Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Original poster

To think schools should send reading books home over the holidays?

166 replies

DeepaBeesKit · 20/12/2021 11:49

My kids school hasnt sent any reading book or library book home at all for the holidays. AIBU to think this is daft because
a) it sends the message that reading is hard/not enjoyable and one needs a "break" from it
b) its likely to widen the gaps between children with engaged parents who'll ensure their kids keep reading/enjoying books any way, and the kids for whom the reading book from school was the only book in the house.
c) it's a shame for a keen reader who'd happily get stuck into a book over the winter holidays when the weather is crap outside.

OP posts:

Blossom64265 · 20/12/2021 15:11

At our school, parents could come into the library with their kids during drop off or pickup and check out books. I’m guessing that will have stopped with Covid though, dd moved up right when it hit so now accessed the library solo at her school anyway. They also have free access before and after school, during lunch, and can ask for a pass if they have finished their work in a class.

I do agree that there should never be a break from reading. It’s something to be done daily for pleasure.

Original poster

DeepaBeesKit · 20/12/2021 15:26

The main (pre-covid) reason at our school seems to be this idea that reading is a chore from which you deserve a break. I think that's the part I disagree with most.

I don't think this qualified as a teacher bashing thread, given that many schools do send home books it's clearly something that divides opinion.

OP posts:

Pascha · 20/12/2021 15:28

Mine did bring books home. They did last year too when the school knew it was closing.

melj1213 · 20/12/2021 15:37

The main (pre-covid) reason at our school seems to be this idea that reading is a chore from which you deserve a break. I think that's the part I disagree with most.

It's not just reading though and for some children reading is a chore. Sending books home is not going to make it any more appealing, if anything it will put pressure on some children to spend their holiday reading even if it is something they struggle with ... just like if you sent a child who struggles with numbers home for the holidays with a maths workbook.

As a child I was never more than an arms length from a book, and devoured every book in the children's library week in, week out ... I still hated being sent home for the holidays with a book I was expected to read, whether I liked it or not.

KTheGrey · 20/12/2021 16:12

Depends on whether the school's can afford to lose the books. It may surprise you to hear that some maybe can't. I am constantly irritated by the necessity of buying glue sticks for kids out of my own pocket, I try to draw the line at books.

viques · 20/12/2021 16:27

@KTheGrey

I once had to speak to a parent about replacing a reading book he had used to write messages and phone numbers on. He was really cross with me and didn’t see the issue, because as he pointed out, the phone numbers were on the inside cover so the actual text was still readable , it wasn’t as though he had lost the book!

southlondoner02 · 20/12/2021 16:31

@PlanktonsComputerWife

tbh OP given how behind the y6s are, and the test looming in spring, I'm a bit surprised there were no reading comprehension or maths worksheets sent home. I don't think a bit of proper homework would have hurt.

About 15 pages of english and maths here (year6). No reading books though. Not sure whether all the kids do it all. We have quite a few train journeys so it usually gets done then.

I'm also seeing threads on here about how children don't do anything in the last couple of weeks before Christmas. Definitely not the case here - classes as usual until the last day when they played games/ watched a film

LethargicActress · 20/12/2021 16:31

@CallmeHendricksGingleBells

You think that primary schools should have sent homework home over Christmas? Just what proportion of kids do you think would have complied with that?

Reading isn’t homework. The whole point is that it is supposed to become a built in part of life, for both pleasure and necessity.

If you see it as homework you’re doing it wrong.

sleighbelleuk · 20/12/2021 16:32

I bought all the children in my class a book for their Christmas present. I tend to do it every year. For some of them, it's one of the few books they're ever given.

dotsandco · 20/12/2021 16:32

Well I sent my class home with their usual two reading books, plus an extra one because it was the holidays, AND a library book for 'pleasure reading' 🤷‍♀️

Please don't tar us all with your own experience OP! If you have an issue with your child's school, speak to them directly!

AskItaliano · 20/12/2021 16:39

I think it's pretty awful if they're lumping books in with homework, making a big deal about how lovely it is to 'have a break' over the holidays from it. Doesn't really go hand in hand with encouraging reading for pleasure's sake!

If they're worried about not getting books back then it'd be nice if they'd set a piece of homework over the holidays to read a book and write a little review of it, any book. Can be a newspaper article, whatever. Just to encourage continuing to read.

But I'm biased, I don't see reading as some onerous things that's a relief to be freed from.

Sadly there will be kids who don't have access to a book at home.

LethargicActress · 20/12/2021 16:40

We sent home books for our ks1 class, some parents asked for extra and we happily obliged. But I can guarantee that more than half of the children won’t have even looked at their books over the holidays. Some parents will write in the diary to say that they’ve read their school books and about all the other books their children have been enjoying, which is fabulous. Some parents will send their children back in January with all the work and Christmas stuff still in the book back from last term having not even opened it, and nor will their children have seen a book from home either.

Schools sending home books over Christmas is not the problem for the children you’re talking about.

LittleBabyCheeses · 20/12/2021 16:47

Every child in our school got a book as their Christmas present.

WorraLiberty · 20/12/2021 16:50

@DeepaBeesKit

The main (pre-covid) reason at our school seems to be this idea that reading is a chore from which you deserve a break. I think that's the part I disagree with most.

I don't think this qualified as a teacher bashing thread, given that many schools do send home books it's clearly something that divides opinion.

The main (pre-covid) reason at our school seems to be this idea that reading is a chore from which you deserve a break. I think that's the part I disagree with most.

Reading is a chore for some kids and adults who don't enjoy it, or find it very difficult.

Those who don't, will normally have other books to read anyway.

timanddaisy · 20/12/2021 16:56

@PlanktonsComputerWife

Oh give over.

My Y6s are exactly where they should be. We provided excellent online learning and they are actually the best cohort we've had for years.

So I made the decision as their teacher to give them a break. They've worked damned hard and were just as exhausted as the staff. Two weeks of downtime with their families is exactly what they need. Not more bloody worksheets!!

PlanktonsComputerWife · 20/12/2021 16:59

Bully for you. It's been very different for the children at my child's school. When the lockdown began they will still in Year4, and got no maths instruction.

ringoutthebells · 20/12/2021 16:59

Dd (y1) came home with a few, but I was surprised! Thought it might have been because they were anticipating not being back for a while

timanddaisy · 20/12/2021 17:03

I don't doubt it. Namely because the Government suspended the entire curriculum during the first lockdown and told schools to concentrate on looking after keyworker children.

Many schools chose to provide something, some didn't until the second lockdown.

Not sure why you're having a go at me for what your child's school did or didn't do.

KrispyKale · 20/12/2021 17:03

Reading a box k isn't homework.
Fwiw I agree with op.
It's the kids from homes where reading for pleasure is not the norm that miss out here.

I did provide my kids with loads of books and library visits. Weirdly I still care about those other kids.
I grew up in a home with few books. The library I used has long since closed.

KrispyKale · 20/12/2021 17:04

Reading a book..

Staggersaurus · 20/12/2021 17:07

Mine have been sent home with books. My 6 year old has chosen 4.

I wonder if the Oxford reading app is still free? We used it during the lockdowns and read all the Biff, Chip and Kipper and Magic Key type ones on the iPad.

PlanktonsComputerWife · 20/12/2021 17:09

Not sure why you're having a go at me for what your child's school did or didn't do.

Please. I wrote how behind my child's Y6 is, which YOU chose to quote and reply to with " Oh give over" followed with lots of self-congratulatory smuggery about the situation in your school.

I can only say "Bully for you" to that. How nice for your pupils. It's been very different for many, many others.

ivykaty44 · 20/12/2021 17:10

why don't parents go to the library and pick up books for pleasure reading

surely the parents taking them to the library weekly to get books is setting a great example

DarlingCoffee · 20/12/2021 17:10

We have just been to the library to stock up

kweeble · 20/12/2021 17:12

You have a role in your child’s education and need to stop relying on school to direct your time at home.
There are lots of lovely educational things for you to do and it’s really nice to have books at home.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7