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Grrr! Fed up with Reception DD having books that are far too easy!

64 replies

evremummy · 03/02/2012 16:22

Posted a similar thread a couple of weeks ago about book bands. I finally plucked up the courage to put a comment in DD's home/school diary about the books being too easy for her and asking if she could be reassessed. When it was noticed a couple of days later, there was a comment that said they would do it today. Yesterday, she didn't come home with any books and she said she had read to one of the teachers so I assumed they had been assessing her ability. We usually go to choose the books when we drop them off in the morning, so I asked the teacher where her reading diary and book was as she had not been sent home with them. The teacher just spoke to my daughter and said something like "Silly Miss M forgot to put them back and didn't realise until about half past 5 last night". Tonight she has come back home with the same band of book and no comments about being reassessed in either her reading diary or her home/school diary. What should I do now without coming across as a pushy, problem parent?

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mrz · 06/02/2012 19:53

The thing is the teachers don't assess the, constantly, at our school they hardly ever hear them read a book, double oh dear Hmm

camicaze · 06/02/2012 20:13

I did mean 'poor' as in unfortunate and to be pitied not as in the opposite of rich!

Its true that if we give our children reading outside school the fact they are not really being taught at the right level is less of an issue. However a classroom teacher can hardly justify the fact they don't give out books at the appropriate level by saying 'oh well they probably read plenty at home so what I do doesn't matter.' That is the logic of the argument being put forward by those suggesting that as there is reading done at home there is no casue for concern. I'm a secondary teacher and whatever the likely outcome of my students I try to teach them in the most efficient manner, most likely to lead to the most progress. I would be slated by ofsted if I didn't.

How easy the level of reading books should be for children before one is concerned is a different debate. I think if books are consistently read with 99-100% accuracy over a period of months they are too easy.
So, yes, I needn't obsess about my children's reading level but surely I am allowed to be rather annoyed that a child sent to school to learn is actually relying on home input to make any real progress.

sississy · 06/02/2012 21:42

Sorry camicaze for misunderstanding you. I am reading and writing in a foreign language to me .. so I am in a lower level / band for sure Wink

sugartongue · 07/02/2012 09:21

DS2 is in reception, school not using ORT (thank f**k) do can't do the direct level comparison, but the books he brings home he reads in less than a minute and with only the rarest error and with absolute confidence - he finds them easy and he is motivated to read each one because he is experiencing success. And slowly but surely thè books are getting harder and he can still read them easily because he is developing his skills all the time and has retained his enthusiasm because he experiences success. The books may seem easy but he's transferring what he's learnt to the world around with ease and without stress. Stop getting so hung up on levels!

GrownUp2012 · 07/02/2012 09:35

You just have to remember that if your child JUMPS ahead that they might miss something, whereas if they work their way up slowly and steadily, they build confidence, comprehension and knowledge.

That being said, if you have a particularly strong reader, make an appointment and talk to the teacher about how you feel. My DS was moved ahead as the school too had noticed he was probably at a higher level, and so when we met agreed to do an assessment and he was put up a couple of levels.

He could now in year one probably read higher level books with no problems, but on talking to the teacher I agree that sometimes though he can read all the words no problems, that his tone needs work and that his comprehension is not always the best as he isn't concentrating on absorbing the story but on reading the words. So we make him meet the targets for each level, even if it means reading easy books to do it, just to make sure he isn't missing out on knowledge. He got too big for his own boots, and I nearly got taken in by it, but actually he might feel things are too easy, but the best person to ask is his teacher, not him.

I concentrate on giving him books that are more advanced in our own time, so library books or buying our own. Take the building blocks laid in place at school and build on them ourselves, a good foundation might seem to be a pain when it's repetitive and easy, but it's essential. It sounds like your DD does this already with her reading of the encyclopaedia, so you are doing the right thing. Relax about what happens at school, don't be intimidated by the teacher and build a good working relationship with her, rather than assuming she is defensive and difficult, perhaps take on board that she may be right?

singinggirl · 07/02/2012 09:48

When DS1 was in reception/ year 1, there was one very pushy mum who frequently told us all how dreadful it was that her son was on the same level books as other children in his literacy group, because he could read every single word flawlessly. DS1 explained it very neatly one day by saying to us both that 'X and I make a great team don't we, because X can read every single word and then I tell him what it means'. Put it in a nutshell really!

MrsTruper · 09/02/2012 22:47

If you open your mouth more than once/twice a term about 'whatever', the teacher thinks you are a PITA (from my experience or maybe I am just unlucky).....to save the stress, you need to plug any gaps that are developing YOURSELF, trust YOURSELF, because on the whole the teachers only have an eye on 'the whole class'...

So wrt reading, get LOTS of books, different authors, styles from library, ebay etc and then just let your child loose on these at home. Whatever is in the book bag is in the book bag...it's an 'aside' for us now, and my child is in year 2.

PS may need to do the same for other subjects (depending).

RiversideMum · 10/02/2012 06:17

The reading books sent home should be easy. The process of reading at home is consolidation, not new learning.

Michaelahpurple · 10/02/2012 09:38

yes, god forbid someone should be above yellow to start year 1! I had a bit of this - no my Yr1 can't go and choose a book from year 2, although he has read everything in Yr1 (and of course it appears that was Reception's fault for letting him read from there last year.....) because what would they do in year 2? Taking books from year 3 is apparently not a reasonble answer.

I just send him in with books I have chosen from home and no one says anything, but that is really only feasible if you aren't following reading schemes, so probably not a valid strategy in most schools.

HavePatience · 10/02/2012 09:45

Why wouldn't every class have books of all different levels , genre, authors, length...etcConfused
Why would they go to next year level up for books? The child has really "read everything in y2"? Really? Hmm

redskyatnight · 10/02/2012 10:21

I think the point about enjoyment that someone made upthread is very important. DS was pushed through the reading levels quite quickly in infants school (by his teachers, I stayed out of it) and although he was capable of reading them he really didn't enjoy doing so and we got to the stage where he was starting to hate reading. In the end I spoke to his teacher and she suggested we just read whatever to take the pressure off.

When he moved to a new school they effectively moved him down - at first I thought he was reading books that were way too easy, but actually this was the best thing for him - they've given him back the confidence and enjoyment that he lost somewhere along the way of being mercilessly pushed up the reading scheme ...

HavePatience · 10/02/2012 10:49

Redsky that is exactly it. Kids need to enjoy it to get better at it. If they enjoy it, they will practice more and when they practice they will enjoy the content, which will improve their reading far more quickly and effectively than 'reading harder books'.

Think of a subject that is difficult for you - perhaps it's astro physics (pick anything challenging). Pick up a nice 'challenging' book about astro physics the next time you're in a bookstore or library. You will probably be able to decode every single word, perhaps some will be difficult and you'll get there. You may even understand what is going on, you may need to reread some bits. But, if it's a text that is truly challenging for you, it won't be the kind of reading you're likely to do on your own in your spare time...
Now, fortunately, you're an adult, who knows and has experienced the pleasure of reading good books. But a child who is engaging constantly in this puzzle piecing and struggling through books to achieve new levels - that isn't going to help them enjoy it. If they don't enjoy it, practice will become a chore instead of a hobby. This will hinder their progress and love for reading long term.
Argh, no time to reread this post and edit and I'm on my phone so I am sure it's full of typos and grammar errors. Apologies in advance.

moliere · 11/02/2012 20:26

Hi, you have already had so much advice, so follow your instinct...
Is it you or your daughter who finds the books too easy? Watch out, because children often memorise them if they have read them a lot.
All schools are different, is she in a large class/do they listen to the pupils read on a regular basis?

It's easy to appear a pushy Mum, but you want the best for your child. I suggest you try the earlier recommendation...Go to the library and choose some books together, but keep it fun, don't make it a chore. You can always build it into your routine and give little treats from time to time. This don't have to be expensive, maybe smiley face stickers.
Do remember to check that she understands what she is reading and not just saying the words.
Good luck

nappysan · 20/02/2012 21:00

Be patient, enjoy your child and think carefully and how you speak to the teacher.

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