Writing proper comments in DD10’s reading record book

[SkillyWiggler]

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?!

I would comment if they found it too easy, too hard or struggled with specific words. I sign it now (DS is Y6) but he reads to himself, never to us.

I've just been told off by my Y5.. For various reasons, the last couple of books have just been a signature. And if I dont write a comment, HE has to...
But yes, I also comment things like "Baloonz would like to visit Country book is about" or "Baloonz is very glad he wasn't a pirate" if there is nothing to actually say about the reading.

I've never written any comment, the title of the book is enough, what else are you supposed to write, even in reception?

I’d be tempted to get the child to tell the teacher that other than signing my own name I can’t write. But then I’m arsy like that

Please buy a stamp!

www.brainwaves.net/mini-stamp--excellent-reading/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_IabtOH34QIViIxRCh3fmASVEAQYCCABEgKKYvD_BwE

Mine are much younger but I only report back the things that stopped them reading it perfectly - words they got stuck on etc - so it's more practical feedback that teachers could use to judge whether it's the right level and help address in class if they wanted to. If it was read perfectly I would say so and ask for something more challenging. I save praise and whether it's good/they tried hard for DD directly and don't bother including that in the book, I'm never sure what the teacher could do with that info.

Is it because they don't have staff in schools to listen to children read any more? Nothing would surprise me about schools any more as they seem to have nothing.

I told dc3’s teaching assistant that I wouldn’t be commenting in the reading record unless there was actually something worth while to write. All this ‘read well’, ‘good reading’, ‘excellent expression’, I can’t see the point. The TA agreed and no one has ever commented that I only sign the book, which is lucky as I’m not about to change my methods now!

Oh crikey I didn't realise you actually had to write in them at Y4.
It's nuts really .. if they're fluent readers and have a whole host of other stuff to do: after school sports (along with all of the taxiing about required) Brownies, etc, music lessons/practice .. you still need to hear them read as well? Nah.

This is a bit odd for Year 5. My DS is in Year 3 and is encouraged to sign his own book (although I do supervise his reading and make sure what he puts in it is truthful!). I am not required to sign. I do sometimes make a comment when he's struggled or achieved with particular things (ASD issues). Prior to this, I used to just write what pages he'd read, and put things like "excellent effort" or "tried really hard but struggled with XYZ". Also if the reading had opened up any discussion. Sometimes he just won't read, I won't force him if it's going to cause a melty issue so he knows that will mean losing 10 mins of playtime to make up for it the next day. That's the rules!

We are expected to read five times a week and log it. Each week it’s put in the new letter what percentage from each class managed 5 days with a disappointed message about it never being 100%.

Yr2 I make dd write the comment and I sign off on it. If the teacher wants more they write something like “why did you like this book?” And DD responds back.

Yr5 I don’t even know where the diary is I have nothing to do with it. Child has never liked reading out loud but can read well and retain the information and discuss it after.

Only so many times I can write X read well. X liked this book. X found this book boring.

'Maisie read well but there was a debate about how to pronounce the word 'scone' which escalated into a full on family feud'.

Write all the comments all at once, in advance!

This was my mother's strategy when my school suddenly decided at 18 that she had to sign my homework diary. School was not impressed, but had to let it slide as she had, technically, complied.

@cakecakecheese
'Maisie read well but there was a debate about how to pronounce the word 'scone' which escalated into a full on family feud'.

Brilliant

I literally just write ‘read at home’ or ‘read fluently’. They can read well, the teachers know this and all they need to know is they read at home too.

Could they possibly just want to see that you are supervising her and not just leaving her to it?

Yr6 here and we're expected to write about DSs reading every day - not just what he has read but he's supposed to write something about what he has read. It's utter nonsense so I don't do anything other than say what he has read.

I found that once my son was in year 6 he didn't really want to always read his book to me out aloud everyday! He read every day but he liked to read just before going to sleep. I had no worries about his reading or comprehension by this stage. I ended up just signing the whole reading book in advance to prevent him from getting an unjustified detention. I remember an occasion when I had only signed it four times that week and he was given a dentition and made to read during play time. This sort of practice doesn't promote reading at all! The whole reading for pleasure concept goes straight out of the window!

I just wrote what book/pages she'd read at that age

Is she really expected to read aloud to you?

Mine haven’t read aloud since juniors. Child fills in reading record and I don’t have anything to do with it.

Other than turning off the lights and telling her to stop reading

"Good reading"
"Gooder reading"
"Goodiest reading"

I've got a y3 who is undergoing investigation into dyslexia. I'm just glad that he reads for pleasure, so I'm happy that he reads to himself and I write "independent reading" rather frequently. If he reads aloud, what comes out of his mouth isn't the same as what his brain processes, and there's so much going on at school, that what he needs is the encouragement to read frequently and the space to do it in comfort.

My y1 gives me much more scope for varied comment.

I signed initials when like hebe, ds was threatened with detention. usually just as we had pulled up to school.

ds is autistic. school work is not something that should be done at home according to him.

he reads for pleasure. the ed psychs at one of the autism training sessions I have been to say this is the most important thing.

one year the school insisted that we write down all the books the children read. they lasted a month before asking us to stop. dd read several books a day. she is that sort of child.

I agree with you OP and I’m one that writes quite long comments as neither of my ten year olds are good readers.

Maybe as a compromise you can write a comment when a book is finished (assuming she doesn’t read them in one go) to say she read well and understood the story.

Ask yourself is there any benefit to your daughter in you writing longer comments?

If no, then don't do it. He's her teacher, not yours.