What witty, non-aggressive and clever retorts do you give to parents who

[Technoprisoners]

ask what reading level/book band/nc level etc your dc is on?

This really annoys me. I have no wish to discuss my dc's levels or whatever with other parents at my dc's school, least of all random nosy feckers in the playground. Some really persist, no matter how I try to skirt round it.

So, what do you say to to shut 'em up for good?

Chaucer.

Oh red i think. But i am colour blind so it might be green. Or blue

Lol @ Juniper. That would shut them up.

No no, Kafka (in the original German text).

Just tell them that you find the subject boring and that using the library is far more interesting.

Hmmm, not often asked, but I answer with the level, and ask "why???". Usually left with flustered parent who can't think of why they needed to ask, so just smile and walk off.

I've had a parent tell me what level my dd was on after she went up a level! She is the only one who asks me. Do many people ask you?

I haven't a clue what level DD is on. She's reading well, and the teachers seem to be matching her reading book with her abilities, that's all I'm concerned about. No-one's really asked me, but they wouldn't get very far if they did. Equally I wouldn't ask anyone what level their child was on - don't see the point.

Love some of these, especially the colour-blind one. Might have to try that.

I've tried your tack, exoticfruits, but they usually persist.

Why do they do it? I mean, how does it help them to know what another child is on?

Baffles me. Insecurity? Arrogance?

No one has ever asked me this question but if they did I would say "why on earth do you want to know?"

Yes, Wiggly, it seems to be a school with those sorts of parents, trying to suss each other out. It's got to the stage I can see it coming.

Book Level Alert.

competitiveness ...fear someone might have a child reading a book higher in the scheme

Just ignore ... If they persist, just tell them that they need to speak up as you can't really hear personal questions all that well ...

I'm all the more determined to get some good one-liners because my 3rd dc is due to start R in September and I dread it all over again, this sort of thing seems to be much worse when they start school.

Next time tell them you're thinking of starting on Macbeth as you've just finished Hamlet, and ask if they think it'll be challenging enough.

Really glad the parents I know aren't like this! I think it's insecurity.

Oh we have some of these moms at school.

They like to get the child's book out of the schoolbag before they've even greeted the child. And quite often wave it around with sideways glances making sure they've been clocked.

One day they'll realise.

Perhaps you should suggest that as they have such a big interest in reading levels and achievements, the school are desperate for parent helpers to come and listen to reading ..

I've been asked perhaps 5 or 6 times in 5 years. Mostly by parents who, on further conversation, were worried about their DCs levels, all with good reason as their DCs were all a little below average. I've never really minded being asked, to be honest I do know what most the kids reading levels are as I help out with reading in the class and that is why I'm asked- at least I've always assumed this. I always advise them to talk to the teacher and to go to the library a lot! My DCs have always been very aware of what levels other children in the class are on, and often tell me too, thogh i don't encourage this, i can't see how to stop it. Don't yours? I've never really viewed reading level as being private and not to be spoken of, conversation about it doesn't worry me. In any case reading level is quite public at the DCs school. Perhaps this is unusual.

Ahha, you have 3.

That's my get out clause - I always say that as I've got so many DC I can never remember who's on what where. It normally works.

Do you think there might be some arrogance in it, Mrz, where the parents think they can gauge a child's abilities from the ether, and that if so-and-so is on Green, then little Johnny, who is obviously just as able, should really be on that colour and not Red (or whatever)?

Or "I'm not sure, but she is helping me out with my PHD" .

Perhaps I should add I would never talk about a child's reading levels unless specifically asked by a parent.

I've never been asked in 7 years of having dc at school. I don't generally know what band they're on without looking, and really doesn't bother me as they read more interesting ones out of school.

Maybe you need to steal borrow a book from the top end of the school, and when you're asked say "ooh. Not sure, let me just have a look" and produce the book.

Would be tempted to say how pleased I was that DS had taken to french so easily. (He is in reception.) Happily no one usually talks to me at the school gate, so I avoid this sort of crap.

I have to say that no one ever asked.