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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

Y4 DS not changing school reading book.

40 replies

LesAnimaux · 24/04/2012 20:54

Apparently a TA comes to the class once a day and asks who wants to change their reading book.

DS, who struggles with reading, hardly ever says he want to change his book and therefore we have each book for about six weeks. I think he doesn't change his book either because he knows if he gets a new book he will have to read it (although we we have been reading each book several times) or because he is being dozy/pre-occupied.

I spoke to his teacher about this at parents evening. We agreed he would be given a new book each Monday, and I would ensure he finished it before the next Monday. This hasn't happened, and I have been writing in his diary every day "Please could DS have a new reading book". Obviously the diary, which is intended for home school communication is not being read by the school.

Today he chose to change his book. The TA has written "I cannot change books unless I have his old book and diary." Fair enough, but I do put them in his bag every morning, what else can I do?

So it's all left down to an 8 year old to ensure he changes his book.

(He has been reading books from the town library, but it's difficult to find books he wants to read which are his level)

He goes to before and after school club, so I can't just pop in and have a word with the teacher at the beginning or the end of the day.

WWYD?

OP posts:

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Set a reminder

Sunscorch · 24/04/2012 20:59

I think eight years old is quite old enough to change a book, particularly if he gets a verbal reminder.

Presumably the majority of the rest of the class cope.

PandaNot · 24/04/2012 21:02

You need to 'have a word' with DS not the school. At 8 he's old enough to be doing this whether he wants to or not.

Original poster

LesAnimaux · 24/04/2012 21:06

That's the thing, I've been having more that a word with DS, I've been having full on rants morning and evening. I'm actually very cross about it.

OP posts:

KitKatGirl1 · 24/04/2012 21:44

Yes, at yr 4 the children would all be changing their own books from the classroom or library, TA or teacher would not be involved at all at our school, except maybe for a few struggling readers.

LeeCoakley · 24/04/2012 21:50

I work in yr2 and if the children don't put their books in the tray to be changed, then they don't get changed. The reading diary won't get looked at until the change or when it's updated during guided reading. It works well.

Original poster

LesAnimaux · 24/04/2012 22:06

OK, if it works well for every other child in the country, I shall leave it.

I guess it's time to give up on school reading books and just focus on books I provide.

I do feel sorry for children who don't bother changing their books at school, and don't have parents who will provide books at home.

OP posts:

mrz · 24/04/2012 22:10

We expect reception children to take responsibility for handing over their reading books when asked "who needs their book changed?"

sleepwouldbenice · 24/04/2012 22:19

I disagree, I think it needs to be a joint effort. Yes you need to keep the pressure on your DS - and -without teaching you to suck eggs parenting wise - pile on the praise when he does change it, celebrate when he's read 10 books etc, peer pressure, sibling pressure, whatever may work for your DS

But I dont beleive the school cant do something to help - every monday they should look him in the eye and ask if he needs his book changing. Again putting the pressure on and letting him know whats expected of him and praising when he does do it. I know there are possibly 29 other kids in the class but if this is his weak point then I cant see why they cant focus on it. They have targets and motivational schemes in the school I assume, why cant they use this as his target? Again if this is a key concern agreed at parents eve then its something the school should be working on with you.

At our school in yr4 the children put their books in a box to be changed and yes if they didnt do it it would not be changed at first. But also each child reads to the teacher / TA / helper at least 1-2 times a week and they would question why a book wasnt in school / there for changing etc.

I just think both parties should be involved

mrz · 24/04/2012 22:26

sleepwouldbenice you would be shocked at how many children can look you straight in the eye and say with all sincerity "I haven't got my reading book" only to discover when mum comes to see why it hasn't been changed that it's been in their bag all the time.

juniper904 · 24/04/2012 23:59

I have lots of children in year 3 who swear blind that they don't have their reading book, never received their homework and don't own a coat.

There is only so much I can do! By KS2, they need to start taking responsibility for themselves. I allow my class to change their books as and when they please. Some need a gentle prod, but I don't have the TA support to ensure every child is followed up on it.

IndigoBell · 25/04/2012 11:01

My 3 DCs don't have school reading books, for exactly this reason.

It's not true that all kids are able to be responsible for their own stuff.

I think it is true that if he can't change his own book it's probably a symptom of a bigger problem (combined with the fact you said he struggles with reading)

For example, the reason DD can't change her own book, is because she has dyslexia. This stops her from being able to organise herself at all. Last year one of the targets on her IEP was to remember all her stuff ( And school laminated a key ring for her which had a photo of her bag, coat, lunchbox, reading diary, homework book and reading book)

And still every single day she'd come out of school and we'd have to send her back in for whatever she'd forgotten.

(This year she's better for various reasons. But last year she absolutely could not be relied on to do anything for herself - all because of 'dyslexia')

I gave up long ago on school reading books, and buy all the books my kids read (or get from the library)

So, what I'd say, is if your child really can't change his book - then he needs to be on the SEN register, and he needs to have a target on his IEP about organising himself.

Shanghaidiva · 25/04/2012 11:22

I think the responses are a little harsh. Putting to one side all the amazing Reception children who request a book change, I think the school has failed in two area:
Firstly, you agreed with the classteacher that his book would be changed every monday and this has not happened and secondly, messages in the communication book are not being read.
I can understand why your son does not want to chase up a new book if he is a reluctant reader. Personally, I would speak to the teacher again about changing the book every Monday.
I help with reading and am the school librarian. All classes are brought to the library by the teacher and /or TA who supports them in choosing books of an appropriate level. In years one and two books are changed after reading and whenever parents put a note in the communication book that the child has finished the book.

Original poster

LesAnimaux · 25/04/2012 18:21

Indigobell - I would bet my bottom dollar DS is dyslexic, but for reasons I won't bore you all with here, I have decided not to get him tested yet. Organisation is so not his thing, yet he works so hard at it he manages to keep up most of the time (IMO) , although I am aware he exasperates impatient staff.

OP posts:

sleepwouldbenice · 27/04/2012 19:30

I would agreed that plenty / most children would try it on. But if there is a pattern then its up to both the parent and the school to put pressure on the child to address this behaviour

IsabelleRinging · 28/04/2012 08:26

If the teacher asks the child if he has his book and he says no then what are they supposed to do?

betterwhenthesunshines · 28/04/2012 09:27

Can you just help him choose a suitable level book from home / library / charity shop and take that in to school each day?

DS school (Yr 3 and above) have a Book Bingo system to act as an incentive. And you get an award after 9 books, but you can only have one row for each author so for example you can't have 9 x Horrid Henry books! Mayve suggest for school or if they are not being very responsive just do it yourself at home.

It sounds as though he needs some help finding something he can enjoy more. And also perhaps some encouragement / help to get through the books quickly - maybe shared reading where you read one page, he reads one page? This should help speed it all up for him, give you a chance to add some silly voices, expression, maybe explain new vocab etc.

What's he reading at school? Is it still reading scheme stuff?

Donki · 28/04/2012 09:33

The system does not work well for the Young Donk who is in yr 4. He is not a struggling reader either - he loves reading, and quite likes the school books. My solution at the moment is that on Monday and Friday (luckily I can collect him from school on those days) I go into school and supervise him changing his book.

I don't know how I would manage if I couldn't collect him from school on those days, and he had to go to after school 'club'. His book would never get changed. Letters would never get handed in either...

betterwhenthesunshines · 28/04/2012 09:33

Just re-read your OP. If he has each book for 6 weeks and re-reads it several times he must be bored rigid! No wonder he doesn't want to pick another book and do it all again - would you want to be made to re-read a book over and over? You need to make it more appealing for him again...

My DH read with DD(7) the other evening when I was out and she thought it was HYSTERICAL because every 2 pages Daddy made her move so they read some on the sofa, then had to run upstairs, then back to the table, then sitting in the dog basket.... Now, this would never have occured to me as I'm usually trying to cook supper, too tired etc and he's much better at thinking up silly stuff :o but it was surprising what an impact it had - and they got through 24 pages together! Not good for every evening of course, but....

veritythebrave · 28/04/2012 14:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumblesmum · 28/04/2012 14:17

Y4? Our 5 year olds change their own reading books! No TAs involved at all. We check that they're reading and parents are signing diaries once a week.
I'm gobsmacked that such old children are having books changed for them.

IAmSherlocked · 28/04/2012 14:19

I agree that if you set up a plan of action with school then they should be adhering to that as agreed.

On the other hand, DS is in Yr 4 and I have paid no attention at all to his reading book for the entire year He chooses it, he reads it, he changes it when he needs to. He has hundreds of books of his own too, so I leave him to it - at 9, he is more than capable of managing his own reading.

Original poster

LesAnimaux · 28/04/2012 17:52

Well, I'm very pleased for all the five year olds who can change their own book. If DSs school diary was read by anyone at school, they would see he wasn't changing his book, but it isn't. I

I totally get that many schools expect children to respond in someway when asked "who needs to change their book", and most children do, but for some reason, DS has not been responding.

TBH, he probably needs to read most books/passages three times to actually comprehend what they are about. I'm finding it very hard to work out what his actual reading level is, which is why I like it when he has a book from the school reading scheme, and I know he's not going to really struggle with it, or feel he's reading a babyish book.

IsabelleRinging - they are supposed to change it every Monday as we agreed.

If I left him to brush his teeth without checking he actually had, he'd probably have terrible tooth decay by now. If I told him to go to school at 8.30 on his own, he would probably rock up at 10am. How lucky for everybody else that most five year olds do everything asked of them. Maybe my son has some sort of problem.

Or maybe he just doesn't want to change his reading book.

Donki - exactly!

OP posts:

Sunscorch · 29/04/2012 09:42

Or maybe he just doesn't want to change his reading book.

And just changing it for him isn't really addressing the issue, is it?

mumblesmum · 29/04/2012 10:02

Surely by the time you're 9 you want to choose the book you're reading? How does the ta know what he wants to read? I think it's demeaning for a nine year old to have to rely on an adult to do such an easy job. How can a child get enthusiastic about reading if they're always reading someone else's choice of books?

mrz · 29/04/2012 10:10

I've taught a few children who don't respond to a general "who needs their book changed" and need a personal invitation but at some point children need to learn to take responsibility for themselves. It is an important life skill and as parents we don't do them any favours by organising their lives for them.

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