Teaching a child to read off your phone is rubbish!

[eeliie]

My ds has to read daily and today we gave it a go. We sat together with my phone in my hand and opened up the ebook.

Ds started enthusiastically, then my phone zoomed in and wouldn't zoom back out until I turned it on and off.
We loaded it back up read a few pages then the same thing happened.

Poor ds sat staring at my small screen trying to read the words all the while a bright light was glaring back at him.

Yes I know my phone is crap,
I know we could read a proper book but the teacher specifically wants them to read this book,
I know it's making the best of a bad situation,

But it's still rubbish!

"You have no evidence for that though, other than ‘you and people you know’ have."

I don't need any. It's much more likely that over 50% of children in this country have some books at home these days rather than none

@davidsSchitt

"The number of households with a books shelf"

Never heard it called a "books shelf" before but I know lots of households that would keep their books in the bedrooms or the upstairs landing within easy reach.

We've had visits over the years from school staff but none have ventured upstairs before and certainly didn't search the house.

I think most children have some books at home. Most. Not all. But most.

Which is why i said ‘that I could see’. They may have had a whole library upstairs.

@davidsSchitt

"You have no evidence for that though, other than ‘you and people you know’ have."

I don't need any. It's much more likely that over 50% of children in this country have some books at home these days rather than none

So you can just make up statistics based on the evidence of exactly nothing and claim it as fact.

@davidsSchitt

"The number of households with a books shelf"

Never heard it called a "books shelf" before but I know lots of households that would keep their books in the bedrooms or the upstairs landing within easy reach.

We've had visits over the years from school staff but none have ventured upstairs before and certainly didn't search the house.

I think most children have some books at home. Most. Not all. But most.

Oh, and did I make a typo? I’m so fucking sorry. Perhaps it’s to do with the wine I’ve been drinking after a week of teaching in school and setting home school work even though schools are apparently closed.

Op I presume the book is very short as the stage he is at. Could you write the few sentences in a copy book and he could read them from there and use the pictures on a phone just for the visual clues.

What is happening here? asking for evidence over households with books 😆

Ask the school if they could drop some books off. Most of them are happy to be of help if they can.

Ok, I've got you some stats from the literacy trust. It's blindingly obvious to me that most children have books at home. Even the ones that don't have food and heating.

But as you're adamant that it's not obvious here you go.

https://literacytrust.org.uk/news/1-8-disadvantaged-children-uk-dont-own-single-book/

There are almost 9 million school children in the uk. Of those that are deemed to be the most disadvantaged around 1 in 8 don't own a book.

That's approximately 8% of children overall. 8%.

So most children have books. That better?

And I'm aware that schools are open so not sure why I'm being beaten with that particular stick enjoy your wine.

I don't really know @TheChip but I've provided some "proof" of my apparently ludicrous claim that most kids have a book or two

@davidsSchitt

Ok, I've got you some stats from the literacy trust. It's blindingly obvious to me that most children have books at home. Even the ones that don't have food and heating.

But as you're adamant that it's not obvious here you go.

[[https://literacytrust.org.uk/news/1-8-disadvantaged-children-uk-dont-own-single-book]]/

There are almost 9 million school children in the uk. Of those that are deemed to be the most disadvantaged around 1 in 8 don't own a book.

That's approximately 8% of children overall. 8%.

So most children have books. That better?

And I'm aware that schools are open so not sure why I'm being beaten with that particular stick enjoy your wine.

Because you are being a petty twat over a typo.

Anyone who has ever moved outside their middle class social bubble will know that there are many children who don’t have books in their homes.

"Anyone who has ever moved outside their middle class social bubble will know that there are many children who don’t have books in their homes."

Middle class social bubble. Jeez 🙄 I'll leave you to it, you've really no idea about my life or who I encounter in it.

You're right though. Although most children have books there are around 8% that don't compared to around 92% that do.

Further analysis reveals that a staggering three-quarters of a million (770,129) UK school children don’t own a book. Of these children, those who receive free school meals, boys of all ages and teenagers are the most likely to say they have no books of their own at home.

literacytrust.org.uk/news/1-8-disadvantaged-children-uk-dont-own-single-book/

OP, if your app is playing up, could you take screenshots of the pages while it behaves, and then read through those instead with your dc?

Combine with pp’s idea of casting to a tv if you can.

Also getting other books is good, but if the teacher has set specific books then this might help.

Yes I know @StanfordPines that's the link I sent you 😂

8% of children in school currently.

Yes I know it’s the link you sent, clearly I take something different from it.

People were asking for stats to prove my claim that most children have books. I provided it.

As I said, most children do. That's all, not sure why you and other PPs found it so absurd and demanded "proof" but there you have it.

People were asking for stats to prove my claim that most children have books. I provided it.

No you haven’t, you just made some shit up and presented it as ‘stats’

Books are expensive. For the past year charity shops have mostly been closed (which is where I buy my child's books because they are outgrown so quickly). I won't pay £6 for a book that is read for a week! My parents took us to the library as children but we owned very few books of our own - they are a luxury item still I think, unless you are prepared to buy second hand - and in some lower income groups there is real stigma attached to second hand.

OP - you are trying to read with a reception aged child. I would hope the school would be willing to lend you the books or a device that you can read from more easily. For this weekend maybe handwriting the words on paper would help?

I try and arrange book swaps with other parents - not easy atm though

It talks about children who do not own a single book. That doesn’t mean all other children are drowning in high quality literature.
Like I said when we do a ‘bring your favourite book to school day’ event, every children brings a book, but most of the books are not story books. That’s not to say that they haven’t left better books at home and the sticker book they bring in isn’t their favourite anyway but I think it is fair to say that not all books are equal.

OP, I can't believe any school is suggesting that a child reads from a phone. That is absolutely rubbish. Reading is supposed to be pleasurable.

Whereabouts are you? If you give a general idea, other MNers might be able to give you some books at the relevant level (I certainly could if you were near me) - though I would understand if you'd rather not say.

Try second hand options online. Ebay would be a good place to start.

@AnnaMagdalena

OP, I can't believe any school is suggesting that a child reads from a phone. That is absolutely rubbish. Reading is supposed to be pleasurable.

Whereabouts are you? If you give a general idea, other MNers might be able to give you some books at the relevant level (I certainly could if you were near me) - though I would understand if you'd rather not say.

Really Have you not noticed that schools have moved online? My children are doing lots of reading on screens because they're home schooling.

@ElliFAntspoo have you informed family, friends and neighbours that your child needs books? And the type you need?

The majority of the books that I have for my 2 year old have been given to us by people whose children are over 6 and can read, so don't need them any more.

@Katjolo The killer with books from Ebay is the postage costs.

Yes you can go and collect, but now you are limited to a small area.

I am sure the school will let you collect books and our library does a collection service or cast the book onto your TV.

I would ask the school to set aside 4-6 books at the level he is at to collect.

Our local primary is letting parents pick up books once a fortnight.