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AIBU?

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Original poster

Writing proper comments in DD10’s reading record book

80 replies

SkillyWiggler · 29/04/2019 22:54

DD is 10 and in year 5. She’s been told by her new teacher that he’d like me to write a comment in her reading record book rather than just signing it. Fair enough, I can understand that, I guess.
But, there’s only so many times I can write the likes of “read very well/great expression/DD enjoyed the book” before it just becomes pointless.
She’s exceeding in reading. Occasionally she might struggle with a certain word, but is that comment worthy? Her understanding and expression are great…what more can I comment on? Since year 3 she’s really been past the level that there’s rarely reason to write much of a comment. And so it was mostly just a signature with the occasional comment, with no complaints from her teachers. It doesn’t help anyone, the only thing that helps her reading progress now is more reading, which she does daily. She’s reading more than is expected by her school. Though the new reading record system makes it a chore to record that’s she reading lots more than the record book shows. Anyway, that’s a separate issue.

AIBU to mostly just sign the record book, with the occasional lame comment, unless there’s actually a meaningful one to make? Or to passive aggressively just write "read well" from now on.. as I don't want her getting an earful it I can avoid it, he apparently wasn't telling her off or anything, but still..

He said he’s liked to see a comment, well DD and I would very much like to see the occasional comment from him in her homework, rather than just a damn ‘good work’ stamp… that would be more constructive than a repetitive reading comment from me?!

I’ll just add that I’m not against reading record books per se, and I fill in DD6’s with comments as appropriate, noting her progress/struggles Etc, and it serves a purpose to let the teachers know how she’s doing etc. But surely once kids are competent readers they don’t need a damn daily comment anymore? Just let us enjoy the bloody books?!

OP posts:
LellyMcKelly · 29/04/2019 22:58

I stopped filling those in in about Year 5. The kids were clearly reading fluently. How about:

Enjoyed reading description of...
Good inflection
Good use of expression
Like the discussion on..
Concentrated hard on getting x word right

AmbitiousHalibut · 29/04/2019 22:59

Haha, I feel your pain. We are in a similar position here and I've just been initialling for the last year or so. I agree with you, unless there's new news, we're just confirming that they have read and all was well, as far as I can see.

Drogosnextwife · 29/04/2019 23:02

I would write "read well" and then "as above" or just an arrow pointing up. If he asks you to do it again, ask him why?

MeredithGrey1 · 29/04/2019 23:03

If neither he nor you have any concerns about her reading level, and it sounds like you don’t, then I’d probably just keep doing it the way you are.

MonsterKidz · 29/04/2019 23:06

I agree. I have taught y5 and y6 and I wouldn’t really expect parents to comment anything if the child was a good reader. It’s a totally different scenario to say reception to y2.

By y6 we actually just asked the kids to write their reading in themselves and the parent sign weekly.

The teacher may be being monitored by their head of department or English manager. They may be taking in reading records and checking they are completed and that the teacher is following up if not.

What you could do is contact the teacher and just be honest and say what you have said here. You could ask for a list of questions appropriate to your child’s level of reading to ask and comment on when she is reading aloud to you.

Awesomeo90 · 29/04/2019 23:06

Reading isn't all about knowing the words but understanding then too- so ask her questions about the text. Get her to recall what's happened in the story so far, ask for a description of the main character, get her to predict what she thinks might happen and ask her to explain parts of the story e.g why did the other use this word, or how was this character feeling and how can you tell etc. Then write about that - so something simply along the lines of "Dd read well, used expression and summarised story nicely" You could also mention how fluently or confidently she reads. It's a lot more valuable than you realise!

TheSmallAssassin · 29/04/2019 23:10

I used to write sometimes about bits that my child had enjoyed or disliked about what they'd read. Gives you a chance to talk to them about their understanding as well as the mechanics. You could sprinkle some of those in for variety. Or get a "Read well" stamp made 😁

Jamhandprints · 29/04/2019 23:15

Sign some and for others just write a short comment. Whatever occurs to you as she reads:
Fluent reading.
S. Wiggler
Seems to enjoy this book.
Couldn't wait to read the next chapter.
Didn't understand "precipitation"
S. Wiggler
Read well
Rushed some parts
Good tone
Great pace
S. Wiggler
Read independently
Read the whole book!
Can you recommend a new book?
S. Wiggler

llangennith · 29/04/2019 23:19

Surprised you still have to keep and comment in a reading diary in Yr5.
Our school stops in Yr2.
We had the same issue and eventually just wrote the same thing every day. "Good reading. Lots of expression."
School gave up!

LittleCandle · 29/04/2019 23:24

I'd just write 'read it' and leave it at that. DD1's teacher once asked me why I only signed her homework and didn't comment on it. I pointed out that I was not doing her homework, nor was I marking it, so what was the point in commenting? It was done - nothing for me to add. If the teacher doesn't know how well your DD is reading, then he needs his eyes opened up. I wouldn't bother commenting, nor would I sign it every day. Or fill in other charts/forms about what she is reading if she reads a lot.

frogsoup · 29/04/2019 23:38

Blimey, my older kids haven't read aloud to me since year 2. Some teachers are constantly on at them about filling in their reading records but that is them, not their parents! Other teachers don't care at all, I don't think DD (yr 6) even has a reading record this year. For a fluent confident reader it seems mad to read aloud every day at age 10, it would stop them enjoying reading at their own speed, which surely is the main point of the exercise.

RainbowMum11 · 29/04/2019 23:40

Get a stamp that says 'read well'!

StuckInsideAnEcho · 29/04/2019 23:45

I put any words she struggled with, plus what pages she read.

Passtherioja · 30/04/2019 00:16

I think I wrote something like "We read at home every day - I will not write in DD1 diary every night however the reading will get done." This was in Reception. The school didn't mention it again ...but she is an exceptional reader so they didn't have much of an argument. I didn't even get asked when DD2 started!!

Passtherioja · 30/04/2019 00:18

...or you could get really sarcastic:
Super pronunciation of the word custard
Lovely emphasis of the fronted adverbials
Marvellous understanding of the purpose of a semi-colon!

rosablue · 30/04/2019 00:25

I'd start off with 'Good reading' (based on him saying good homework with his stamp) then each time add something to it, like Still good reading, More good reading, even more good reading, and even more good reading, etc so that each time it built up a word at a time... to see how long a chain of adjectives I could build up before reverting to good reading and starting again...

Petty I know, but quite fun if the teacher is going to be like that...

Saltisford · 30/04/2019 07:15

I’m a year six teacher and I ask my class to write a sentence summary of what they’ve read to prove they’ve understood what they’ve read and to hold them accountable - not the parents. Maybe ask your son to do that. For me that is more valuable in terms of developing comprehension

arethereanyleftatall · 30/04/2019 07:21

Yanbu. What a pain. At my dds school we stopped having to fill in a diary at beginning of y3.

PETRONELLAS · 30/04/2019 07:24

I’d write ‘read fluently, understood story and answered all questions well...any future challenges I’ll let you know’

SpinningDizzy · 30/04/2019 07:26

What Rainbow said

Get a stamp that says 'read well' Grin

BeBesideTheSea · 30/04/2019 07:28

Pop in to Smiths and get some of those “stickers for teachers” (good work etc) and stick one on each day.

BlackeyedGruesome · 30/04/2019 07:33

I would suddenly go all aspie... and write the words " a comment" (ok maybe not)

"dd read" would be enough.

aurynne · 30/04/2019 07:36

If you find writing comments in your DD's book boring and repetitive, do you realise just how mind-numbingly stupefying will the teacher find to do it every day for every one of her pupils? However you still expect her to show interest and report on progress for your DD, don't you? The least you can do is to show a bit of interest and make an effort yourself.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 30/04/2019 07:36

I would either get a stamp as pp said or make a game of it with her finding synonyms for good reading, maybe dabble with different languages using Google translate.

Mintandthyme · 30/04/2019 07:40

Is she expected to read aloud to you ?

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