To ask the school to send home no more blooming Biff and Chip books

[gaelicsheep]

DS is now on Stage 9 of these bloody things and has gone on reading strike. I've asked to school to read them with him at school if they really must be read, as the darned things continue to be so tedious they are putting DS off reading. We will be reading other things at home with him from now on. He is perfectly capable of reading far more interesting and varied books than this drivel.

If you are a teacher, would you think IBU?

[YouTheCat]

All of them.

They are really good and the children learn from the repetition. Most children like them.

[gaelicsheep]

Indeed Lynette! Allowing for the fact that we have missed a (very) few, I reckon we have had over 100 of the godforsaken things in DS's year and a half at school.

[SoSweetAndSoCold]

I can't remember what stage my DC1 went up to before he became a 'free reader'. Probably Year 2?

DC2 is reception and only just started stage 3, so I suspect there'll be a few more years. And then all again with DC3.

I just really like the family dynamic, they do fun stuff, take care of each other during times of need but also get cross and shouty sometimes and their house is a mess. And there's always a pair of glasses hidden in every book. What's not to love!

[YouTheCat]

And the nosy neighbour.

[SoSweetAndSoCold]

Ooo yes, with his jumpy dog. And that strange man who is sometimes the caretaker, but sometimes has other roles. I always wonder if he's like the ghost / hobo character on the Polar Express. Creepy but is there protecting everyone.

Am I overthinking this?

[gaelicsheep]

Yes but YouTheCat once a child can read all kinds of interesting stuff, the repetition become plain tedious. The stories are badly written and tedious in the extreme. The longer they get, the worse they get. We can't get through them in a single sitting any more - neither of us can bear it - which means double the pain.

I think I stand by what I wrote in his reading diary. I will await a response when someone bothers to look at it.

[FierceBadIggi]

You can't force him to do homework?
Heaven help you (and his teachers) when he reaches secondary if he's taught homework is optional at 6.

[Scholes34]

Loved them. Miss them. Had three children go through the scheme. Loved the chap with the ginger hair and glasses. The humour in the illustrations was lovely and subtle.

[Scholes34]

As much as I love them, I wouldn't class them as "stories".

[ScarletLady02]

I beg to differ LilyAmarylis - I've been called Biff all my life

[gaelicsheep]

I won't force him to do homework that is counterproductive, no. That meant in the past not forcing him to do handwriting-heavy homework when the mere thought of writing something down reduced him to tears. And it means not forcing him to read books of highly dubious value. We do alternative work instead and send that in. I have no doubt I am a teacher's nightmare, but I would rather my child was not put off learning by the time he reaches juniors.

[YouTheCat]

Seriously, he won't get to pick and choose what homework he does for much longer and it's probably more productive that he learns to get on with it for the sake of 20 minutes. Give him something fun to do afterwards as an incentive?

[simpson]

What's with the nosy neighbour always peeking over the fence??

I hate these books (I read with yrs 1&2 in my DC school and always have to look interested when they come out with Biff et al).

If I hear "and the magic key began to glow" one more time.....

DS (yr3 has finished them a while ago) and DD reception has managed to by pass them totally which is fab but the jolly phonics books are not much better

[YouTheCat]

Jolly phonics is so crap. Hate them.

[gaelicsheep]

I really don't think reading should ever be a chore to be endured, and any teacher who thinks it is not worthy of the name. So I am now even more determined to stick to my guns.

[gaelicsheep]

And as his mother, I will always get to pick and choose which homework is and isn't worth ruining a weekend over. What are they going to do? Send me to jail?

[YouTheCat]

No, put your ds in detention.

[gaelicsheep]

Sorry, I just get very pissed off with the school.

[gaelicsheep]

Over my dead body.

[PoppyWearer]

Halfway through Reception, have just had a flick through DD's reading record and we've had about 55 Chiff and Bipp books so far.

There are 150?!?! I had noticed a couple of repeats creeping in and was kinda hoping we had exhausted them.

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

If he is on stage nine surely there are not many stages left, if memory serves me right!

[gaelicsheep]

Honestly, can someone please please explain the educational value of these things? There really is none is there? Once a child can decode words and understand and narrate complex stories, they really are redundant are they not?

[gaelicsheep]

anotherplace - I think that's the point, it's kind of so near and yet SO far. But again, it should not be the case. If it has reached saturation point then no good can be achieved by forcing him to continue.

[WhereBeThatBlackbirdTo]

LilyAmarylis - Biff is really Barbara, Kipper is really Christopher, can't remember Chip's real name.

One of the books explains all this. How sad that I can remember this 15 years after my DS read it!

[mrsstewpot]

YANBU and I'm a primary teacher. Soooooo dull! Read something of interest and encourage fellow parents to do the same!