ds's reading diary hasn't been written in by school for 2 weeks

[DestinationUnknown]

Is this normal? He's in YR. I know they haven't looked at it in at least a week because I put in a couple of notes last Monday (not important, they just like to hear about news from home) and they are still there.

I have to say when DS was in reception they were pretty good at writing in his reading diary.

In yr1 the only time they wrote in it was to write in his new reading objectives and now DS is in yr2 they have not written in his reading diary once this whole year!!!

One of the problems that we have is that we have to keep a detailed running record in school whenever you hear group reading, linked to the assessment foci in APP>
Once you've filled that in for all 5 or 6 children, you really don't have time to do individual books as well unless you do them at lunchtime.
Check if that's what the class is doing, if your child is reading but you are not getting the report back on a daily or weekly basis. Ask the teacher what's happening.

Is he a very good reader? My DC is in reception and a pretty fluent reader. She is only heard individually every couple of weeks but she often tells me about 'group' reading she has done with the other fluent reader and this only occasionally appears in the diary. I get the impression that they focus the teacher's time on the strugglers.

It's probably the record keeping, rather than ignoring your child because they are a good reader.

Nope neither has my ds! Nor has he brought a book home
But they did remember to put a snotty note in his bag saying that he forgot his PE kit

priorities init!

No he's not a great reader and has recently lost his enthusiasm for school

It probably is record keeping rather than not being listened to though.

They should be sending books home on a regular basis, whatever else.

Does he get new books on a regular basis? As if he gets new books then it's just the record keeping side of it as others have said.

No haven't had a book sent home in almost 3 weeks though he has a set of tricky words to work on (he can read these though).

I need to speak to the teacher about this don't I?

And...?

We send home sets of words, differentiated per child, and a scheme book and a choice book for the child to enjoy with an adult.
Go and talk to the teacher.

Yes I would esp as you have not had a book for 3 weeks.

I too, was going to write "and....", but I think this comes with experience.

Reading is something you can do with your child with their own books, and with library books, you don't need to get too hung up on ticking your way through a school scheme, honestly. the 'practice' comes with all the opportunities to read you create at home (and out and about).

I help with reading at my DCs primary and the infants are listened to at least 3 x times a week. We always write in the pupils books - you need to see his teacher.

hhhmmm if you're that bothered i'd get one of his books and have a look at that together instead....
but then i never bother writing in DS2's (in reception) reading record anyway because I always cant be arsed forget.

honestly I prefer relaxed opportunistic reading, rather than tick box exercises

Of course I read with him myself but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't wonder whether school are listening to him too? I have no idea where he is on any scheme, he has never come home with a succession of levels and that doesn't bother me in the slightest. It's more the lack of any communication in the diary that school provide that I am wondering about.

DDs reading diary has NEVER been written in by someone from school. She's also in reception. I have no idea if they even read the bloody thing.

Hi DestinationUnknown:

Absolutely understand the frustration of not changing books and no comments.

To be devil's advocate here - there is a good probability that 2 things are happening just now. It is likely that they are assessing individual ability -this is taking up the teacher's and TA's time and means that the normal service may be somewhat disrupted. I also suspect that the teacher may be stating to prepare the long-winded English report card system - it takes a great deal of time to dream up: X is developing a strong sense of movement and is able to catch a ball and watch and then perform tasks, etc. etc... Our report cards run to 3 pages and I'd expect that filling them in would take at least 1 hour possibly more per child - so you can see with teaching all day and limited admin time, something like filling in the reading diary may fall by the by.

What can you do - Well at some point you'll have a parent/ teacher meeting to discuss the report card - so at that meeting if your DS's reading is the real issue - then ask them (keeping it very positive) how you might support that for the rest of the school year and what you should be working on at home over the summer. Also ask if they feel it would help to join a reading scheme or if they could recommend certain books.

Finally remember that schools are very hot places and in this heat your DS's teacher may be absolutely exhausted at the moment.

I've had a lot of this kind of intermittent service and what I would do is progressively record (in ink) in the diary that the book hasn't been changed so we're reading something else and also use the diary as an opportunity for my DDs to practice writing.

Coxhoe primary school has some great literacy ideas for reception age children here: www.schooljotter.com/showpage.php?id=45834

Mumsnet has some great phonics worksheets here: www.mumsnet.com/learning/phonics/phonics-practice-sheets

and free e-books here: www.mumsnet.com/learning/ebooks

HTH

PastSellByDate - thank you. Really helpful post and links. I suspect you are right about the other work and the heat (with all the wet weather beforehand sending the children stir crazy!) - it feels as if things have stalled a bit recently. The school is fab, the teachers are wonderful - but they are also only human after all.

I decided today that if I keep doing enough at home then there is only one more half term of full play-based learning before school proper really gets underway, so I'm going to chill out and let ds enjoy all the outdoor play he is still getting to do.