Comment from Reception child's teacher

[secondtimelucky87]

My child started Reception in September. The school's policy is that we read their phonics books every day. Absolutely fine with that - I have been teaching English for 13 years and need no convincing. We are expected to write in the reading record to say we have read the books. I have done so every single day apart from last night because (despite doing the reading as always), I was pretty exhausted after a long day's work and all the various things that need to be done before bedtime. We have a WhatsApp group for my child's class to ask questions/receive reminders for the week. Today however, I received a direct message telling me off for not reading/recording we had done the reading. AIBU to have been slightly taken aback by this? No issue with the teacher herself - I am sure she's merely carrying out school policy but surely it's a bit much after 1 missed comment? I could understand if we'd skipped a whole week!

The context is that organisation has been fairly chaotic. Her reading books aren't changed for weeks at a time. My child is very bright, reading her books fluently and clearly bored of reading the same 2 phonics books daily but we do so anyway. Similarly, they are given quite time-consuming homework but at most, all we've ever received by way of acknowledgement is one tick and the last 3, not even that. Surely a little glittery sticker and a couple of words would make a 4 year old feel valued after working so hard on it when they're exhausted! Would be interested to hear from other EYFS teachers and parents with kids of this age. Thank you and please be kind as I don't really know what's normal. She's my only child so I'm new to this. I sent a polite reply clarifying I had in fact done the reading as always but just forgot to comment!

@secondtimelucky87

Resding at my son’s school involves
2 books dumped in a book bag every Fri, the ones he got this week we’ve read about 5 times already.

I’ve just sourced my own books and pretty much ignore the school books.

Complaining is futile.

Maths homework is something called ‘Numbots’ which I detest. I don’t do that either, and do other maths.
I honestly don’t know what’s happened in the EYFS and KS1 recently.

Staffing ratios have increased. SEND needs have increased. Therefore there is no-one to take time and care over changing and recording books given out.

Numbots is a really good programme. Fine if you want to ignore it, but using it can really cement mental maths skills that will be really beneficial over time.

My daughter is also reception. I had a frank conversation with her teacher that I do not finish work until 6 and she has lights out at 7.30. We read something almost every night but often just a few pages and I will not push it if she is tired. Same with homework for my yr 2 daughter. The teachers were very understanding. Your situation sounds completely batshit and I would push back.

If your DD seems ahead of peers and frustrated by the pace have you looked at https://potentialplusuk.org/index.php/families/high-learning-potential/
wish I had known about this years ago

I can't believe she has the time to keep up with daily whattsapp comments! I'm sure there will be parents who don't do this every week, let alone every day.

You lost me at « she texted you »…

except if an emergency…no, I don’t want my child’s teacher using my phone number. But then again, I wish I had no phone 😇😂😂

We did reading in reception 4/5 days a week (recorded it). They had rewards for those who did x number a week reading.

They also sent home work weekly (reception - i shit you not)! I could tell you on one hand the amount we did. I have life to do! Reading is so important, but homework researching about an owl I have limited time for! I would have loved to do everything but sadly full time work, 2 kids, animals etc does not allow to complete all!

Ive had 3 through the same reception class /teacher and never encountered this. Reading every day encouraged and writing sheets to complete at home “if you can as it frees up more time in class”. Anything they do at home is marked and they get a sticker for their hard work which they love. Don’t know what I’d say if the teacher pulled me up on not reading every night…we do what we can fit in!

My son is in Y1 in a private school and it was no way this intense in reception. I didn’t even realise till later in the year that he was supposed to read every day - he was in school till like 4 - when the hell is he supposed to do it every day? He was so tired. Homework once a week - writing letters, thinking of a word starting with a letter and drawing it and use it in a sentence. It was optional but we did it over the weekend. No homework in Y1 so far apart from a project during half term. I know quite few parents don’t make children do their homework in my son’s class, they think school hours are long enough and they’re very young. I agree.

Hummm im on both sides as a parent & a teacher.
parent: id be proactive in finding out what reading scheme they use and get a few different levels to gauge where my child was at….then discuss away from the group (that in its self is CRAZY and where are the boundaries anyways back on track) that my child isn’t being challenged at green level we have tried out yellow level (etc) and this seems to challenge child to read and explore other letter sounds and formations. I would finish of with I understand assessments are concluded by the end if term but for now could we stick to the more challenging books and see if it aligns with the end of term assessment.
teacher prospective: im doing my job and if and when said child is ready they will move up a band, core teaching is evidence based theory. - doing the same thing over and over but in a different way.

as for the stickers id say don’t get your child hooked on being rewarded for doing whats expected. Thats my opinion

Out scheme sends easy books home to build confidence, fluency and speed.

They don't like them being "stretched" at home. They are rather insistent about this.

Some of ours were so short, simple and easy that DD would just look at the book and be able to recite it from memory 😂

Sorry hrft but there is a whats app group with teacher and parents ? This is sooo odd..never heard of this. Is this a thing in the UK ?

Seems a bit intensive.
DS(6) gets; 6 maths questions, 12 words to write, a short story (paragraph) and some second language stuff. But it is described as "expected but just do what is manageable". Sometimes we do a bit and write a comment like did 5 minutes tired tonight. I wouldn't in a million years expect a ticking off from the teacher.

I wouldn't be doing homework with a reception child, that's bonkers. When they're at school they learn, when they're at home they play and snuggle.

I'd ignore this OP, it may well be a policy out of her hands so I'd just carry on as normal.

Homework at this age is a complete waste of time. I'm a trained teacher and education researcher, and evidence shows that homework at this age does not help children develop. (It is helpful in secondary school)

What is important is encouraging enjoyment of learning - which is there in most children - and access to books and reading. If your child wants to, then letting them read to you is fine, but no pressure. Don't get them hating the whole thing right from the start.

Homework for 4 year olds? It isn't just ludicrous, it's pointless and counter-productive.

This is really interesting. Would love to hear more about it! We've actually already been to speak to the SENCO at the school because she's highly sensitive (emotionally and physically about lots of things) so just wanted it to flag it as something to monitor over the next few years. It's interesting that page mentions the link between highly feeling children and increased ability too.

Yeah we're in the UK and I was as surprised as you! I'm new to parenting a school aged child and new that many schools have WhatsApp groups of parents but never heard of one with teachers too. So far it's been used to send reminders re things like PE kit etc but the direct message was bizarre. As a teacher myself I kind of can't believe this sort of thing is allowed. Goes without saying it's a school phone, not the teacher own one but still. All odd.

i personally wouldn’t keep reading the same books if she is bored and that aren’t changed. No challenge and she might not even be reading anymore she will know the story with her eyes closed. Go to the library or get hold of some others.I started making up some wit the phonics level my son is at. He especially loved the picture I drew of the character in his book and the story, which isn’t far of the Nat Naps story but she got on a bus. It’s worth this to see your child’s joy reading even just one new sentence for a ‚story‘.

Then put that in the diary. Read her school books a couple of times too in the week but absolutely don’t make it just that or she could learn reading is a boring

This sounds frustrating and to be honest I would ignore it, especially if you actually did read and just didn’t have the time to write in the diary. To be honest I think a chart where we just sign to say they’ve read each day is more appropriate, and any additional comments needed can be added as and when required rather than every single day.

We have a similar set up in being encouraged to read every day and told to comment in the diary every time we have done it but I can’t imagine being pulled up on it if it’s not done, and I highly doubt everyone in the class is doing the reading daily. We also had the welcome speech about not pressurising them to do their reading and homework if they are tired or have other things going on. We have a book change once a week and whilst this feels too long for my son as he can sound them out on day one and by day three has basically memorised them, I am trusting the process as they said at the phonics introduction that the books will feel easy, they will read them lots of times and at the point of bringing them home they should manage at least 95% of the book. The rationale was so they feel like they can read the book, as opposed to ploughing through it and it feeling like a chore.

in terms of the homework, also similar. We have a sheet for the phonics they’ve learned that week to go over sounds, reading sentences, recognising the tricky words of the week and then on the back practicing a line of each phonic and then a word including each. He got a big well done written on it the first time and nothing since, although he hasn’t seemed to notice and enjoys doing this every week. Also going to steal the well done sticker idea!

I used to get books from the library for my kids - the school books were deathly dull and the teacher was not great at noticing ds was ready to move on - so we just did the school stuff and did our own stuff. In my experience teachers don’t take feedback kindly!😂😂

Sheer madness. Some kids won’t have it signed at all. You’re clearly on the ball doing it daily, we all forget things sometimes, it’s just shocking they’d come out on you for forgetting once.

Especially it isn't their bloody job to police parents in the first place

I feel a bit sad about 4 year olds getting Homework. I can't see the point. They are so little and 5 days of school should be enough, not extra homework. They should spend more time playing and exploring as well as quality family time. Not the point if the thread but it does feel like a shame.

It doesn't seem right but also seems like a good opportunity to ask to discuss the reading program and tell the teacher about the difficulties with being given the same book for ages and any other problems.