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Original poster

"Go on, Mum," said Kipper. "Biff the teacher!"

38 replies

SourOldBat · 02/03/2006 21:56

DD2 is in Reception and has the most dogmatic teacher ever. She insists that the children read every book at each level before they move up. DD2 is on Level 1 ORT, which she has been on since September. She reads much more demanding stuff at home - Ladybird books, Ant & Bee etc, and says she "hates" the ORT books as they are "for babies - they are not proper books as they do not have enough words on the page." So she makes little effort at school. She took a Ladybird book in to read to her teacher the other day, and the teacher told her that she could read what she wanted at home, but had to read ORT at school. She has told me several times that she has to finish all of the books in level 1 before she can be moved up. I think DD is becoming bored, demotivated (at 5!) and a bit of a trouble maker.

I don't want anotehr "See Me" from teacher and a telling off (yes, really...), so as I've made no progress, do you think I should ask to see the head teacher?

Does this make sense?!

OP posts:
Blandmum · 03/03/2006 19:31

I think that it would only be polite to bring it up with the teacher first and then if you get no joy, go to the head.

How would people feel if someone went straight to their boss without raising the issue with them first? you see it a lot on education threads, the gut reaction seems to be 'See the head'. Most people would be upset if they were reported to their boss out of the blue.

And as others have said, the choice of the book may well not lie with the teacher. It might be helpful to know this before seeing the head if that is needed

Original poster
SourOldBat · 03/03/2006 20:07

I have spoken to the teacher already - that is where I got the line that they have to read every book.

On DD2 writing "I hate you" on the white board, yes she got a good telling off from me. And thankfully the teacher didn't see it.

It's definitely not the school's policy to do this. It just seems to be some teachers. DD2's friend in Year 2 was put onto free reading choice as he was such a great reader. New teacher arrived and has insisted on putting him back onto the graded scheme. I guess it's easier for them to teach them in one "lump" rather than cater to individual needs, especially as there are about 6 children in the class who have English as a second language.

I suppose I should chill a bit really, and think well, they all learn to read at some stage. I just don't want her put off learning at her first step!

OP posts:
robinpud · 03/03/2006 20:18

I am still confused by this. Is your dd bringing home a stage 1 book which they can read instantly? Is the teacher then refusing to change it? I can't see why she is still on stage 1 if you can change the book whenever you like..am I being thick .. again?

Original poster
SourOldBat · 03/03/2006 20:27

Robinpud, she can read the stage 1 books very easily and reads more advanced stuff at home. The books get changed once or twice a week (no book this weekend, no idea why). But teacher won't let her have anything except stage 1.

OP posts:
robinpud · 03/03/2006 20:53

Ok- I am with you. I would ask for a copy of their reading policy from the office, and wait. You may well find that she then miraculously progresses to the next stage.
If she doesn't, ask the teacher to see her foundation profile, her key word recognition assessment and ask to talk to the teacher about ways of improving her confidence. I don't think there is a confidence issue at all but it is a way of making the teacher see that you are on the case, are not going to go away without having arguments.
In the meantime leave the odd book from home that she can read in the folder and see if the teacher picks up on the discrepancy between her expectations of dd's ability and the reality.

singersgirl · 03/03/2006 20:55

I just so, so can't understand the approach of having to read every book at a particular level. What's the point if they can already read them?

I agree with the other posters about focusing pm reading more appropriate stuff at home, but it seems a shame that the right level of reading for a child isn't encouraged in school.

My niece, who was in Y2 at a small international school in Europe, was told she couldn't choose books from Y5 'because what would she read in Y5?' WTF? There are millions of books in the world........

mandymoomoo · 03/03/2006 21:22

I had a similar problem when my dd started in reception, she loved reading and at home was reading books far more advanced than at school. Her teacher wouldn't let her move up until some of the others were ready, and it was only in the summer term of reception that she was allowed to read harder books. Now she is in Year 1 and her teacher has moved her up several stages and she is on the Turquoise stage whatever that is, I think they are books meant for Year 2. My dd has just turned 6, at home she reads the flower fairy books

NappiesGalore · 04/03/2006 11:21

i like robinpuds answer. seems a good way to go to me.

as for not going to he head coz you dont want to go over the teachers head, what a load of bull. this isnt some clerk in an admin office, its the person primarily responsible for nurturing your childs academic development and interest in learning and exploration of the world. i think you have every right to talk to whoever you think is even remotely involved in that process. and if the teacher is annoyed at that, then they are in the wrong profession imo. like i said, it doesnt have to be confrontational, you can go and have an adult discussion with these people without necessarily upsetting anyone, cant you??

Blandmum · 04/03/2006 11:25

I'm not sayong that she can, I am saying that it is polite to talk to the teacher first. That way the teacher might be able to sort it out.

You ae quite right, it doesn't have to be confrontational, but why not have the politeness to let the person directly affected first and then see the people further up the chain. For all you know the teacher might say 'I can't sort this out, you need to talk to the head' Bur at least the woman is not left out of the loop.

It isn't 'running scared' it is simply being polite.

Blandmum · 04/03/2006 11:36

sorry, not saying that she can't Blush

If the peoplem is with the teacher thne in the firt instance it is porbably more effecient to take it up with the teacher. It is certainly more polite and more likely to foster a good working relationship with the teacher and the parent....which has to be the desired outcome.

If there isn't a satisfactory outcome, then it is totaly justifiable to go to the head. The teacher may even think this is a good idea.

A recent example that I had. (I work in a large comp btw) Deputy head comes to see me, parent has complained about my behaviour. I had kept her son in detention for all of break and all of lunch and he had not been allowed to eat all day. The reality was that I had given him a 15 minute dt in lunch (which is 50 minutes long).

It took over a day to sort this out.

Had she phones me directly we could have had a useful chat about her son's behaviour and I could have told her what had really happened in 5 minutes. She felt it was better to go directly to my boss. all this did was waste time, and a chance for the two of us to discuss her sons needs.

drosophila · 04/03/2006 11:46

DS is in Yr1 and his teacher leaves it up to me to tell her when he is ready to move up. SHe is a pretty strict teacher so I was surprised. Up to now I had been writing things in his reading record like 'he finds these books pretty easy now' and the next book would be at a different level. At parents eve I asked her what should I do about him moving up and she said if he understands the story and has little trouble with the words just tell her that he is ready to move up. He is a very good reader and I suppose she trust my judgement. His school uses a lot of the Sunshine books along with ORT. ANyone heard of them?

How is your DD's teacher with other things like maths? Is she as rigid?

SoupDragon · 04/03/2006 11:49

Can't you/she just read the damn books quickly and get through the lot? Get your DD to ask the teacher nicely for a new book whenever she's finished one. Maybe come to a "compromise" with the teacher where your DD changes her book more often (every day?) and reward her (your DD, not the teacher) for reading the ORT books, maybe with a more appropriate one.

NappiesGalore · 04/03/2006 13:19

ok MB, see what you mean. mind you, she did say she'd already spoken to the teacher and gotten nowhere.

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