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Original poster

Help me DD needs black / black plus AR book ideas

10 replies

timefornewme2023 · 26/09/2023 20:19

DD year 8 needs to read for her school scheme - it's set as homework.

She has been told she needs to read black plus books and apparently she doesn't want to read any of them.

The ones she told me are her level are -
Persuasion
Pride and Prejudice
Frankenstein
Romeo and Juliet
Mansfield Park

She is 12 and nine of these are her cup of tea but I am struggling to help her as you
Can't just see a full list of black plus books on the website.

Argh

I feel really sad for her at the minute as this scheme has sucked any joy of reading from her she used to read a lot.

Anyone got any inspiration to save the
Day ?

OP posts:
Theimpossiblegirl · 26/09/2023 20:20

Shouldn't the school be providing a selection for her to choose from? There must be others.

Original poster
timefornewme2023 · 26/09/2023 20:26

Very probably but the homework is for tomorrow and I have only seen it on the app today !
I was just hoping to find something tonight and will contact school afterwards if she can't settle on something she will enjoy.

OP posts:
Ilovewheelychairs · 26/09/2023 20:42

The list of examples she's given are all classics; I was reading that kind of stuff at her age but out of choice, not being forced!! They are all a very particular type of writing and I can see why she'd be put off!! She's clearly reading at an adult level so really the book bandings seem a bit pointless!

As it's so late tonight, I would just get her to select something she would like to read, and message the teacher apologising that you hadn't seen the homework until too late, so your DD did some reading of X book. If they could send home a list of the appropriate Black Plus books then you will sit down with her and select a book from that list once she's finished the current choice.

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smartiesneberhadtheanswer · 26/09/2023 20:51

Ive never heard of year 8 being told what to read! The teacher would be getting a letter from me explaining that reading is DDs leisure pursuit and she doesn't want the joy sucked from it. The teacher is welcome to have them study a particular book, but dictating her choice of novels is just weird and controlling

Ilovewheelychairs · 26/09/2023 20:57

This may or may not help, but this is a list of recommended books to read for age 13-14. It includes a couple of the books your DD has listed but has a myriad others, some of which might be of more interest. At least you can prove you've tried??

schoolreadinglist.co.uk/reading-lists-for-ks3-pupils/suggested-reading-list-for-year-9-pupils-ks3-age-13-14/

Original poster
timefornewme2023 · 26/09/2023 22:28

Ilovewheelychairs · 26/09/2023 20:42

The list of examples she's given are all classics; I was reading that kind of stuff at her age but out of choice, not being forced!! They are all a very particular type of writing and I can see why she'd be put off!! She's clearly reading at an adult level so really the book bandings seem a bit pointless!

As it's so late tonight, I would just get her to select something she would like to read, and message the teacher apologising that you hadn't seen the homework until too late, so your DD did some reading of X book. If they could send home a list of the appropriate Black Plus books then you will sit down with her and select a book from that list once she's finished the current choice.

I read this and got a grip on myself and sent her to bed to read her current book for a bit!
Will email the teacher in the morning and try to get some more information.

The trouble is she often only gives me half the information and her school is pretty strict - missed homework = detention which means me missing work to pick her up.

Thanks for making me see sense !

OP posts:
jlg22 · 26/09/2023 22:32

My dd's school use AR but you have to achieve a certain number of points per half term. A lower level book is worth less points so cdn with higher targets can read lower books but will need to complete and quiz on more.

12roundsofwhitelowfatspread · 26/09/2023 22:53

From what I can recall, black is above 7, is that right? How about some of the younger classics in that case: Tom Sawyer, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women etc?

Original poster
timefornewme2023 · 26/09/2023 23:08

jlg22 · 26/09/2023 22:32

My dd's school use AR but you have to achieve a certain number of points per half term. A lower level book is worth less points so cdn with higher targets can read lower books but will need to complete and quiz on more.

This makes sense but on the AR website I couldn't tell what numbers would link to the colour they have been told they are!

All very overcomplicated!

OP posts:
Original poster
timefornewme2023 · 26/09/2023 23:09

12roundsofwhitelowfatspread · 26/09/2023 22:53

From what I can recall, black is above 7, is that right? How about some of the younger classics in that case: Tom Sawyer, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women etc?

Thank you I will take a look!

OP posts:
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