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Original poster

Learning to read - seems to be no structure to it

319 replies

grumpypants · 15/04/2011 10:14

I'm a bit frustrated at the moment - ds (5) is in Y1 and brings home two books a week, one to read to me, and one to have read to him. There is just no continuity to the books he is meant to read and he is just not reading as well as i thought he would be by now. Older ds also couldn't read (worse than this) buy the end of Y1 and we hired a tutor for Y2 - he is now a free reader (Y3) and has a brilliant reading age.
The school read in groups, and apparently use several reading schemes.

Any thoughts?

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Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 20:58

possibly you meant to say -- acutally you don't need to buy them you can hire them or get them at libraries

as opposed to [horror] I can't think of a bigger waste of money

perhaps it just came out wrong

Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 20:59

I said get the ORT books you expressed horror

it's kind of a clue

EvilTwins · 16/04/2011 20:59

OP - before you do anything else (let alone shell out ££££ on reading scheme books), why don't you make an appointment and have a proper chat with his teacher? Perhaps the school can lend you resources. Whilst my DTDs are getting on well with reading (despite their lack of knowledge of the magical Biff and Chip) a friend of mine whose DS is in their class is struggling, and she has been able to take home all sorts of helpful resources to work on at school.

Surely the best thing for the OP to do is to work WITH the school, rather than dismissing it and getting on with it herself?

Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 21:00

Anyway

nice to know you don't disapprove of parents using reading schemes, that you think ORT is worthwhile for parents and that it would be better if they could access the cheaper or indeed the free options.

Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 21:01

I think we can both agree on that Smile

mrz · 16/04/2011 21:01

No you said "can you just BUY the whole ORT and whizz through them"

mrz · 16/04/2011 21:02

No I don't like ORT but each to their own

Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 21:03

Evil: yes that would be the best start, but it's doubtful the school would alter their methodology for one child. And she might not want her child labelled and marked out with a label that could carry forward, when it's pot difficult to work on it at home and catch up.

littleducks · 16/04/2011 21:03

We have the first few levels of those at home Mrz, they are good, nice large text. I dont think there is a school in the borough with six of same title that are available to take home, only 'guided reading' sets where the sit around the table so need the smae book.

I havent seen any 'Peter and Jane' books in schools yet but it wouldnt surprise me. DD brought home a school library ladybird book that was older than me last week! It was very dull......which I expect is why it has lasted that long!

Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 21:03

eh?

"not want her child marked with a label that could carry forward, when it's not difficult to work on it at home"

mrz · 16/04/2011 21:03

I expressed horror at parents spending money to buy a reading scheme and I stand by that.

MissBeehivingChoclitWabbits · 16/04/2011 21:05

I bought levels 5 -10 of the ORT scheme for my DS to read over the summer/autumn last year, mainly because he couldn't be relied upon to change his book 3 times a week. That was the main problem really. I couldn't barge into the classroom 3 times a week to check that he'd changed his book and since he was in a class of 30 I didn't feel it was fair to make a big issue of it. I mirrored the levels in his reading record and we still read the books he brought home from school. He was a free reader by Christmas Smile. He loves reading now although is more intersted in Beast Quest than the Hobbit Grin.

I'll keep them for DS2 and then give them to the school, if they want them

Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 21:05

yes I said buy - I had no idea there was any other way of accessing them

you chose to express horror rather than say actually you can do it more cheaply

why don't you like ORT? I never came across a child that disliked them or didn't thrive on them

EvilTwins · 16/04/2011 21:06

Gooseberry- I disagree. I think most schools would be very happy to work with a parent to improve their child's reading. You seem to have a very negative view of schools and teachers.

Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 21:07

why so horrified - what if there is no other means of access?

and especially when the child is so far behind what you would consider normal?

you have no good reason to be horrified at parents buying reading scheme books

Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 21:08

You think this school would stop teaching reading in groups and change the way they send books home with children? you think a school would do that for one child?

actually an assumption that a class would not change its entire methodology for the sake of one child is rather a positive view

EvilTwins · 16/04/2011 21:11

Not a teacher, are you, Gooseberry? I am. And you know what, I do change what I doubt suit the children in each class. It's called differentiation.

mrz · 16/04/2011 21:12

I have a full Songbirds scheme (between 8-12 copies of each book) a full Rigby Star scheme 6 copies of each book a full Big Cat Phonics scheme (only 1 copy of each book) a full National Geographic scheme - A full discovery world /literacy world scheme plus additional books Rapid Readers, Project X, Rag Tag Rhymes, ORT Tree Tops stage 13-14 for KS1 classes.
We scrapped all our old books about 5 years ago and bought in a the Rigby scheme and have built it up with other books replacing damaged books continually.

mrz · 16/04/2011 21:14

I have to say Beast Quest is very popular in my class too Grin

Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 21:17

How lovely Evil. No, my children have never enjoyed the benefit of differentiation. Far from it. They have been enjoined to follow the letter of the NC and divert from it in no way. Despite extremely level-headed meetings with teachers.

I'm not going to describe the effects on my eldest child: however if I did, you would understand why I took reading and maths into my own hands when it started to go the same way with my younger two.

Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 21:18

why so horrified, mrsz, especially if there is no other means of access and the child is so far behind?

Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 21:19

I'm going to assume you are both good teachers: and I'm going to say, I find it pretty astonished that good teachers cannot conceive of there being teachers and methodologies who and which are poor and failing.

mrz · 16/04/2011 21:23

I'm horrified for two reasons
1 that parents feel they need to resort to buying reading scheme books for their child when the school should be doing it
2 that parents are spending huge amounts on schemes when there are so many wonderful books to bring into their child's world

Gooseberrybushes · 16/04/2011 21:24

1 that horror is better expressed at the teacher and the school
2 oh por favor

EvilTwins · 16/04/2011 21:24

"never enjoyed the benefit of differentiation" Right. Now I see why you're so bitter and negative. I actually think you should step away from this thread because your views are inevitably going to be twisted by your own experiences.

I think the OP should go to the school and talk to the teacher. Schools are not in the business of deliberately allowing a child to fall behind because he fails to fit neatly into what you refer to as their "methodology".