to write a note in the reading diary saying...

[EvilTwins]

...that my DTDs are not going to read their reading books this holiday.

DTDs are in Yr 2. They each have 4 reading scheme books for the Easter holidays. At home, DTD1 is currently reading the first Harry Potter book, and DTD2 is reading The BFG. I am very very happy to listen to them reading these, and to write which chapters they've read in their reading diaries, but they find their school reading books so dull. WIBU to not make them read their reading books over the holidays but to listen to them reading their own choice of books instead?

[EvilTwins]

31 - I'm confused. Were you talking about conversations with my own kids about their reading books ("I've got a book about football, Mummy. I don't like football") or conversations with the kids I teach? I'm a good teacher and I teach in a school where the kids don't have "poker" faces - they're pretty up front about what they do and don't like If they're not getting it, I change it.

[Gruntfuttocks]

What's all the fuss about? Just let them read what they want to read and don't make an issue of it, surely. Send the school books back un-read. What harm can come of it? You're obviously confident in their abilities, so why are you so bothered about this?

[MidniteScribbler]

Eek - midnite - don't let OFSTED hear you say that. Aligning with the group is not the way to do it.

Well I'm in Australia, so no such thing as ofsted. Our Australian Curriculum does include a "General Capabilities" section, which includes things such as Social Awareness and Social Management, of which working collaboratively within a group is a vital part.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Don't read the books. Don't tell the teacher.

[WafflyVersatile]

This has reminded me that in p1 we would be sent home with instructions to read pages 4-7 and I would occasionally read ahead because it was well below my ability and I could have read a book a night but I thought it was naughty to read past the page instructed. The teacher did eventually pick up on this and the fact I did not have enough to read and she would let me take books home with me that were meant to be kept at school.

Yeah, so yanbu not to want to make your kids read boring books in their holidays but no need to get all stroppy with the teacher. They're getting enough shit from the government.

[RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief]

Seriously, what are you worried about? It's not as though the school are going to send SS round is it? I'm sure half the class will have parents who won't even open the bag never mind the books. I can't understand why you're making such an epic of this given that you're a teacher yourself. You must know that the school can't enforce this reading that has been sent home.

[AgentZigzag]

'I thought it was naughty to read past the page instructed.'

That's so lovely

[MrsLouisTheroux]

It's all well and good being able to read Harry Potter and BFG at 6, many children find reading words quite easy. Understanding what is read is another matter. Hence the school reading scheme.

[Panzee]

MrsLouisTheroux that's what in-class guided reading is for. I only send books home to make sure the child has at least one book in their possession. If they're reading other books that's fine with me, I'm glad they're enjoying reading.

[RubyGates]

Please let them read whatever will keep them as readers for their whole lives.
If they are already fluent readers don't make them read stuff that will stifle their desire to keep reading.

4 hideous, clunky books from the reading scheme over the holidays would be enought o make me never to want to pick up another book. As long as they are reading, and reading things that are age-appropriate and challenging then you are doing the right thing.

They are not going to suddenly stop being able to read at the right level because you ditch the reading scheme for the holidays, they won't pull the grade-average of the class down, they won't miss out on some essential piece of truth without which their whole lives will be blighted.

Keep a note of what they do read, listen to them reading and explain why you've done it.

YANBU

[RedHelenB]

Very interesting that as a teacher I have only ever had one parent complain that the book sent home was too hard for their child! Competitive reading thrives amongst parents!!!

[YellowandGreenandRedandBlue]

Used to do exactly that, just recorded what they did read. I also used to tell the school 'sorry this book is boring' and ask to swap. Life is too short to read boring books. Never had any issues from teachers as long as they were reading.

I also just used to ignore tedious homework and do somethinng else and explain why.

[SanityClause]

Write what they have read, absolutely!

DS really surprised me with his reading ability, once he was allowed to read what he liked, rather than the dross that came home from school.

And once you get to those long books, towards the end of the reading schemes, it's sooooo boring for both of you.

So, yes, do get them to read the bit they are up to to you, for say, 10 minutes, so you can be sure they are eg not skipping the hard words or mispronouncing words and that they are attacking unfamiliar words in a suitable way, write that in their book, and let them get on with the joy that is reading!

[LtEveDallas]

Since the start of year3 DD has read what she wanted. She sorted it out herself: apparently told her teacher in the first week that she "wasn't going to read his boring books any more" - I didn't know this until the teacher told me at parents evening

From then on she has read what she wanted - and it's an eclectic mix - from the bloody rainbow fairies, to the Buffy Watchers Guides, to Military History and a travel guide of Cyprus!

As long as I add her current book the the book bag, and write where she has got to, the teacher can ask her questions and check she is understanding it. (It probably helps that there are only 17 kids in her class so he has the time to do this). I'm glad the school supports this - I was sick and tired of the 'official' books too.

[exoticfruits]

I agree with RichmanPoorman - many parents won't open any book with their DCs.
Why not let them write their own entry and then you just add a bit saying - read part of chapter 3, 6 and 14 to me?
As a teacher I would be quite happy - but might ask the DC a few questions about the story.

[SanityClause]

Forgot to say, discuss it with them a bit, too, to ensure comprehension. You can do this in a casual way, perhaps ask what they think will happen next, or how they would've felt if this had happened to them, whether they like the characters, that sort of thing. But, you know that, as you're a teacher!

[Bakingtins]

My DS is Y1 and on white band. He gets school reading scheme books twice a week and we read them and put a comment about whether they were interesting or not in the diary. Sometimes the TA seems to have taken note of what I said he enjoyed. The rest of the time he chooses what to read and I make a note in the diary. His teacher is fine with this approach. He has one school book for the holidays we read it already, it was beyond dull but if he was given four I would not have read four dull books. I suspect this is to ensure that all the children have enough reading material to last the holidays, and that if those who have lots of books or choose their own from the library want to read something else the teacher won't mind at all. I would think if a child who is reading well for their age is reading anything and enjoying it in their own time they would consider that a good thing.

[mamapants]

I think its funny that some of you are accusing the OP of being PFB, disrespectful and that her actions are going to get in the way of learning outcomes and being "that parent' who will have a bad relationship with the school. A number of teachers have posted that they wouldn't have any problem with her actions, they would be happy the children were reading appropriate texts, so if the teachers are happy what's the problem.
Oh and for what its worth I enjoyed Shakespeare too.

[Emilythornesbff]

YAbu, sorry. It just sets a poor start in their approach to school work IMHO.
Just get them out of the way ASAP.

Oh,what a bore I've become.

[Feenie]

A number of teachers have posted that they wouldn't have any problem with her actions, they would be happy the children were reading appropriate texts, so if the teachers are happy what's the problem.

Indeed.

[exoticfruits]

As a teacher you haven't time to wonder which parents will go to the library, find books of their own, or even if those who normally would will be busy. There will also be parents who take it amiss if you don't give books. Much simpler to give every child 4 books. You are not going to get upset if someone takes their own initiative. They read books in the holidays-result!

[Diamondsareagirls]

OP, I was ready to support you on the reading for pleasure thing but you lost me on the 'all kids enjoy Shakespeare in my lessons' comment. As a teacher you must know this isn't true! It isn't a reflection on your teaching skills, it is the reality of teaching kids!

Don't be 'that parent' and teach your children that you know better than the teacher and homework doesn't need to be done if mummy thinks it isn't important. You are undermining their teacher and if you were in her position I'm sure you would find that frustrating to say the least.

[Molehillmountain]

Okay-so I have dd who is in year two. She is a fluent reader who has just scored full marks on the sats tests given. I had to squeeze that out because it gives a bit of context to where she is with her reading, btw. More to the point she loves reading. She reads all the time. At the moment, her school books aren't the most exciting thing that she's reading and her maths homework and spellings are well within what she's capable of. But she is learning the discipline of getting things done. I'm really proud that she's come up with an informal timetable of when to do spelling sentences, reading books and maths. I fundamentally disagree with there being so much formal work, it isn't well targeted to her ability. But we support the school and it seems that learning has come out of it in other ways. And yes, I think she would get more out of reading her own books in school and out but apart from the odd comment when there's been a glaring mismatch in the early days when her reading was going in leaps, I don't think it's doing all that much harm. Just in case it's relevant, I'm a teacher, although ks1 is a bit of a dark art that I don't fully understand!
I don't think in the grand scheme of things (slight pun I guess) that reading scheme books being dull for the able reader is one of the biggest concerns. Think of those who have to struggle for ages with helping their children decode simple words. I try really hard to put that in a way that will not give dd cause to be smug-she's doing what comes naturally after all, but I don't think it does any harm to think how hard and patiently some parents and children are going at reading without the same success and enjoyment.

[storynanny]

Teacher here, just write " enjoyed reading a variety of books over the holiday" , their teachers should be perfectly happy with that. They are your children.