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Original poster

I have upset DD1's teacher with my comments on her reading matter!

49 replies

SourOldBat · 14/11/2005 20:11

DD1 is in Yr 2 and is top of her year for reading. Teacher has said that she races through her books too quickly and she needs to slow down. Fair enough, but she can always tell you what she has read. She races through because they bore her - they are just too easy, and she is really reluctant to read them. She reads widely at home (Roald Dahl, Finn Family Moomintroll, the Diddakoi are some that she has read recently) and she is really bored with these trite little stories about lost cats that she brings home.

I wrote in her reading diary that we were both bored with these books and gave examples of what she read at home and got a really snotty note saying that the teacher was "glad she had the luxury of reading widely at home, but while she was at school DD1 would read the "appropriate level book for her." I realise that I am probably the teacher's worst nightmare, but this teacher is v v keen on group reading and I feel DD1 is being kept back so that she can group read with some others. She's on ORT levels 13-14.

OP posts:

aloha · 14/11/2005 22:22

I was bored witless at school by sodding Peter and Jane.
God if I was only allowed to read the books that correlated with my sporting ability I'd still be reading Peter and bloody Jane.

cod · 14/11/2005 22:24

Message withdrawn

sobernow · 14/11/2005 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cod · 14/11/2005 22:27

Message withdrawn

edam · 14/11/2005 22:29

I'm with you Aloha - I'd still be on soppy Peter and irritating Jane if they marked me on my handwriting, as well!

Tortington · 14/11/2005 23:02

when asked what the kids were reading at home when they were in junior school we told the teacher that we took turns in reading the hobbit of an evening.

the teacher told us it was completely inappropriate and to cease immediatley as it was above their level.

i didn't tell her that biff & f8cking chip bored the living sh*t out of us all.

so being young and naive and thinking teacher knew better we ceased.

Socci · 14/11/2005 23:19

Message withdrawn

Socci · 14/11/2005 23:24

Message withdrawn

Ellbell · 14/11/2005 23:47

LOL aloha... If I was only allowed to read the books that correlated with my sporting ability, I'd still be on those ones with no words, just pictures... .

puff · 14/11/2005 23:48

lol custy

I thought I'd escaped Biff, Chip when I left teaching but nooooooooo, they are back to haunt me now ds1 is in reception!

tigermoth · 16/11/2005 07:59

Ok, here's a slightly different take on the teacher not allowing able reader child to read a 'proper' book.

My oldest son, when he started year 4, was taking home banded reading books that bored him silly. When he asked if he could read 'Harry Potter' instead, his teacher said no - not until he did better writing work. He was very slow (some might say lazy) when faced with a writing task. He made a real song and dance about doing his homework, even when I was sure he could do it perfecty well. He had no physical problems with writing, to my knowledge, I hasten to add.

At the time, I was very cross about the teacher's refusal. I went in with my son to talk to her and explain ds would be far more interested in reading (and indeed writing) if he could choose his books. She was firm - she told ds again in front of me he had to focus more on his writing, finish his work in class, then he could read Harry Potter. I still did not agree with her, but said nothing - and I noticed ds thought it the bargain wasn't hugely unfair.

After half a term of working harder at writing, ds was allowed to read Harry Potter - he was much more happy and so was his teacher, as he was writing more to his ability. True, all his stuff was very Harry Potter-esque, but it was a start.

In retrospect, his teacher did the right thing - I was wrong.

piffle · 16/11/2005 08:06

We had this! We got told of for letting ds read the Chronicales of narnia when he was 6-7 He was also a godo reader
One word of warning though, his "worst" subject has always been comprehension which ahs caused one or two issues throughout his schooling he is now yr 7.
I also had the teacher say
" he is too young he won't understand Harry Potter/Narnia etc
Well conversely how the hell would he learn to understand them if he didn't read them.

Up her reading at home, note it in her book diary, next year you'll get a teacher who will be thrilled and when you do it unleashes a reading beast

batters · 16/11/2005 08:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Helen38 · 16/11/2005 09:56

I have had this problem with ds1, should having a child who is a good reader be a problem?????? He is is yr2 but had finished the yr2 reading books by end of yr1 and that was only because I am one of those annoying pushy mothers who kept saying they are too easy. has never been moved up a level without a push from home, although to be fair he changed teacher mid year last year and when I showed her what he was reading at home she jumped him 3 levels. This year new teacher insisted that he "still has lots to gain from his books" but last week had parents eve went armed with dh and books he just finished, she basicly admitted that he has finished the reading scheme ( it's an infant school so he can't go on to yr 3 books) so is going to send home "real" books I told her that he had been complaining that they are boring and too easy and lets face it, I am very lucky to have a boy who is so into reading. I shall see today what she sends him home with lets home it's a bit better. Some teachers just don't like to be told what to do and seem not to understand that parents do know a thing or 2 about their own children. ( not all teachers in case someone out there are is one, most are lovely)

foundintranslation · 16/11/2005 11:33

lol aloha and ellbell - if my reading books = sporting ability I'd still be on cloth books
I was reading at 3 and spent primary school completely doing my own thing in reading and in English generally - books from the library, writing pages of stories while everyone else was doing grammar exercises. Not ideal in terms of stretching/attention or in terms of group cohesion but better than being held back imo.
I would also help the others quite a bit. Maybe your dd could do this now and again? She could be not bored but still integrated into the class iyswim.

bigdonna · 16/11/2005 14:23

sorry soroldbat dont have time to read all threads.in my dd school she is in yr 2 too once they get to stage 11 they go on to free reading they can choose any book my ds was on free reading in yr 2 too.

Marina · 16/11/2005 14:50

SourOldBat, I agree with Batters' recent post and others on here who say this won't do. Ds is in an independent school and a proficient year 2 reader and he has been given a fabulous book of Greek myths to do home reading from - plus whatever else takes his fancy - some nights it is an ORT old favourite. His class contains children of all abilities and everyone is catered for individually. I hope you can get this sorted.

SmudgesMum · 16/11/2005 20:26

SourOldBat,
I'm also shocked at your dd's teacher's response. My dd is in year 1 and also reading
chapter books happily (Narnia / Dahl etc).
When she started year 1 we started getting ORT books home in her reading bag again but I responded by sending in her own books for her to read in school. The teacher seems quite happy with that compromise, and dd is willing to take part in some group reading if she has her own books to read at other times.

Keep fighting - I think it is so important
children retain their love of reading - and good luck!

Original poster

SourOldBat · 16/11/2005 22:02

Well, we had a bit of a response tonight. Note from teacher saying she took note of what I said and would "enquire" about getting something more demanding for DD1. Not sure whom she would enquire to as she is the Literacy Co-ordinator.

But still another crappy ORT book - a level lower than she has been reading, which seems to be almost all pictures.

OP posts:

batters · 16/11/2005 22:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

edam · 16/11/2005 22:54

When you go and see the headteacher, make sure you have a copy of the teacher's comment in the reading diary, won't you? It is so astoundingly rude and downright wrong. Needs addressing.

tigermoth · 17/11/2005 06:55

Good idea to show the reading record book to the head - I too think it's time for a meeting, if only so that someone can explain properly to you why they are keeping your dd on ORT books. Is it to do with the class learning some basic sound and spelling rules? (this is a wild guess, I am not a teacher). Does your dd understand the spelling rules as taught to the class - I presume she does. Really, from what you've said, I can't see why the teacher can't compromise. Why can't your dd read her own choice of books at least some of the time?

marthamoo · 17/11/2005 07:33

Did you see my thread, SourOldBat (was going to abbreviate you to SOB and thought better of it )? It's here another reading thread My gripe wasn't exactly the same as yours - we were tolerating the easy books until the one which prompted my complaint - but along similar lines. Take note of my last post - be careful what you wish for! Seriously though - although I wasn't happy with ds1's teacher's response (or lack thereof) your dd's teacher sounds downright rude. Best of luck with it...seems to be a sadly common theme at the moment.

Cam · 18/11/2005 16:43

When my dd was learning to read she got throught the books very quickly but wasn't allowed to go up a level until she'd read all the books at a particular level. I was told by her teacher that there are certain words and sentence structures contained in each book and it was important to read the whole set. I didn't mind this, dd found the subject matter of the books boring, but we read what she wanted outside of school in addition.

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