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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To rebel against reading diary

209 replies

Stirling84 · 18/11/2015 20:19

I think I am being unreasonable - but I've cracked.

DS is meant to record pages read. He reads every night but rarely logs more than one session a week. So we have about ten pages of nearly empty grids and 'sad face' comments from teacher.

sigh

OP posts:
Sighing · 18/11/2015 20:56

Every school I've encountered the child does the reading out loud and the parent does the noting, highlighting new words/ discussions had.
Why does the school expect him to complete the log?

nancy75 · 18/11/2015 21:00

Our school demands pages, lastyear dd read a long book over the course of a week, I put:
this week read X book,
the teacher commented:
Not reading enough as had only read on 1 day,
I replied:
quite surprised that anyone thought a 9 year old had read a 400 page book in one evening.
they have left us alone since then

Minisoksmakehardwork · 18/11/2015 21:00

Is he year 3 or 4? The expectation in our school at least up to year 3 where my dd1 is, is that an adult listens to them read to be able to record it in the reading diary. So I just note like this for example "wind in the willows" -pg 45 and then initial. Or comment if one is needed, eg needs to remember to use punctuation, good expression and so on. This is so the child can be guided as they read if necessary. But she does like to read to herself so she has other books for that.

I think you are slightly unreasonable. But it isn't that hard for you to note the pages and sign if it's too much of a rush in the morning.

My ds1 on the other hand, refuses to read, so I note that each time. The teacher then knows it's not from want of trying our end.

SpinachTeeth · 18/11/2015 21:02

I think you are missing the point slightly. It's quite good discipline to record what you've read. Can't you just put the record book next to his bed or something?

BrianButterfield · 18/11/2015 21:07

Quite good discipline? I managed to get an English degree and teach English for 13+ years without keeping a note of what I read. I never filled my reading record in at school either unless under sufferance. Am already getting comments from DS's reception teacher about me not filling in his reading diary even though at 4 (and an August baby) he is a fluent, and I mean fluent, reader who has to be dragged away from signs on fences, the backs of cereal packets and any type of text. A fairly pointless activity in my view, but I speak as a good reader who is apparently spawning good readers.

theycallmemellojello · 18/11/2015 21:07

I don't really get why it's hard to log? It's great that your child is a voracious reader. It's the teacher's job to try to get the kids who aren't reading to do so. You're making it harder for her.

BrianButterfield · 18/11/2015 21:09

Why is it making it harder when he already reads!

AnnaMarlowe · 18/11/2015 21:14

I'm a voracious reader and I think the idea of a reading log is hideous and am thanking my lucky stars we don't have them at our school.

However this is not an insoluble problem. Give him a sheet of stickers to keep by his bed to note progress on, in the morning stick into reading log.

PitBlackwell · 18/11/2015 21:14

Our school give them a lunch time detention of they don't fill it in, complete with parental signature. Angry Because that really encourages reluctant readers, with no home support, doesn't it? And really helps scatty, but voracious readers to continue their enjoyment of home reading. Hmm

fredfredgeorgejnrsnr · 18/11/2015 21:14

If the reason he can't record his reading is because of your rules about him not having access to where he needs to record it, then YABU. Let him keep it where he wants, or let him downstairs to record it.

If it's just because none of you can see the point, and the consequences is a sad face from a teacher, then YANBU to just carry on. The activity that's important is the reading, not the recording.

IguanaTail · 18/11/2015 21:16

Just put a post-it note and pen next to his bed. He can write the page number on there and bring it down. He can be responsible for that. It's surely not worth an entire letter to the teacher?

elliejjtiny · 18/11/2015 21:16

My 3 school age children are in year 5, 3 and R. They are expected to read their school reading book to me for 10 mins or so at least 4 times a week and then I'm supposed to write a comment, page number and initial it. We do it in a production line between getting home from school and teatime so DS3 will read first while DS2 practises the piano and DS1 does his maths. I thought that was how it was done in all schools. Then they read their own books at bedtime.

theycallmemellojello · 18/11/2015 21:17

It's making her job harder as the whole point of the log is to identify the children who aren't reading enough. This is a completely laudable thing IMO- all children should be reading and those who aren't encouraged to do so at home deserve to be encouraged on an individual level in school. The op's child is apparently reading enough, but is still going to be badgered by the teacher, as she has no way of knowing.

Sighing · 18/11/2015 21:18

It is perfectly possinle to improve reading without the diary, it's just a hoop to leap through. Teachers are used to providing evidence to prove their working. They then judgr parents / children by what is expected of them. No notes. No reading happening.
It's just a communication tool.

theycallmemellojello · 18/11/2015 21:19

Frankly I'm also not sure it's a good message to tell your kid that he's too special to do homework that he doesn't see the point of. Not to mention that it might come back to bite you when he's a teenager and can't see the point of GCSEs...

Original poster
Stirling84 · 18/11/2015 21:19

he is an enthusiastic but immature reader. He is mainly reading comics and easy books (eg Mr Majeika). He reads these fast and often several times. So he will often finish a (say) Horrid Henry in an evening. I see him reading every night - often for over an hour - but I don't see the benefit in haunting him to account for what he's reading.

OP posts:
theycallmemellojello · 18/11/2015 21:24

Erp well one benefit might be that the teacher may see he is reading only easy books and encourage him to try something more challenging. I don't really get why you'd fight on this one. The school isn't against you and I'm not sure it's a good idea to teach your son that it is.

SaucyJack · 18/11/2015 21:26

Shouldn't it be perfectly obvious to a teacher who reads enough, and who needs extra support/encouragement?

Genuine question.

mondayvino · 18/11/2015 21:26

We hardly ever record anything in the reading diary now, although we used to when he was bringing banded reading books home. DS (9) is reading every night, both to himself and aloud to us, so I just put a comment at the start of term to say that, and describe the sort of books/comics he likes to read. We don't get any sad face comments though, so I don't even know if the teacher looks at it regularly. In fact the book stays at school in his tray most of the time - I hardly ever see it.

LimboNovember · 18/11/2015 21:27

I gave the reading log back at the beginning of term and told them it was pointless as he does nothing but read.

I wish I was brave enough to do this, full admiration to you.

It is important for the teacher for evidence I'm afraid in this crazy inspection-driven world.

Surely the evidence is evident in the child?

Our school isn't happy with the child noting they have read the book they want the parent to write in too.

prof

You may well joke, but the way some schools cling to these reading schemes is killing childrens love of reading.

Its ridiculous.

My DD's books have not challenged her for years.

Chattymummyhere · 18/11/2015 21:27

My y2 I just write the title/week commencing and sign. We read over the week and I tell him which days he needs to write in but never how many pages. He tend too write the following;

Boring
Book too easy
Bored of this book
Don't like this book
I enjoyed it

As they are only allowed to change it on a Wednesday and if they run out of time they end up keeping it again to the next Wednesday

IguanaTail · 18/11/2015 21:27

The teacher will just assume that no reading is going on. They will probably try to make up the shortfall in school like they do with other kids who come in with empty reading logs and who haven't read at all. It takes seconds to sign it. You don't have to follow him around all night. Why would you not?

Original poster
Stirling84 · 18/11/2015 21:28

fredfred and purple - my final words to him on many nights are "go the feck to sleep; stop trying to read with the light coming through the door hinge - it's past 9pm". "Why not fill in your reading diary now" just doesn't work!

Last year we lost two reading diaries and three school reading books. (including one that got slept on and retrieved in six separate pieces). It generated many many sad faces too and was a pain all round with invoices being issued etc. I stick to my philosophy of reading diaries staying united with the book bag in the hall.

OP posts:
NoMoreGrimble · 18/11/2015 21:28

Can't you complete the diary? At our school we have to sign off on reading every day, even with DD who's Y5.

Chattymummyhere · 18/11/2015 21:29

Oh I only write the school books in never his personal books. Some crazy parents have been known to write X read Y food menu at Z place. Hmm