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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that my kids schools should send home reading books that......

65 replies

workshy · 15/09/2011 18:43

they haven't had before?

DD in year 3 and has so far had 5 reading books, all of which have been promptly returned to school as she has read them previously -over a year ago!!!

I have spoken directly to the teacher, and sent 2 letters in and tonight yet another book came home that she read at the end of reception ffs

I could quite happily march up to the teacher and throw the bloody book at her in the morning

it's not like she has changed school or anything -surely they should have a record of what books she has read????

OP posts:
Hulababy · 15/09/2011 18:47

Does DD remember reading them? Can she tell the teacher when she is given them?

I suspect the teacher doesn't have a lst of what books they read last year. Although some records come up from previous years it doesn't cover everything, and tbh I am not sure list of books read (unless they follow a very strict scheme where books are given in a set order) would be on it. It'd be a lot of work for a teacher to check through the list for every child every time they issued abook after all.

Has your child not moved up a reading level since she read them?

If not then this could also be part of the reason as schools often only have so many books at each level, ddue to financial constraints on budgets.

I would get DD involved and tell her to let her teacher now as they are handed out ideally.

Hulababy · 15/09/2011 18:48

Oh, and if DD can't remember reading them and they are at the right level for her then I can see no problem with her re-reading some books.

knittedbreast · 15/09/2011 18:51

same problem here, my son can read them easily, was given them half way through reception but still the same easy as anything books come home. when i check tomorrow if its the same thing il be having a word.

Original poster
workshy · 15/09/2011 18:53

she is a NC level 3b reader and the books she is bringing home are level 2c

she remembers them and has tried telling the teacher but they hand them out while they are supposed to be sitting at the table using 'silent voices'

soooooooooooo anoying!

OP posts:
meditrina · 15/09/2011 18:59

If you are sure she had these books before, then I'd write in her reading record something along the lines of: "DD read this book when in Reception. So instead we read from (title of a home book she can read confidently)" and then you/she add any further comments in the normal way.

HappyMummyOfOne · 15/09/2011 19:00

In our school, year 3 children change their own books as they are juniors. Maybe shes choosing the same ones as she doesnt recall reading them before.

Just choose some of your own books from home, its not the end of the world.

BatsUpMeNightie · 15/09/2011 19:03

Who'd be a teacher ffs? Just the very idea of going in throwing books at her for not personally doing an inventory of your child's reading matter - who on earth do you think you are?

Either let the child re-read them or go to the library and get some that she hasn't read. How hard can it be?

Original poster
workshy · 15/09/2011 19:03

it is when reading is a battle because they are boring baby books -she is definately not choosing them and she has to do a little book review so can't just not read them

OP posts:
meditrina · 15/09/2011 19:06

I think the underlying concern may be what is going on in the classroom when a child in year 3 is put back to books she read in reception. That's nit a trivial difference.

OP: step away from the book! And further to my last - it's possible that there is simply a new school year admin muddle about the level if books. Don't worry about it yet.

CocktailQueen · 15/09/2011 19:11

Doesn't she have a reading diary saying what level she is on? Ours have printed pages at the back where they highlight each book they have read on the level they are on. Our kids also choose their own books from Yr 1 onwards.

Original poster
workshy · 15/09/2011 19:27

no, no reading diary, just a daily planner -only reason I know her reading level is because she just did her sats -they don't like the parents to get too hung up on levels apparently!

last year she was taken to the resource center (where they keep the reading books) by the TA and could choose within a framework -she was one of 3 children that did this, everyone else was just given a book.

this year they just seem to be giving the same book to everyone in a group and it's just tough!

OP posts:
Hulababy · 15/09/2011 19:40

I would keep writing letters and recording in your DD's reading/daily diary that she has read the book previously and that she has found it far too easy. Also, ask a direct question - is it possible for her to have more challenging books? That way the teacher has to give you a direct answer.

It may be that it is still early days and the teacher hasn't finished her class assessments yet, and once she has it may all change.

But if your DD does remember having had the books and they are too easy for her it is worth pursuing.

She shouldn't be re-reading the books purely on the basis that she should be on more challenging books by now.

rebl · 15/09/2011 19:45

YABU. Wish that this was all I had to worry about with school and books. My dd reading book today says animal cruelty is OK Shock. It is also way way below her reading level. But because there are more things to worry about in life than the school reading book I'll just be feeding back that the book is outdated and should be removed from circulation. I've ensured, like every night, she reads an appropriate level book from the library. Its really not worth storming into school over.

TheFlyingOnion · 15/09/2011 19:51

throwing the book at the teacher? Nice!

Why not have a word with the teacher after school and politely point out that your child has already read these books?

Its not rocket science, ffs...

spiderpig8 · 15/09/2011 19:52

If you look on the primary education board there are threads about children being moved down 4 or more reading levels after the summer holidays when a new teacher feels they have been moved up too soon by the previous teacher.

TheFlyingOnion · 15/09/2011 19:56

I've just moved a child down today from stage 7 to 6, when his mother bought Shock the entire of ORT stage 8 for him to read over the summer and is expecting him to be put up to stage 9...

Am fully expecting a flaming at 8am tomorrow. The joy of being a teacher.... Hmm

woahwoah · 15/09/2011 19:59

You had my sympathy until you said you wanted to throw the book at the teacher!

Have a calm conversation with her, find out what's really going on, and behave with a bit of respect (not particularly because she's a teacher, but because she's a human being)

Original poster
workshy · 15/09/2011 19:59

ok so I'm quite plainly not going to throw the book at the teacher -jeez!

but I am anoyed that the school keeps banging on about how important it is that the parents support the work that the school is trying to do, and I am trying to support the school but if they can't send home appropriate resources how am I supposed to?

both my children read widely, we go to museums etc and I talk to them alot about everything and anything but how are they supposed to learn about the importance of homework etc if what they are sending home is pointless?

and sorry if I'm wound up about my child's education but it is pretty important

OP posts:
TheFlyingOnion · 15/09/2011 20:06

ask the jeffing teacher for a harder jeffing book.

She will either tell you why she's reading the ones she's reading, or she'll - guess what?! - give her a harder book.

I fail to see the problem...

Nagoo · 15/09/2011 20:06

If I were you I'd just crack through it, 5 minutes done, and then read something good.

Carry on speaking to the teacher. what did they say? If you are still getting very unsuitable books then speak to the head?

teta · 15/09/2011 20:07

I also have this problem with my 7 year olds.One is coming home with books that he can read but the text is too dense for him [chapter book] whereas my dd is coming home with books that are too easy for her as she is on a higher level.I have checked with the teacher and their levels are the same as last year.However the teaching assistant is apparently new and is getting muddled!.I realise that teaching is difficult and stressful [as are many jobs] but in this increasingly competitive life, even 1 or 2 weeks wasted can make a difference.

Original poster
workshy · 15/09/2011 20:14

I have spoken to the teacher -the reply was 'right we will sort it'

it still hasn't been sorted

I have written very nice notes asking if it would be possible etc etc

when I spoke to her I said I understand that it is very busy at the start of the year with 30 children to sort etc etc

I said I 'feel' like throwing something to emphasise the fact that I am frustrated that I am not being listened to -not that I was actually going to have a blazing row with her in the middle of the playground because I wouldn't dream of speaking to someone like that and also because I understand that being a teacher is a very hard job

ouch! thanks for the support

OP posts:
thecaptaincrocfamily · 15/09/2011 20:16

I feel your pain Smile. Dd1 keeps coming home with books she has read before and also with books that have clearly been classed as three different bands (2 of them lower than the one she is on) Hmm Its as though they have levelled the book higher than it is but parents believe it is the right level iyswim when clearly the text and composition is really easy i.e. 2 lines per page instead of paragraphs and a very few longer words Hmm. Dd deliberately chooses easier books if not watched because she knows it takes her hardly any time to do her homework then, which leaves more play time Grin I have told the teachers last year but she has 1 new teacher and a new assistant this year.

Ormirian · 15/09/2011 20:23

I expect the teacher will get it sorted out soon. And no, she won't have a recod of what she read in yrR.

You have 2 options

  1. Make a note in the book, give her something else to read and don't fret.
  2. Throw the book at the teacher in a red mist of righteous indignation and scupper your relationship with the teacher for the rest of the year.

Your choice.

thecaptaincrocfamily · 15/09/2011 20:28

It is frustrating ormiran when teachers don't respond to comments in the homework book. My dd has the same home contact book from YR so they must be able to flick through the books at that level to see if its been read Hmm yet it is still happening? Also I have spoken to all the staff regarding dd needing to drink plenty due to a medical problem yet 2 out of three days she has drunk absolutely nothing Shock. I understand that they need to start taking responsibility for themselves, however she is 5 so her health has to come first! I even wrote it in the contact book fgs!

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