Teacher seems to not be very encouraging about DD - should I say something?

[Pennies]

DD1 is in Year 1 and is doing very well. Her reading in Reception was great and her teacher there was very encouraging. Lots of stickers in her reading record and some very positive comments.

Her Year 1 teacher just write negative stuff - DD must read slower / DD must stop at full stops / DD must use more expression when she's reading.

The thing is she finds the books they're given (Biff & Chip etc) dull as you like and I think that's why she's reading fast and not getting involved in the story because she thinks they're boring.

I know her reading is excellent (yesterday she read over half of George's Marvellous Medicine in one sitting curled up on the sofa) and I'm worried her teacher's lack of encouragement and positivity may make her less inclined to read. I am heaping the praise on her of course, but you know how children often worry about what their teachers say.

Should i say something to her teacher? I don't want to come across as a pushy mum, but I'm also getting fed up of constant criticism.

Pixie, I always get her to do whatever is advised in her book because I need to check if what her teacher is saying is correct or not and every time I find that she's able to. The reason why she's rushing it / not using expression is because she's bored and can do it rather than she can't.

Are the comments in her reading record?

I've learned that the comments are observations or tips in order to move up a level rather than an attempt to be negative. All of the comments that you listed will help her become a much better reader so don't take them to heart.

Most kids find reading scheme books dull and by not reading them with expression etc she is prolonging the amount of time that she has to read them.

I have read with dd's class from Reception to Y2, and I make sure I always put something encouraging in along with feedback/tips for better reading - because children do read them, and take them to heart, sometimes. Its not personal, of course its not, but still - kids need encouragement (and so do parents, IMO!).

I would ask dd if her teacher is pleased with her reading, or somesuch - giving her an opportunity to talk about how she feels about it. If she's not noticing the comments in her Reading Record, then really her only problem is boredom with the levels and with Chiff and Bip - but if she is, and is discouraged, yes, I would mention that to the teacher.

Teachers need to identify next steps for moving their learning on. Just writing "well done" all the time would not be considered good practice by OfSTED, although stickers and praise are important too of course. A mix of the two. The areas for development this teacher has given are useful pointers for you to help encourage at home.

Why do Mums (and dads) get so wound up about reading levels?

Its no big deal its not a race and if you know she can read books like georges marvellous medicine then theres no worries at all.

I think sometimes we forget a teacher is teaching 30 children not just our pfbs.

Theres more to school life than reading book levels.

Nickschick - youre totally missing the pount. I'm not worried about reading levels per se. I have no interest in her ability in relation to other children. I have no doubt that there are others who can read far better than she can, nor am I bothered that that is the case. I am concerned about the teacher's apparent negativity about her ability. I am at the stage now where I try not to let my DD see what is written because I think it will dishearten her, although I always encourage her to do what her teacher is requesting. That can't be right IMO.

This is not a PFB situation nor is it competitive parenting and it has nothing to do with class size either. It is about my concerns that the teacher is potentially undermining DDs confidence. I believe that guidance and advice is of equal importance to encouragement and praise where it is due, which I think is fair sentiment, surely.

Clam - I agree with you totally but there's absolutely no stickers or positive words to be found from her main teacher although the TA says nice stuff and draws smiley faces etc. Unfortunately the main teacher seems to be the one who hears her read most of the time so it's all doom and gloom and room for improvement.

There's been some interesting advice here which will help me structure my conversation with her, so thank you for that.

Pennies Ive been there I am the Mum who bought the entire ORT reading scheme from Wh smiths I am the Mum who wrote in the reading record 'xxxxx succesfully finished the twits this weekend' 'xxxxx read with confidence' I am the Mum who sneaked a look at other childrens reading books.... eventually I had a hum dinger with the teacher and ds got the upgrade ....he didnt get the praise that went with it though some teachers just dont teach like that.

I wasnt having a go at you btw,just realise from experience theres worse things to worry about in school life.

If your DD is already at the stage where she's reading GMM she has probably reached a stage where reading has become intrinsically rewarding. Do you, as an adult, read because you enjoy the story or because someone will praise you/give you a sticker?

Room for improvement comments are what is needed for children; if the teacher only ever wrote 'lovely reading X', 'X read nicely to me today' you may well feel that your DD isn't being challenged by the teacher who is holding her back/not encouraging her to stretch herself.

Recently I've had a parent complain to me that I don't encourage her child (I teach Y4). It's for almost exactly the same reason, albeit not related to reading records. When I mark children's work I comment on what they've done well but also detail next steps or things I am looking for them to improve upon/include next time.

According to this parent, by helping her child to make progress by writing, "Well done for including so many adverbial phrases X. Next time I'd like you to try to use commas to separate clauses," I wasn't encouraging or appreciating her. I'm fairly certain that if I wrote, "lovely story X" her child would make very little progress and, at parents' evening she would complain that X wasn't make any progress because I didn't help X to improve!

If your DD is 'bored' by the Biff and Chip stories she needs to liven them up by using punctuation and expression. If she reads B&C as though reciting a shopping list but is capable of reading Roald Dahl with expression and understanding then she needs to demonstrate this.

SE13Mummy - thank you for your post. Interesting reading. I get what you're saying, absolutely but I also feel that aged 6 she's not going to understand the nuances of improvement tips in lieu of encouragement when she reads what's written IYSWIM.

I have spoken to her about the pleasure of reading just for fun (am a bit of a book worm myself) and she gets it and loves the concept of it.

I will obviously continue to ask her to try and read with expression or whatever is suggested. However, I will talk to her teacher about it when it's parent's evening, but the advice given here has helped me to speak to the teacher with more understanding of what she's trying to achieve too, so thanks for that.