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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

They dont know what to give my son to read

49 replies

QuintessentialShadows · 22/09/2010 22:09

I was talking to my sons teacher (he is 8) about his current reading book. It is a book of poetry, and he is really uninspired by it, and just mumble-read through it at high speed, and I always have to ask him to slow down and read it with proper fealing.

So she said, they dont know what to give him to read, as he is such an accomplished reader, and at this stage they would usually get them to read stories, and write a synopsis. But he only wants to read factual books, and they dont have anythign suitable.

I am disappointed. Surely they should not just give him some silly poetry book, because he is reading so well?

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PlumBumMum · 22/09/2010 22:57

Quint I lost a post there but I just read your post about children listening to reading NOT ON,
My dcs are at a small school both my dcs are in mixed ability classes and although I do have a problem with the amount of reading books, there is always plenty of maths work sheets, you can never do enough maths at all levels to keep the cogs ticking
I would be printing him off sheets from internet

But if my dcs came home with older children writing in their books I would be livid!

Original poster

QuintessentialShadows · 22/09/2010 22:58

lol maktaitai
That is fine, I get the whole reading buddy thing.
But they are also responsible for setting the younger childrens homework, and writing in their writing book how many pages and what date given. Which is why so many children have not had reading home work....

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SE13Mummy · 22/09/2010 23:00

From what you've said, the homework policy (if that's actually what it is rather than one teacher's take on what homework should be) needs looking at; there is little point in children doing homework for the sake of it. My own Y4 class aren't being set homework per se - I'm setting them a mini-project to complete over a period of a few weeks, more along the lines of a learning log. It's open-ended e.g. find out about Albert Einstein and some chidren will produce nothing, others will print out a page from Wikipedia and one or two will create an amazigly intricate board game based upon the life and works of Einstein. Every single child in my class can access it right from the ones who barely know their letter sounds up to those operating well beyond the expected levels for an 8-year-old. It's optional too because I know that the children in my class work so hard during the school day that the last thing they need is to feel they have no time to play - some will want more work but it's not right for everyone.

If your DS's school are not providing appropriate home learning activities for him then they'd be better off not bothering at all. They could purchase this book or something similar - I've used it in school with advanced readers as it offers extracts across the genres and actually offers a level of challenge that writing a synopsis won't.

Oh, and many PTAs are prevented from buying essentials such as books so the constitution may need to be changed before that can happen...

spiritmum · 22/09/2010 23:04

Yeah, okay, scrub round my earlier suggestion.

Make an appt. to see the head and ask why your ds isn't allowed to work at his own pace.

As for reading homework, I only bother with my ds who is only now in Reception. I know that both my dds can read a wide range of stuff and we talk together about what they read so that I know they understand it. I also hear them read to each other and to their brother.

So I wouldn't get too fussed about ticking a box for the school re reading - unless the yr 6 children are being asked to set literacy homework too? In which case I'd put in a complaint.

spiritmum · 22/09/2010 23:08

SE13, please come and teach my dc! We're told that 7/8/9 yr olds 'aren't allowed' to do projects by the 'constraints of the curriculum'. Instead it's endless repetitive rote learning that not only insults them but turns them off working at home altogether.

DD1 did once do a project and take it in and her teacher regarded it as a personal insult. Never again.

magicmummy1 · 22/09/2010 23:18

Spiritmum, the homework at our school is all project-based, from reception through to year 6. The kids are given an open-ended topic to work on for 2-3 weeks and it's up to them how they approach it, what angle they approach it from, how much or how little they do on it etc. I think it works really well, as each child can work at their own level and build on their own strengths. My dd really enjoys doing it too.

PlumBumMum · 22/09/2010 23:20

SE13Mummy my friends school asked their PTA for money for books so that is why it was in my head,

I suppose for me its a communication thing I listen to my ds reading and see him devouring novels, then his teacher sends him home with a 12 page book (few lines rach page) to last him all week then I do worry if he is being challenged enough

dearprudence · 22/09/2010 23:25

If he's a very good reader, it seems odd to be setting him 'reading' homework and nothing else. My DS is 8 (year 4) and a strong reader, and the school never direct him to a specific book. He could choose one from the library if he wanted, but he almost always takes a book from home.

spiritmum · 22/09/2010 23:28

Aha, magicmummy, but I am moving my dc to another school and the head doesn't know it yet. And when it's all finalised...

SE13Mummy · 22/09/2010 23:29

PBM, are you certain it's the teacher selecting the 12-page books for your DS? My class choose their own books to take home - they're for sharing, not necessarily for the child to read to an adult. My DD (age 5) is a very capable reader and yesterday brought home a rubbishy phonics book, "because I liked the purple cover". She saw the error of her ways as soon as she bothered to open it!

PlumBumMum · 23/09/2010 00:18

Definitely the teacher tbh its my only real issue with school,
although teacher last years praised his imagination and creative writing (he was 6), its just he is a very laid back boy (and so far everything seems to just come easy to him) so I'm afraid if he isn't excited by something he will soon lose interest and not bother if things are too easy iykwim

imregular · 23/09/2010 00:29

DD is like this. The teacher still includes her in the book and synopsis bit cos she can then learn to discuss, another useful skill. I often send books in with her that she is interested in, or related to the topic they are covering.

FWIW, I think it is worth persevering with the story and synopsis thing as well, but stretch him by asking him to relate it to any real life events or summit - link to his areas of interest etc.

marialuisa · 23/09/2010 08:27

I wonder if it would actually benefit your DS to be encouraged to read more fiction and for the school to put a bit of extra effort into trying to find authors he enjoys? Even writing an explanation of why a particular book didn't float your boat is a useful exercise if the child is pushed to go beyond "it's boring". I don't know what part creative writing plays in the curriculum in Norway but I can't help but think that if he's not exposed to a variety of fiction his creative writing isn't going to be as good as it could be?

StarlightMcKenzie · 23/09/2010 10:24

This reply has been deleted

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chatch · 23/09/2010 10:29

Surely, though, he needs to develop an appreciation of, and hopefully love of, fiction too? He needs to be able to write a synopsis of a story as much as any other child.

Is it worth finding him some fiction that has strong factual content? Ie Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence, or lots of Michael Morpurgo have good factual basis, particularly any related to WW2. I'm sure there are lots of other examples that might interest him - anyone know of any reflecting ancient Incan or Egyptian culture?

Original poster

QuintessentialShadows · 23/09/2010 11:55

Lots of interesting posts on this thread. I will revisit and re-read after work. Thank you.

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treas · 23/09/2010 11:57

My dd has been a free reader since reception and has been taking in her own books to school since yr1 as the books for her reading ability were not necessarily appropriate for her age. The school have had no problem with this as I'm sure your ds's would not.

To play devil's advocate the school may have given your ds a poetry book to challenge him as understanding and reading of poetry is an acquired skill. However, this said this would depend on the quality of the poetry. The Jabberwocky, Owl and the Pussy Cat or The Jumblies or some Ogden Nash would be fine IMO but those silly nonsense compilations about pants and teachers drive me crackers.

IndigoBell · 23/09/2010 15:50

But in the reading SATS you have to do fiction, non fiction and poetry. So this is just too bizarre not encouraging him to read fiction ever.

maktaitai · 23/09/2010 22:01

But Indigo, if the school had said 'it's important to read fiction and poetry, he needs to work on ways into it' that's one thing, but it's not what they said.

Anyway, who cares about SATS? why should he give a toss about fiction if he doesn't like reading it?

wearymum200 · 23/09/2010 22:26

How about asking him to write a story based on his favourite factual book of the moment? Some children, especially boys, never do seem to "get" fiction but this might be one way to gently strecth him, and possibly help him appreciate fiction (and I know life isn't all exams, but GCSE English lit will probably cross his horizon one day)
Our local library has a great collection of non-fiction which can be borrowed; also bargain bookshops can be really good for that sort of thing.

Hulababy · 23/09/2010 22:32

Firstly - he needs to make sure that he does get the chance to read a range of fiction, in different styles, in addition to non fiction. He will learn more than just "reading" from doing so in terms of literacy an for his writing. Poetry is also important and he, as well as allthe children, should be reading books that involve poetry throughout the year too. They should also be acceasing plays aswell.

Secondly - does school not have a reference library? Can he not get non fiction from there, or take in his own?

Not sure on the homework. Why can he not still do the homework and write a synopsis or a review of what he has read? Even if it is something he is not keen on her could do this and explain why he is not keen. And he can do the same exercise for non fiction also.

piprabbit · 24/09/2010 01:17

What books are the year 4/5/6 children reading? Do they have no access to non-fiction books either?

Your DSs teacher sounds sadly lacking in imagination. Surely is is perfectly possible to write a synopsis of a non-fiction book - I'm pretty certain I had to do a few of those at university when summarising research papers.

seeker · 24/09/2010 07:19

"why should he give a toss about fiction if he doesn't like reading it?"

Because education is about broadening experience.

He doesn't like reading fiction? Well, tough. Sometimes we have to do stuff we don;'t like. If all the other children are reading fiction and writing syopses of what they are reading then he sould be too. His book might be a much harder one than his class mates - presumably the school has years 4,5 and 6 that have books?- but he can still do the same work. Getting kids to write anything down is often a struggle - just allowing them not to strikes me as a lay option.

aegeansky · 24/09/2010 11:16

I love the logic - he wants a fact book instead of fiction, so they give him poetry. Makes a whole lot of sense.

But I'm nonplussed, as you are. Why are there no suitable fact books? He's only 8! Does he know everything already?

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