Year 2, good reader but with science/maths parents - What should we ask or suggest about her reading?

[BorderBinLiner]

DD who is six appears to be a good reader: over the summer she devoured Horrible Histories, Wizard of Oz, etc. She now dislikes reading out loud because it's too slow.

Can you suggest books, websites, questions to help her scientific parents?

She's reading the Rumblewick Diaries at the moment so we talked about narrators, telling the story through a diary, how it's different to Winnie but since we're not good in this area we're looking for more suggestions....

Also I'm looking for a reading list since although she could cope with the words in Harry Potter and Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, I'm not comfortable with a 6 year old picking up the themes in these.

What are you trying to achieve here? Find her stuff to read? If she is already a confident and able reader I wouldn't be pushing it too hard. Take her to the library once a week, let her choose some books and bob's yer uncle.

Roald Dahl is good (although pick and choose)
The Worst Witch Series
Anything by Jeremy Strong (silly but fun)

She's reading her way through the library and we've done Roald Dahl (hidden Boy & Going Solo) and the Worst Witch but not tried Jeremy Strong.

I guess what I'm trying to achieve is to make sure she's understanding what she has read and can explain it in terms that a primary school kid should - so not so much 'explain the role religion plays in Brighton Rock' more.......

Oh and the 'How to train your dragon' books by Cressida Cowell are great too.
Stop worrying about the fact that you are science/maths btw, you can read can't you?
Reading MUST be about pleasure, if a child is constantly questioned about their books they will get fed up - would you like it when you were reading?! The best thing you can do for a keen reader is provide a range of texts (go to the library, I hate to preach but go to THE LIBRARY - lots of libraries run book groups/reading challenges over the holidays etc to encourage readers and librarians know their stuff, ask them what to read - also staff in good book shops are a great source of info)

Oh and if it helps to qualify what I am saying, I'm a teacher, I'm a literacy/history person and I have two dc who are keen, able readers

Ithankyou.

Are you after a reading list or a 'how to analyse your reading guide?'

I agree - when a child first 'gets' reading and can read anything it doesn't mean they SHOULD read everything iyswim. but I am not sure what being science or maths parents has to do with it.

Can she not just read what she enjoys for the moment without you being too prescriptive about what she is meant to be 'learning' from it?

Here's what you can ask her:

What was the story about?
Did you like it?
Why?
What was the funniest/saddest/most interesting bit?

Now stop asking questions and let her read. She's six.

You have been told.

My naughty little sister

Enid Blyton - Enchanted wood series, naughtiest girl in the school, amelia jane, 'popular rewards' series (there are 1000s). Secret seven is the easiest of the mystery/detective stories.

Mrs Pepperpot

Milly Molly Mandy

Pippi Longstocking

Gobbolino the witch's cat

Jill Tomlinson - The owl who was afraid of the dark etc.

Rummer Godden

Thanks......

Have decided I don't cope well with change - new school year, DD2 starting foundation, M&S failing to delivery key bits of uniform etc I think I nedd something bigger to worry about - maybe I should get a puppy(?).

Will continue to go to the library, we currently have 24 books out, everything from Horrible 'Whatever' to Captain Underpants (my choice that one). But you know you can't judge a book by it's cover so was looking for more hints in that area.

I'll lay off the Spanish Inquistion style questioning, poor kid don't even ask about the 'informal' top & bottom set questions I've subjected her to.

Little house on the prairie
Just william
What katy did
101 dalmations
Lots of classics; let her take the lead on discussing stories?
My ds likes to draw pictures to illustrate what he has read and we talk about those

I'm asking about the 'informal' top & bottom set questions you've subjected her to...elaborate, please.

Lol! You're not the only one who does the the informal set questioning ...

Yes keep the faith with the library, you are doing the right thing

Happy reading to your dd

Also - you say she dislikes reading out loud, but I bet she still loves being read too - My Naughty Little Sister is a good bedtime read - have a little chat about it afterwards. Perhaps tell her a story of when you were little. See. reading and discussion. Both boxes ticked.

Example IQ gathering questions that poor DD is subjected to:

Is it nice to see {known genius} again after the hols?

• you have n't had a chance to catch up? Is she not in your maths group? [try to keep shrill note out of voice]

Oh look there's {nice but dim} and {sunny but average} walking to school do they sit together? [whistling innocent tune] What's that; different groups, well good job they still see each other at swimming. {Sunny but average has had a positve brain spurt over holidays, well I did see them at the library, etc.}

Regular Miss Marple I am.

Chortle. Part of you can't be arsed, but the devil on your shoulder is shouting at you to ask "Are you with X?" "Is Y near you? and then feeling a little rush of triumph when you realise that DC of competitive mums are in a lower group. I know it's sad.

Chill! Her reading is not a project. As long as she is reading vaguely appropriate stuff (not Jilly Cooper ) and is enjoying reading, pretty much leave her to it.

This means letting her choose in the bookshop/ library (again, within reason). Sometimes she might go for something 'easy', sometimes not.

what are school giving her to read and what do they tell you to do?

top bottom questioning here by stealth.

im dying to ask and im sure you are dyng to tell, so go on then what reading band is she on and what nc level?

my dd hates reading out loud and so I get her to read 2 or 3 pages of her school reading book and the rest she does in her head. she sits at kitchen tanle with me doing dinner etc and I watch to see if she is reading and sit beside and ask a couple of questions.

I have no idea how the school's box arrangement relates to NC or reading schemes but the 'gold' box has about 80 books like Mr Gum, all the Roald Dahl suspects, Rumblewick Diaries, Darcy Bussell, a few Horrible Histories, the dreadful endless Magic Bunny series. I'm sure some of these will have been donated by parents rather then carefully selected by the literacy guru.

DD has read a lot of these already, the Magic Myxi Bunny books get demolished during the drive home from school and 20 mins at home. It's already hard for her to find something she's not read already hence all the library books.

It's a shame the infant school does n't have more choice at the library it's all mixed up so you have to make a call whether that Michael Morpurgo book is perfect now or better for an older child.

The school are n't unfriendly but the teacher is understandably stressed at the start of term with all the kids allergies, pick up araangements, etc. We've been asked to keep philsophical education questions to after school and not on a Tues, Thurs or Fri so not much time there for 'pushy mums'. Hence turning to Mumsnet for stratagies, references and a reassuring 'calm down dear' and have a nice .

What on earth has being 'scientific parents' got to do with a 6 year old child's reading books!?

Presumably if you are 'ever so clever' (if that's what that piece of information is supposed to be telling us?), then you are both able to read?

I would follow dds lead sounds like she is an exceptional reader and understands what she is reading etc. The school also seem to be acomodating this. so I would not worry and just because literature is not with in your genre I would just let her read what she wants with out preasure or concern.

see what she picks up from the library and search on sites such as amazon and bannana books and the book people to see what similar you can buy.

Teachermumof3, if you have read the rest of the OP's posts you will find she is well meaning and self-effacing - your post makes you sound sneery and unpleasant

I do buy a lot of books for the girls and for anyone who's not found it Banana Books is an off shoot of The Book People and sometimes has some fantastic books, very, very cheap. You may need more shelves.

TeacherMum of3 - no offence taken or IQ boasting intended but with maths and science there is generally a right or wrong answer and a clear path to arrive there. We read here but literacy I find a dark art so just thought I'd see what was suitable to ask or point out to a 6 year old.

Thanks for all the suggestions, DD has just pounced on all my old Enid Blyton books and after reading an exert in a library book has asked to read 'Toms Midnight Garden' one of my alltime favourites [key moment in relationship with DD, overexcited emoticon]. I'll probably combust if I find her with I Capture the Castle.

Whatever you do BorderBinLiner don't get a puppy. They NEVER grow up.

Banana books is brill
just ordered some more reading books, nice to top up our library books, just worked out I've order over 70 books (£35) think I went a bit mad!

Judy Moody selection,
Danger zone books, 15/20 books in series
The diary of a wimpy kid series,
Shakespeare for children series,
Anna Wilson books,
Jaqueline Wilson books.
On a point of information Costco do a great selection of childrens books at very good prices...may be useful for Christmas/birthday presents.