Child being held back with reading

[Myleftfoot39]

My ds is in Year 2 and he is reading long chapter books at home and non fiction. When we have done the school reading book in the past we do the questions at the end and ds seems to have good understanding of the book.

My ds has been on the same reading level for 6 months now and we are at the point where he is now having to reread the same books from school because he’s read everything on that band. I mentioned this to his teacher and she said she won’t move him up yet because a teaching assistant (who doesn’t work in their class) listened to him read and said his comprehension wasn’t good. I was quite shocked because this is not my experience of his reading at all.

Also, my ds said to me he didn’t know why the teacher was lying, he had never read to the TA. I have put it down to him not being able to remember reading to the TA. The TA works in Year 4.

I don’t know what more I can say to the teacher about this? We’ve had a lot of problems with her and there seems to be a lot of favouritism in the class. AIBU to feel annoyed about this?

The teacher should also be listening to him read, at least occasionally. How can they assess him if they haven’t heard him read themselves? If a child was on the same reading stage after 6 months without good reason, I would be in trouble! I’m a KS1 teacher by the way.

It's the teacher's call in school. If she isn't happy with your dd's comprehension then she is right to keep her at that level.

But there is nothing to stop your dd reading more advanced books out of school. With both approaches, your dd will make great progress.

Yes, he reads really well at home so I know the assessment isn’t accurate.

I feel like teacher doesn’t like my son, he’s a really good kid but never gets rewards, praise even though he does homework willingly and works hard.

Can you please teach your son that there is a difference between lying and being mistaken. It would not be great to suggest a teacher or TA is lying but rather that they are mistaken

I would speak to the teacher, how children read at home with a parent can be different than in school if they are worried or self conscious or just having an off day. Does he have some sort of book that his reading record is kept in? I volunteer in a primary (have done both year 2 and 4) and I write in the comments box immediately after I have listened to someone read as when you have heard 15 children it is difficult to remember who was at which level. Is the TA in that book? How do they monitor progress?

It might have been he had an off day and couldn't answer the TA's questions on the book. Also how long did she listen to him read for? As it is not a TA who is in his class and knows him this is a tiny snapshot of his ability as a reader.

I would ask the teacher to talk to her about it. I would phrase it that he, and rightly so, could be put off reading if he has to read the same books again, hardly an exciting new adventure to read. Which book scheme is it?

They are reading Rigby Star books but in the past it was always Oxford Reading Tree in Year 1.

I have to say that the books are very old and the stories are very boring!

@helterskelter3

The teacher should also be listening to him read, at least occasionally. How can they assess him if they haven’t heard him read themselves? If a child was on the same reading stage after 6 months without good reason, I would be in trouble! I’m a KS1 teacher by the way.

I was going to say similar. Surely the teacher has listened to him read in the last 6 months? It happens weekly for our children.

No one listens to the children read usually, parents are expected to do it I think. This is something echoed by other parents in my year group.

The last time the class teacher listened to my son read was when he moved up a book band many months ago.

@Myleftfoot39

No one listens to the children read usually, parents are expected to do it I think. This is something echoed by other parents in my year group.

The last time the class teacher listened to my son read was when he moved up a book band many months ago.

Well then something is wrong if parents are expected to monitor reading but then their concerns aren't listened to!

She probably is mistaken. Just keep boosting his confidence at home. Mention it when you go in again
Comprehension is more important than reading. The only people who are generally concerned about reading book schemes are other parents
Disheartening but not the end of the world

Currently every entry in our reading diary from me is ‘ds read this book on x date but we read it again.’

It’s really hard to talk to the teacher, she can be a bit sarky if you ask her anything.

@Myleftfoot39

No one listens to the children read usually, parents are expected to do it I think. This is something echoed by other parents in my year group.

The last time the class teacher listened to my son read was when he moved up a book band many months ago.

This really doesn't sound right. It's been 6 months since the teacher listened to your son read? I can't see how the teacher would be able to continue this way without SLT querying the data and lack of pupil progress. If other parents are in a similar situation then I would urge you all to get in touch with the school to explain your concerns.

We have reading diaries & every few months the teacher reads with the kids to assess their levels. I wouldn't be happy with the response you have.

The TAs generally do the reading weekly.

There is no weekly reading at ds school, this was the case in a Year 1 too.

Celebrate the ract that you dont get much reading of the dire books sent home by school, do the reading homework quickly, and move onto much better stuff to read.

I've written in the past;

"DS brought home a book that he's already read so he read 8 pages of (a book from home) instead"

They perhaps haven't been keeping on top of reading assessments and perhaps as you've complained he's been made to wait a bit longer - the teacher wants to show she's in charge perhaps...?

Grab him a few books from the library too and don't feel worried to write that in his reading journal.

My dd is in the same situation. She reads the top reading level that is allowed for her year group, they won’t let her advance. She has read them all several times. I just let her read whatever she likes at home. In my experience schools tend to expect the academic kids to tread water while the others catch up in the name of mastery. It is incredibly frustrating.

You could also ask what he's reading in his 'guided reading' sessions at school. Guided reading is always set at a slightly higher level as they work with a teacher. Home reading books are usually at a comfortable level.

Thingsthatgo. that is what is happening with ds. He is at the top level for reading for year 2 and I feel like we are ‘treading water’. It is frustrating, sometimes I feel like completely abandoning the books from school because he’s reading longer and more complex books at home.

Reading and comprehending are two different skills.

The teacher isn't saying that your son can't read at that level, or, in fact, wouldn't be able to read books at a higher level.

Did the teacher tell you what sort of comprehension questions he was less confident with? From what you've said, it won't be the sort where the answer can be found in the text, so is more likely to be questions which require inference, deduction or opinion. Eg, why do you think the author used xxxx words to xxxxx.

Sawyersfishbiscuits I’ve never heard of guided reading at ds school, i don’t think they do this. Apart from me writing in his reading diary that’s the only monitoring going on.

Littlefish, I was told about this at the school gate in front of other parents because that’s where the teacher wanted to speak to me. I was stood in the pouring rain and really didn’t have chance to think of a response. My ds was also with me so not ideal.

I'd change your comments in the reading record (if anyone looks at it).

e.g. DS read this book confidently and fluently with no errors. I asked him various comprehension questions which he answered with no problems.

I would also make sure that any harder books you read at home are also recorded.

e.g. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens (original, unabridged) Read p245-280 fluently with only minimal help. We discussed why Nancy stays with Bill Sykes. Have added the word constermonger to his vocabulary.

ie Give lots of evidence he is reading & understanding harder books.

Could it be a shortage of books or suitable books? They could be needed by older children. DS brought home a reading book that referred to child sexual abuse and homelessness when he was in year 2, I looked it up and the series was aimed at struggling 10 to 14 year olds. As long as he is reading a variety of decent books otherwise then he will be fine.

You could ask about guided reading, I know many schools do it and it's been common practice for years.
I think she's possibly letting him coast until the end of the year...

It might be they have rigid rules about moving him up to the next level. They'll be expecting a lot more of him in terms of comprehension as he goes up the school. Lots of them struggle with inference.