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?

[lyndie]

DS read at 3. I was a big bit PFB in P1 with the books that were sent home but the teacher was very patient with me, and explained that it wasn't just about reading but about comprehension. So even though he was reading well above that level it made sense to continue with the class books. I think it did help in the end, it's about so much more than words.

[storynanny]

You are right it is all about the comprehension as well, you could perhaps add... And we talked about the books. That should satisfy any teacher. Sometimes new teachers are a bit anxious about getting it right, which may mean they stick to the scheme a little more rigidly, they soon learn though that mums opinion is important as they know their own children the best.
When my own children were reading at school, the roger red hat stories drove us demented! I just read the "story" to them and then they chose a different book to read to me. As long as they get plenty of reading time with you and are making good progress it doesn't actually matter too much what they are using to learn to read. In my humble opinion that is.

[storynanny]

... And of course teachers don't always know if children have any books at home, so they have to sent school books home.

[Thumbwitch]

Goodness, I'm glad I wasn't forced to read the books everyone else was at school. I could read before I went to school (I was the PFB, could read at 3) and was beyond the Ladybird readers by the time I was 6. If the teachers had tried to keep me reading those graded books I'd have got so bored. So they didn't. They let me read to the level I could manage. I'm very grateful that they didn't try to shoehorn me into the "national average" or whatever.

[Molehillmountain]

I have a bit of an issue with the comprehension argument too. I can't say I necessarily think that dd's reading books are necessary at the moment or amazing-we're just not seeing it as a battle to fight. I do find it frustrating the "they're reading but probably not comprehending" bit. I remember it first hand from a similar age. I went into school buzzing with a book I'd read, about Louis Pasteur and the teacher basically said I might have read it but I probably didn't understand it. Crushing - albeit not the end of the world. I don't actually think children persevere with things they don't understand. And nightly reading isn't about probing, inferential questioning. But nonetheless, I still don't think dd's books are doing much harm given the other things she reads.

[MidniteScribbler]

The teachers on here are saying that they generally don't mind what they read, as long as they are reading, but to check with the teacher first as she may have very valid reasons for requiringthat those books be read.

[crashdoll]

Life's too short for reading boring books is not a great attitude to pass on to your kids IMO. Do you say the same about Maths homework?

[Floggingmolly]

If they're comfortable with Harry Potter, their reading scheme books will take literally minutes to read. Don't make a mountain out of a fecking molehill

[Thumbwitch]

I read this at 6. Had no problems with the comprehension that I remember; and if I did have troubles with it, or a word, I would ask the teacher.

Sorry, I know this is a bit tangential - I just wanted to point out that I still remember reading this book by myself at school because it was a bit of a Big Deal. It's the only book I remember from Infants' School!

[Feenie]

The teachers on here are saying that they generally don't mind what they read, as long as they are reading, but to check with the teacher first as she may have very valid reasons for requiringthat those books be read.

Which teachers, midnite? Haven't seen any asking OP to check first.

[Feenie]

Someone shoot me if I ever question my sons teacher the way some people question theirs. If you think you know so much, then home school them. But expecting them to be educated in a group setting means that sometimes they may need to do things that align with the group and not just what they personally want to do. That's life. Suck it up.

Am very at this attitude from a teacher with regard to 6/7 year olds and their enjoyment of reading.

The system must be very different in Australia.

[EvilTwins]

Slight disclaimer with the Shakespeare thing... I'm a Drama teacher , so when we do Shakespeare (one SOW per year in KS3, so a term's worth every year) it's very much a case of Shakespeare as a performance, rather than language analysis or whatever, so I can say that they all enjoy it.

Thanks for all the comments. With regards to the "just suck it up" kind of stuff, I think that's wrong where it comes to reading. If this was a KS3 or KS4 class reader, I would be dealing with it differently, but when it's books for the sake of ensuring a DC is reading, I don't think I should force them to read something they're not interested in or challenge by when there are plenty of alternatives. I don't think this is the same as Maths homework. They are in differentiated groups for Maths, and all the children in their group have the same two sheets for Maths homework, so I can safely assume that it's to do with what they're all learning at the moment. Reading books are individual.

[Feenie]

With regards to the "just suck it up" kind of stuff, I think that's wrong where it comes to reading.

I agree. And even more wrong when it comes from a teacher, whose prime objective has to be to get children to enoy their reading. I'm staggered.

[b4bunnies]

tell the school what they are reading.

[exoticfruits]

I can't see any point getting them to read 4 boring books. As an an adult I might do it with one but not 4 in a row. I don't see the point in lying-it also isn't a good example to children. I can't see a teacher saying 'how dreadful that you read real chapter books-and enjoyed them'!

[crashdoll]

I am slightly baffled that some parents think it's ok to undermine the teacher because the homework they sent home is "boring". I would have thought this was a good time to teach children that sometimes in life we have to do things and read things that are boring.

[Feenie]

But at the crucial point where a 6/7 year old is teetering on the point of becoming a proper reader, and hopefully one who is just starting to develop a real love of reading, is soooo not the time to be learning that, crashdoll, as 99.9% of teachers of this age know only too well.

[exoticfruits]

It would be true of homework-but reading is a bit different. The purpose is to enjoy reading and 4 books they enjoy have to be better than 4 they don't want to read.

[DeepRedBetty]

I'm gobsmacked so many of you are insisting the OP's dtds read the books the TA hooked out for them. By all means send books home to read, and make whole class do it so that the ones from families who aren't readers don't feel they're being singled out, but it's silly to insist those particular ones are read.

My dtds were early readers and moved on to choosing their own books by Yr 2. Fully supported by the school and the teacher - she was overjoyed every time a child moved on from sodding Biff and Chip!

OP Frankly I'd be considering moving schools if they are this hidebound.

[exoticfruits]

Fully supported by the school and the teacher - she was overjoyed every time a child moved on from sodding Biff and Chip!

only too true!!!

[BoulevardOfBrokenSleep]

"Life's too short for reading boring books is not a great attitude to pass on to your kids IMO. Do you say the same about Maths homework? "

No, because maths is supposed to be boring; that's the time to use the some-things-in-life-are-dull-but-suck-it-up line. Not for reading fiction! In the holidays!

[TheFallenMadonna]

Hope that was tongue in cheek re the Maths?

[harryhausen]

YANBU. I really don't see the problem.

When my DD was in Y2, I mentioned to the teacher on parents evening that my dd was lacking enthusiasm in the books she came home with. The teacher just said to let her read whatever she wanted and just log it in the diary - basically she just said from then on she was a free reader. The teacher said that she picked a book herself anyway from school so it made no difference. We had to put the book (from home) in her book bag everyday so the teacher could check her progress etc.

Ds (y1) isn't as good a reader as dd but the teachers have still suggested similar to him to keep up enthusiasm.

I get the idea about having to read texts in English lit that they may not like at an older age, but come on - we're talking about young children and nurturing the enthusiasm for reading. Surely interest is the most important thing (as long as the teacher can monitor like any book)?

To be honest, when my dd became a free reader I didn't know it was supposed to be this big deal. The teacher just seemed to say - fair enough if she's bored with the books. I think the first one she read was Charlie and the Chocolate factory.

OP, put your note in the reading diary and go and have a conversation about it with the teacher after Easter if there's an issue.

[idshagphilspencer]

I've read the op's posts as mountain out of molehill and a not so stealth boasting session
((shrugs))