Unsuitable books in reception

[Emmjo]

Hi,
I have never used this forum before so here goes. My little girl started reception last week and really loves it - particularly play dough, painting etc.

She is a very good reader (reading a range of children's books such as winnie the witch as well as level books). This week her teacher sent home a grey ORT book - the ones without any words. I'm a teacher myself and so understand the importance of telling the story yourself and enjoying the pictures. However I don't want her to lose interest in her reading - the first thing she said was 'but mummy where are the words?'. We sat down and went through the book and she told the story. After much thought (and not wanting to appear like a pushey parent) I rang the teacher just to ask about the book and let them know she 'can read quite well'. She assured me that the children will be assessed and she'd sort it out.

Today she has arrived home with a level 1 ORT book and now I really don't know what to do. My little girl read it in a couple of minutes and just didn't seem interested, when usually she loves looking at the pictures and reading all the words. I want to explain how she reads confidently and with expression - but I also don't want to appear pushey. Thanks, Em.

I'd give your daughter's teacher a chance to work out what's what and have a rethink on what books will be sent home. It won't take them long to realise that she needs something a bit more challenging. She isn't going to regress, and you can keep up the reading at home in the meantime.

agree with shat. The school will soon see her true level and in the meantime get thee to a library and she can read her own ability books at home.

The teacher will be trying out the children with a range of different books to work out what level is appropriate to each of them. Don't worry about it. I'm sure the teacher will pick out a suitable level for your daughter in a few weeks.

But the level may be a long way back from what you know she is capable of reading through, as the teacher will also want to pick up on other things apart from simply being able to get through the text - meaning, comprehension, etc.

Thanks for all your help, I'm sure you're right. I bring her books home from my own school to read and she has lots at home.

It's just that as a teacher I don't work out what level they should be on by sending home a range of books, I assess them in class so the correct book goes home.

And my little girls understanding of the content of the books is great because she always comments on the characters, what they are doing, what she likes/her favourite bits, including picking out rhyming words and playing fun role play games with puppets. So I should hope the level isn't 'a long way back' from what she reads at home.
Thanks, Em.

surely as a teacher you have had parents telling you their kid is brilliant at XYZ only for it to become clear to you that they are in fact only mediocre? It happens all the time - people often have NO IDEA how their kid compares to the average etc. So does the teacher KNOW that you are a teacher too, so she can trust what you say? The number of parents i have seen put "read the whole book fluently" when their Dc can barely string the words together, let alone recount the details

give it time - its very early days and they soon WILL have her on the right level (My DD2 was selecting books from Y2 class by middle or reception year)

Personally I don't think it matters if an already-reading child is sent home with a book that is 'too easy' for them; far better that than a not-yet-reading child is sent home with something completely impossible (albeit at the moment).

One of the Y4 children in my new class declared that she wanted to change her in-class reading book (all free choice, no reading scheme ones - I've hidden those because I want them to enjoy reading, not be limited by out-of-date and non-phonics-based reading scheme books) because, "it's too easy for me". Too easy? How can a book be too easy?! I explained that I read books for enjoyment, to find out what happened next etc. etc. and that even if I already know every single word in the book I don't consider it 'too easy'. In so many people's minds school reading has become about competition and levels and I think this is a real shame.

My DD has just started Y1 and as she's already a confident reader has been told by her teacher to choose any book she'd like to take home. The first one she's brought back is an incredibly 'easy' chapter book but it's a story she'd not read before and it was funny. I've not mentioned anything to her teacher about DD's reading because, although I teach in the same school, it's only the third day of term, we have lots of books at home, the local library has even more and I honestly don't believe it matters - she's 5 and enjoys reading. Long may that last.

Completely agree SE13Mummy - reading has become very competitive. Why does reading need to always be a challenge? My ds likes to read chpt books to himself but when reading out loud to me he'll often choose a funny picture book and it's not surprising, they are often written purposely to be read aloud with silly voices and lots of expression and confidence. I get a lot of pleasure reading them too!
Focus on enjoyment of reading rather than reading levels - a child who loves reading will continue to progress through pleasure - what could be better?

She's got 11 years of compulsory schooling ahead of her, it's not all decided in the first month.

Too easy? How can a book be too easy?! I explained that I read books for enjoyment, to find out what happened next etc. etc. and that even if I already know every single word in the book I don't consider it 'too easy'.

Totally agree! I still read and enjoy books I read 8 years ago! I so love this point you have brought up here SE13Mummy. Enjoyment should be the goal and not zooming through the levels just to be 'ahead'

I bloody hate reading schemes.

Any book thats read is not a waste in my opinion and the books without words are a great way of developing other literary skills and encouraging creative and imaginative development.

As you are a teacher and a mummy I think you are being a bit pfb and need to back off a bit - its only the first week back.

I can't believe you rang the teacher!!!!!

[ponders the things I've let slide over the last four years]

I think you were right to do it Emmjo.
My dd (who could not read when she started reception) was bored to tears by weeks and weeks of ORT books without words.

I reckon you should let it go as long as the teacher progresses her quickly through the levels, but if she is expecting your dd to creep through them as if she were doing them for the first time you should have a word.

(I have been completely non-pushy through reception and I have decided on a change of policy for Year 1 because I would like dd to actually enjoy learning, which for her does involve a sense that she is being challenged, achieving something and making progress.)

There is an assumption on MN that teachers are all great and are doing what they are for a reason. Often actually it's because they haven't got their eye on the ball.

I think it's fairly standard practice to send them all home at first with the picture-only books. I know this happened to my 2 last year when they could already read a bit, but as others have said, the teacher will quickly assess them and get them to the right level and group them accordingly. Interested that so many use ORT - seems a lot less structured at our school. Books are colour-coded at different levels and certainly last year, I would choose with them which ones to take home every day in the library. I actually like this approach (speaking as one who was schooled in the "Peter and Jane" reading regime!) - a lot of variety and their reading has come on leaps and bounds.Think its a bit early for you to be worried about it

I should have added however that I was slightly concerned yesterday when my DD told me she was down as being on "Green" books at school when in fact she is at the heady heights of "Grey" - teacher has been duly informed (my pushy mum streak coming to the fore!!)

Isn't there an 'expression' for want of a better word along the lines of teachers making the worst parents?

SE13, that's the BEST argument against reading schemes I've ever read, I'll remember that next time the uber competitive mums in the dcs classes start!

Emmjo, she's been there 3 days. Do you really expect the teacher to have assessed every single child's reading level as well as settled them into a new school routine and environment that is alien to most of them? Have you assessed every single child in your class on their appropriate reading level? PLEASE get a grip before you are labelled as the nightmare mother for the rest of her school career.

I think you're completely in the right. Why would you want your child reading something too easy, she's there to learn.

If it were me I'd mention it again at drop off tomorrow. I wouldn't ring its a bit too full on. Something along the lines of " xxx enjoyed this one a little more, but she'd like something a with a bit more story tonight".

We had exactly the same situation last year. DS1 went into reception at level 5 ORT and was given books without words. But they all were whatever their level of reading ability. It took the teacher a week or so to go through and work out what stage they should be at. At first he came home with a level 3 book which he found too easy and at that point I said something and he was jumped up to level 6 and finished the year on KS2 books/free reading.

I'd have a friendly word with the teacher and ask if she can try something harder. So what if she thinks you're pushy. You're a parent who takes an interest in her child's education and that is a good thing.

All this in the first fortnight!!! If as you say you have loads of books at home, why not read them with your dd. The beginning of term is for the teacher to get to know everyone, the children working out how to interact with the other children and all learning how school works. For goodness' sake leave the reading schemes to another day.

(I thought the thread title meant that the subjects were too old for the children!)

It's early days, the teacher will whizz her through to the right level in no time. So long as she has books at home to enjoy she won't get bored. For the moment her school book will just be a box-ticking exercise.

FWIW my dd2 (yr2) has been a free reader since partway through Yr1 and will still happily spend hours reading Dora the Explorer as well as Horrible Histories.

At the moment its all about getting used to the rules and routines of school ,making friends and feeling comfortable and settled.The learning phase hasn't started yet

It's early days at the moment. The school may have a policy of checking a child can read each level before moving them on, in which case she will soon be onto much harder books. The teacher is still getting to know the children and the last thing the school will want to do is knock the confidence of a nervous child by making them think that reading is 'hard' so I believe a slower approach is better as children settle into school. It is a big step afterall.
You on the other hand already know your child well and know how far you can challenge her. If she is easily able to tell the story from the pictures how about extending her writing skills by encouraging her to write her own simple story based on the pictures or write labels for things she can see in the pictures.

Thanks for all of your imput. The teacher grabbed me after school yesterday to let me know that they had read with my little girl and put her onto stage 5. Sophia got home and was so proud of herself!!

Can I just say that I don't think levels and stages are the be all and end all and Sophia has a range of 'favourite' books at home that she just reads over and over again for the love of the story, even 'easy' ones! That wasn't the point, the point was that the teacher know the children and where they are.

I don't want her to feel bored with a book which isn't appropriate for where she is. She very quickly noticed the lack of words and just didn't feel excited by the book when we made up our own story - which is much more fun with her dolls and teddy's - not with Biff and Chip walking by a pond!!
And yes you're probably right - teachers do make the worst parents!

And just to let Olihan know as a teacher I would never send home a book inappropriate to the child's ability. I ALWAYS read with the child first before I send a book home.

Sophia absolutely loves books at home and I wouldn't want her to lose interest in books at school.

Brilliant, well done Emmjo & Emmjo's dd!

oh, and Emmjo's dd's teacher of course - she clearly is on the ball