To be annoyed with DS teacher- reading should be encouraged whatever the language IMO

[VinoEsmeralda]

DS was very excited as he was given some Geronimo Stilton books and took them to school. This afternoon his teacher was talking about that children should read books that challenge them, so far so good. DS said that he received a new book and it was in a different writing style and he was enjoying it but he found it tricky as it was in his 2nd language (and to be fair challenging), the teachers repsonse was that he would prefer him to read English books.....

Bit of background- He is an avid reader and has long since read most books at the school library and is allowed to go to the upper KS2 library and borrow their books. We go to the local library on a regular basis and he reads newspapers. I have been struggling to find him books he's interested in reading ( and comfortable reading)in this language.

To be fair this is the teacher's 1st week fulltime but been there part time for a term, DS is well above average across the board.

Do you think IABU to be pissed off? I think reading should be encouraged regardless of the language especially for boys!

YANBU!

I would be annoyed enough about that that I would mention it to the teacher, and say that you want him to actively be encouraged to read in his other language.

There is a child in the reception class that I work in who has another language, and obviously he is only just learning to read. His parents have bought him early reader books in the other language, and we have encouraged him to bring the books into school, and asked that his parents record his reading in the other language in his reading diary the same as they do with his English books.

YANBU at all, this sounds like the very old-fashioned ideas that improving in one language would damage the other somehow, as if skills aren't transferable - I would mention it.

Thank you Clouds I couldnt agree more with your approach at your school. It's never been a problem at school and has always been welcomed so far.

I was thinking of going to mention it tomorrow and good to hear you think IANBU so will definately have a chat!

Of course he should be able to read in whatever language he wants. What a ridiculous concept. People can be multi-lingual.

YANBU. It is good EAL practise for children to be able to read in their home language as well as English as the skills are transferable. Certainly my eal pupils who do best are the ones who have excellent language and reading skills in their first language.

I know it is a slightly different scenario, but reading in another language won't harm your ds's English skills!

YANBU! That's a shockingly outdated viewpoint as a teacher his attitude concerns me. I totally agree with catsnotrats. I would perhaps speak to the teacher about this.

YANBU
I'm really jealous of people who have two languages!

Thank you all for the replies. I will menton it tomorrow and take the 'DS probably misunderstood you' approach and could you have a chat with him and encourage him to read in both languages (and stretch himself), thank you.

If that doesnt work I shall come back here for more advice but pleased to see the overall opinion is that IANBU!

I wonder if the teacher is somehow "intimidated" (not quite the right word, but hopefully ykwim) by yourson being fluent and reading in a language the teacher doesn't know. The teacher can't "check up" or spot mistakes, and while I guess he could listen to your son read, he wouldn't know if DS was making a mistake maybe?
That's the only reason I can think of for saying he'd prefer DS to have books in English at school.

Reading is good. Whatever language.

Please encourage him to read in both languages.
I had an English friend living in Paris. Her DD went to French school and obviously learned to read in French. They spoke English at home and read to her in English, but the DD never read to them in English. They moved back to England and when she started school in the UK aged about 10 they realised that she couldn't read or write in English. The DD soon caught up, but is was quite a struggle for a while.

I had similar discussions with dd's teacher. In the end the teacher admitted that she didn't actually know much about bilingualism. I (gently and respectfully) assured her that I did.

Very strange!

I'm a teacher and we always encourage children to immerse themselves in their home language too!

YANBU

Maybe the teacher thought the Geronimo Stilton books, being cartoons, were simplistic. LittleBearleigh (& I) loved them - so many wonderful puns, and written with wit and verve. I also remember one or two being 'educational' (Egypt?).

I spoke to the teacher and think you are right Pombear. He seemed thrown by it all and admitted that he only knew a little French and German.

He was still quite convinced he shouldnt read books in Dutch in school as his exams are in English ( I just laughed) but asked him to talk to DS and encourage him to read in Dutch ( he will, all being well, do a GCSE and A level in Dutch) which he sort of did as DS mentioned he could only read Dutch on Thursday...

If this was the beginning of the year I would make a big fuss as felt the attitude was poor ( new teacher brought into the school under the title super-teacher as apperantly he is outstanding!) but as there are only 6 weeks left I dont feel its worth the hassle, however if he has this teacher again I will follow it up.

bearleigh I googled and indeed there are comics of GS which I didnt know ( ordered one) but in Dutch there are several series of books which are fictional story books. Some have scratch cards with smells in and little puzzles with codes to crack and Thea Stilton books aimed at girls ( I assume). It's popular with the over 8's in Holland, I think there was even a musical last summer.