this and because she was reading well and widely (they could tell what she was reading from the style if her writing!) they didn't push the reading scheme. It was a compromise which worked for us.

purpleme12 · 12/09/2018 21:06

To be honest in this situation I would have a word and ask for more advanced books. I don't see anything wrong with that

theluckiest · 12/09/2018 21:12

It is really difficult - I teach KS1 and agree that reading is absolutely critical. However, listening to every child in my class for just 5 mins per day would mean over 2 & a half hours of time daily. Which is of course impossible due to the overcrowded curriculum. The fact that you read with your child every day is brilliant and the best thing you can do to support them and the school.

Are they in Y2? Is sounds like your child is a confident and fluent reader but can they really access KS3 texts? They may be able to decode them and 'read' them but getting them to explain character, find clues, tell you about the themes is the Y2 skill. 'Reading' the text aloud is the easy bit!! The comprehension skills are the challenge. Even if your DC is reading simple texts, get them to talk about why the writer has chosen those words or structure. I even used to get my Y6s to analyse KS1 texts eg. the Gruffalo to unpick the language, authorial intent and structure.

Mind you, it is still early days in the term - it could be that the teacher hasn't actually heard your DS read yet and realised his level...

Original poster

KindergartenKop · 12/09/2018 21:21

He's on the book band that he was on last year and obviously I don't expect the new teacher to be on top of stuff 5 days into the term!
He reads ks3 text books and understands the language. He doesn't read novels for that age group. I teach secondary and I'd say his reading and knowledge of vocabulary is what I'd expect from a mid/low ability Y7.
I might start by writing down the stuff he is reading at home in the reading record.

OP posts:

purpleme12 · 12/09/2018 21:35

Yes I'd write that in the reading record

chocolateworshipper · 12/09/2018 21:48

It's possible that is comprehension is below his reading age and that is the reason. However, it's just as likely that the teacher hasn't got round to assessing him properly yet! Do not limit his love of reading though!

CherryPavlova · 12/09/2018 21:52

Read what you want at home but record it in the reading log.

RebelRogue · 12/09/2018 22:16

If he's that good of a reader,and his book band is that low he should be able to finish his school books in a day or two,leaving the rest of the week for what he enjoys. Add the extras in the reading record as well.

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