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?

ChaosTruly - that's really shocking behaviour!! At least the parents at ours are a bit more circumspect.

AnthonyTrollopesrevenge - yes, I do think that is quite unusual. Assessments of individuals are the concern of the teaching staff, pupils and their parents, surely? Not including assessment for learning and group discussions and all that. Our Head does not allow parents in to read for precisely this reason, that he knows they will all be blabbing to each other about what levels the kids are on. Of course, he can't stop the covert playground quizzes, tho.

I'm going to store that one up, Pathan. Love it, thank you!

I teach year 3, so lots of children are 'free readers', although in my school we still have another 4 bands that go all the way up to year 6 level.

By year 3, I think book bands are a poor judge of reading level. I change colour if a child can decode, reads with expression and shows a bit of understanding of the content.

We assess reading using APP, which requires a lot more from the children. To be a level 3, they need to recognise the author's viewpoint, comment on the layout, comment on the author's choice of language and have an idea of where and when the book is set.

None of that matters in the book band wars.

I go in and listen to the children read so i know what they are all on anyway . However i never discuss it with other parents

I bet some try to tap you for info tho'?

"Black, like my soul"

Hi Techno

From experience most parents grill other parents about reading levels because they're fretting about their own dc's progress. I would just mumble something about not being sure and then suggest that if they have any questions about their dc's reading ability that they speak to the teacher. I might also add that, from experience, if their dc's teacher had any concerns they most likely would have spoken to them about it.

Actually Techno, they never have. Mind you it is Reception and there are only 14 of them. 5 other parents also listen to reading so they all know too!

I agree the only time I have been asked is when another parent is worreid about their own DC and would like to express their concerns with me.

TBH I have absolutely no idea what level my DC are on - the older two are Junior age. We tend not to read the school reading books as they are so dull. We just go to the library and read those. Been doing that since about half way though Year 1. My youngest is pre school. It seems to be working OK as DD has been regualry scoring level 5 in her practice SATs in Year 6 this year. They both got level 3 for reading in Year 2.

In order to work out if the book is about the right level for them we do the five finger test. Read the first page. Everytime you get to a work you don't know or can't read put a finger up. More than 5 fingers up at the end of the page? Then the book is too difficult for you!

"ooh I've no idea - why? Do you think I should be worried?"

I agree that it's usually because parents are worried about their child's progress rather than stealth boasting - the few times people asked me about dd it was partly because she's my third child so they thought I'd have more of a long-term view having been through it twice before ...

I'm amazed this happens TBH, I've never discussed school books with other parents, other than a bit of general grumbling about how they are still using classic ORT

Just wondering that if the teacher keeps telling you that your little Johnny is okay, and he'll come on in his own time - and you think another parent is approachable, then maybe you would ask to try and gauge what other children are doing, especially if you are feeling fobbed off by the teacher. I have known parents go with the flow, not realised how far their child is slipping behind, and then found themselves with a child who is behind in maths as well because they can't read the instructions on the worksheet!

You can normally tell the smug parents a mile off - and if your child is ahead, then you get the "well you must have done alot with them at home then." And if not - "are you concerned? / poor little gosh, I'm sure she'll catch up soon routine "

Oh I'm so happy I left the UK school during this phase, and hopefully DD will be a free reader when we get back.

I'd use " Well Ds was so far ahead that his teacher has put him onto the Welsh reading scheme instead" (There isn't one, as far as I know gets paranoid that DS isn't reading in Welsh and all other children are, but it should shut them up )

Never been asked, am :O that people do ask. Getting a bit worried about moving to an English school............

I say things like, "I have no idea, the bottom one probably, I never do the reading at home thing with them".

I have never been asked other than by a friend who was worried about her dc.

I did experience another mum asking one of my dcs what he was reading and then quizzing him as to whether I was reading it to him or he was reading it himself .

I think the whole idea of competitive mums marching in to the teacher to ask why their little genius is not on the top reading level is a bit of a myth tbh.

"in which language, he reads and writes in 3 ? " usually shuts them up I find !

I've never been asked this question, nor heard anyone else discussing book levels. I suspect my DD is well down at the bottom of the class but she's 5. It bothers me that she isn't reading because all her siblings were before this age, which suggests she has a (nother) problem, but I'm really not interested in how anyone else's kids are doing.

Why don't they just ask their children? Mine can tell me the reading levels of every child in her class. Oh, and those groups they stream them into for reading and maths: the children aren't fooled by giving them the names of colours and shapes, are they? They know how those groups rank. Mine can even tell me the exact reading age of the class genius.

You're a better woman than me, Sabriel. I'm INTENSELY interested, but also far too classy to ignore the etiquette on these things

I suspect that's why so many mothers volunteer to go into school to help with the reading - it's so they can suss out how the other kids are doing. Certainly, the only information I've ever been given about how my dd is doing in relation to her peers, has come from gabby mothers who do volunteer reading, never from the teachers

'I dunno, we never read them at home' shrug and look disinterested

This works particularly well if your dc is in fact good at reading, which they probably are if someone bothers asking you their levels

'I dunno, we never read them at home' shrug and look disinterested

This works particularly well if your dc is in fact good at reading, which they probably are if someone bothers asking you their levels