Refusing to put dc on next reading level or even assess

[Blueschool]

Dc in in year 2. Has been on same reading level since September.

My dc may not be good at a lot at school, but reading is dc strong point. Not the top of class but quite advanced. Not just my opinion but her previous teachers and helpers.

Her current level is not a challenge anymore. Mentioned this weeks ago. Given a huge list basically telling me why dc is a crap reader in teachers opinion. Very surprised as one area always was praised on reading.

Took it on chin and we worked hard to resolve the issues like "not enough expression".

Dc reading is just fine. I can not find not fault.

My comment I wrote last week was the "book was not a challenge". Teacher took a whole page up in dd reading record to again tell me how crap dc is.

I felt the comments were utterly unfair and do not reflect reality at all. She also told me I could buy books to read at home! Very unfair assumption dc reads for pleasure all the time and has 100+ at home.

She said IF she wants she will assess her after Christmas she will.

My issues are

• I thought parents and teachers were meant to be in partnership with education. How is this a partnership?

• IF dc is genuinely reading badly at school WHY? Why is there such a difference? Why is her educational environment not making her feel confident and supported to show her real abilty?

• Another parent has told me they have had similar issues as the teacher gets herself stressed. Im sorry, but holding a child back because you are stressed is quite something.

What should I do?

And as I said, I get that now, but the OP's dd's teacher isdoing her job. She has explained what the child needs to do in order to progress, said that she will continue to work with her at school and offered suggestions to extend reading out of school.

Actually I think it seems the OPs teacher isn't really doing her job. Six months to complete a reading level? No individual assessment between September and January?

Brycie, there are lots of posts up thread about how assessment of children's reading happens every day at school. No way would any teacher get away with not assessing for 4 months, and the very, very great majority of them wouldn't want to.

OP's complaint is that she doesn't agree with the teacher, not that the teacher isn't doing her job. Although if you want to create a situation where you convince yourself that's the case, then do go ahead.

Actually Brycie you've made me think about this. I've always thought it's ok because I'm a reasonably intelligent person and I can hopefully help my dd through the early years but if I 'go my own way' and don't raise any concerns I have with the school I am doing a disservice to children who have no back-up plan.

I am the OP.

Blimey Yellow make your mind up.

On one hand I havent let you know the specific problems (which are made clear in the first posts) and am some mad mother getting her knickers in a twist. (Thanks for those comments. They really made me respect you btw).

Oh, but on the other hand you just know how great the teacher is and is doing a fab job, just the marvellous thing since the world began... yet you have no idea what was said!

Make your mind up.

Oh and for the record it was made clear days ok the problem is comp & no expression as stated at the beginning.

"Given a huge list basically telling me why dc is a crap reader in teachers opinion."

I think yellow meant these specific problems not your problem with the teacher but I could be wrong.

I'd give it up, yellow - everyone else has

The specific problems they were discussed at length at the start- I think you even gave me some good tips about expression and a really good list of quesions for comp relating to non-fiction Mrz!

Great advice Feenie, have a wonderful evening.

In the context of those specific issues, OP, (currently) GCSE English Language involves roughly 40% various forms of reading comprehension skills, & 20% speaking & listening, so comp & expression are pretty vital things to be working on!

& easier to focus on those if the decoding at word level is not a problem, ie: she's working with texts she finds easy to follow. Obviously this shouldn't be any reason not to read more challenging texts for fun outside of class.

I'd definitely want to discuss with current teacher why dd was not making progress in these areas, given no earlier indications of struggling. Especially if you feel fobbed off & that teacher is being unfair. Can entirely empathise with the frustration.

This is the post where I stated the problems, for those who believe I havent specified them.

Though Im fascinated at how yellow how decided this is a non-problem.... before even being aware what they were :

^BlueschoolMon 19-Nov-12 19:17:18

I disagree mrz, of course She is holding my dc back though. There is no challenge. She is reading much more complex books at home. When there is no challenge at all it can turn boring as we all know.

The complaints are she cannot comprehend the text. This is not true. Both and DH ask at intervals what the plot is and she telling us with accuracy what it is. Not just with set reading but any reading she is doing.

The other complaint is she has no expression. This is not true at home, she does all sorts of voices for the charcters and has fun with it. I think this is really, really unfair.

If this teacher genuinley thinks Dc lacks these skills then the issue is- why is she such a different reader at school than at home?^

Just noticed saw your post raven.

Agreed; they are very vital aspects - but things I dont fear dd to be lacking in anyway.

Though if the teacher feels she is ,should not more support be given if they are so poor, rather then left at least six weeks to just carry on?

"I also believe that a child reading well and comprehending well at home, but doing badly at school, is a sign of poor motivation and something going wrong in the classroom environment"

I think we must remember that parents' and teachers' expectation don't always correspond ...so in this case the OP believes by her standards that her child is reading and comprehending well and the teacher doesn't agree (and I'm sure we've all read threads where the teacher has said a child is doing well while the parent is concerned they are below expected level so it works both ways). Without knowing the child none of us are in a position to say who is correct in this particular case but if the teacher is saying in her professional opinion the child needs to work on comprehension and emphasis then instead of getting angry about stupid book bands why not work on improving these areas.

Its simple.

Those are not areas to work on.

Thats it.

Just home ed. You clearly know better than the teacher.

Or start a free school and employ Brycie?

Do you really not have anything more constructive and valuable to do with your time?

Don't you?

Particularly after 519 posts saying pretty much the same thing?

As a parent I cant think of anything more valuable or contructive to do than have concern for my childs welfare by seeking the advice of others who might have been in the same boat.

I think you managed that around 300 posts ago.

As I said, have a great night Feenie. Thank you for your contributions and take care.

Blueschool has an interest. What interest do you have Feenie other than winding people up and knocking them down?

Manic: it's something that worries me a lot.

Mrz: yes I acknowledge and understand that.

I had an interest in answering the OP, as always on the Primary boards. I lost interest about 300 posts in when it became clear that the OP wasn't going to take advice. Your constant sneering and Clam's sage advice finished me off on this one.

Carry on debating the same point with no conclusion ad infinitum till 1000 posts then - my suggestion of home ed-ing was entirely serious, btw.

As you were.