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?

Im seriously wondering about your reading skills Feenie.

"BlueschoolMon 19-Nov-12 20:06:29

Thanks Cumbria. I think what I will take from this thread is I will just keep going at home with the reading as per your and Simpsons suggestions
"

Blueschool you sound incredibly clued up.

I have a child in my class at the moment, his mum thinks he's reading really well and tells me so almost every morning while I'm really concerned to the point I'm considering putting him on the SEN register ...

^BlueschoolMon 19-Nov-12 23:07:36

Thank you for your help Brycie bet you wish you had never mentioned buying ORT blummin books though!

Good to learn from others have been in this situation and think I will just follow their advice and focus on our home reading. Think Santa will be bringing lots of fun and thrilling books this Christmas!^

Bye Feenie

Brycie- are you seeing the irony too?!

Brycie, believe it or not, stalling on a level often happens in Y2 when children have been pushed through reading levels in Y1 (e.g. parents buying and 'practising' scheme books (very common for parental kudos); parents asking for children to be 'moved up' and teachers giving in). The children are accelerated, rather than progressing at their own rate, and end Y1 on too 'high' a level. Often, these children stay on the same level in Y2 for months.

Because of parental pressure, we introduced a benchmarking process a couple of years ago, which takes into account children's comprehension, to decide whether children should 'move up'. Whilst not a perfect test by any means, it has cut down parent's intervention, and gives us evidence (parents generally love numbers and percentages) why the child is being kept at a particular level.

Most really good 'readers' (and by that I mean children who can read for meaning) progress very steadily. They read age-appropriate books that match their intellectual development. That's why I feel really sorry for the children who do happen to be 'natural readers', who have few appropriate books to choose from.

Mrz- Then surely you should communicate this with the mother . What good will it do too keep her in the dark? Perhaps she means by his standards he is doing well. Talk to her.

Of course I'm communicating with the mum and have been since week one.

which I think is why she insists on seeking me out each morning to tell me how fabulously he read the previous night and why she writes in his reading diary how well he is reading

I suspect she is trying to "prove" to you there is no problem with always telling you how great things are.Though children can be very, very different to home as they are at school.

I always remember when I worked at a preschool during my final year of university and telling the parents what a joy there ds was. He was so quiet and well mannered.A real sweet heart.

The parents were gobsmacked and told me he was a little horror at home and thought I was joking intially!

Yes Mrz, surely you just need to asses him differently? Or maybe you aren't motivating him at school? Or maybe he is painfully shy? Or maybe you are holding him back? Remember, the parent is always right .

Reading is not just about reading a few words in a book. It's about comprehending what is written. Can the child reiterate what the story is about? Do they understand how characters are feeling from describing words such as "Annie skipped merrily down the street" indicates she is happy. Etc. also they must be able to read non fiction and relay information based on fact. There is a lot more than you would think to assessing reading, which should be explained to parents. Basically I am trying to say dont worry. However, I also wouldn't be made to feel your child is crap. No child is. They all reach different targets at different rates and should be praised for each tiny goal reached and be treated on an individual basis. Please voice your concern with the teacher face to face though and ask for tips how you can help your dc reach the targets.

Isabelle you really have a problem with the concept of shy children I notice.

It actually makes me sick how this is a joke to you.

Social anxiety is very real and horrendous for the sufferer. Even if the child is suffering from shyness rather than a full blown disorder it still is a real hindrance on that persons life.I suggest you do some reading and educate yourself

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_anxiety_disorder

I hope you learn mental health issues are not something for you to sneer over.

Yes Blueschool there are definitely some teachers here who are blase and dismissive, just as there are in real life. Although some would have you believe that teachers are always right. Alcofrolic, since you dismissed Blueschool as "aggressive" I'm not interested.

IsabelleRinging you mean like asking her in to show me what she does at home ... which she did ... she thought his reading was great and I still think he's struggling badly

Mrz: it must mystify you.

I just think she's genuinely pleased with his effort, as am I, but doesn't know what the expectations are for a child his age

Hey feenie! Had no recollection of having given any sage advice, unless it was the bit where I told you to save your breath, having come across certain posters before. And I appear to have been deleted!

Oh deletions? Good show clam. I must check my posts.

Mrz it is always interesting to read your responses.

honestly clam you shouldn't mention such things or we'll all want one

Mrz - is he her oldest child?? Maybe she has no idea of where a child at his age "should" be iyswim??

Or otherwise if he is re reading the same book with her every night,maybe he knows it off by heart.

Blueschool

'Its simple.

Those are not areas to work on.

Thats it. '

That really leaves limited possibilities.

1). The teacher is incompetent & doesn't know good progress in comprehension & expression when she sees it - which is perfectly possible.
2). The teacher has taken a personal dislike to your dd &/or is having huge amounts of fun winding you up deliberately - improbable.
3). The teacher's assessment is accurate & you need her to explain to you exactly what she means by comprehension (ie. not plot recall) so you can see the problem & support your dd by working on it at home.

I know which I think most likely, but suspect you'll disagree.

However, it might be worth bearing in mind that at some stage in the admittedly quite distant future, these skills will be tested by an external examiner, & we don't award GCSE grades based on parental assessment - so it's probably in your dd's best interests for you to at least entertain possibility (3).

I think you really need to meet (again? can't tell from OP if you've hitherto been discussing via reading log only) with the teacher so you can get past this impasse.

No simpson I taught her eldest son last year.

ravenAk.

There is the fourth possibility.

DH and I have been discussing this at length and we believe it boils down to one thing; dd is shy.

I think only hearing her in groups in not reflecting her ability as she has not got the self assurance required . Therefore we feel it would be nice to at least for a one off do a 1:1 with dd.

I think its important dd keep working in groups to build up her skills up but in the name of fairness also assess dd in an situation that suits her right now.