Does freereading end reading competitiveness

[wigglywoowoo]

DD has finally become a free reader. Would it be fair to say that the element of competition decreases now as there is no way for other parents (or children) to gauge what other children achieving?

I haven't noticed any kind of competition in relation to numeracy or literacy.

[FatherSpodoKomodo]

No one has ever ever asked me what level my children are reading at. Mind you, I tend to keep myself to myself in the playground, and only occasionally talk to other parents so that is probably why. I can't say I'm that interested in what other people's kids are doing anyway.

I love The Dark Is Rising!! I'm currently reading it to my 9 year old twins at bedtime, and I hope they love it as much as I did. (I named my youngest after a character from the books!)

[Periwinkle007]

but that is ludicrous to still have levels by then. I mean I read chick lit books so does that mean my reading ability is at a lower level than if I was to read a Nelson Mandela Biography (I read over 1000 pages of one once but then gave up). Once they can read proper chapter books then they can read. Obviously then the in class reading books should increase in difficulty in style and analysis techniques but really that seems silly.

I must admit though I looked at the ORT treetops level 16 and couldn't see why they would bother because they are still so short compared to traditional chapter books so it makes more sense to just get kids choosing and enjoying classic childrens literature without wasting time on contrived stories they aren't interested in but equally I don't think they need to be levelled by then. I always just assumed they got to Level 11ish, started with basic early reader chapter books and shorter books then gradually progressed to longer ones and away they go. I was surprised to discover my daughter's school went up to 16 but 30 has me lost for words and that is pretty difficult to achieve! My daughter is on 11 and has been reading early reader books, Dick King Smith and has just discovered the rainbow fairy book with her name in it so is reading it perfectly, one chapter a day. I assume she will gradually work her way through different books she likes the look of until the smaller font and longer books become more normal to her and then she will pick anything she wants to that I feel is appropriate for a 5 year old.

[Iamnotminterested]

Periwinkle - believe it. It's bonkers. I believe the last box has lengthy classics such as Frankenstein, Treasure Island etc, basically much more advanced than a lime level ORT book.

[Periwinkle007]

over 30 bookbands? I can't even imagine how they categorise the books into that many bands, what reading age do they come out with at the top of it? our school goes to 15/16 I think. National Curriculum book bands until 11 and then I think they just have ORT treetops ones but I am not sure but they do have Rainbow fairies and dick king smith in 11.

[katydid02]

Thank you Elibean

[Elibean]

katydid

I like your style.

[katydid02]

Iam, I would be seriously tempted to do it to ruffle feathers
Well done to your DD :)

[Iamnotminterested]

Err...no, certainly not. It's nigh on impossible to get on to free reading at the DC's school before year 5 because they have over 30 book bands, but DD 2 made it during the Summer term of year 3. She is always reading, on the way to and from school or in the playground in the morning if she's particularly in to a book but it all comes from her, I don't tell her to do it to ruffle the competitive mothers' feathers but I've seen one or two glances first at the spine - no banding - then at the cover. Makes me chuckle.

[katydid02]

I know one very competitive parent with regard to reading therefore I was very satisfied when my child (who had borderline SEN issues with reading) made it onto free readers before her son. Then she pestered me about what he was reading and only gave up when I told her that he had just finished 50 shades of grey. In fact she hasn't spoken to me since - result

[Marmitelover55]

I have to admit to a previous fetish for Enid Blyton's Famous Five, followed I think by Aliatair McClean and Agatha Christie. I used to hide these books inside the classic stories that I was supposed to be reding at school (and probably later enjoyed) ...

[Chromolithograph]

If the parents were competitive over the book bands than I'm afraid it dos n't stop with free reading - you better start thinking about the prom now.

[Boast Klaxon]
Despite a slow steady start DD1 is now labelled G&T at spelling/ literacy bollocks. Other parents have put this down to genetics or 'talent' or forgetting the slow start claim she was always advanced. All rubbish. Just like many of you I started from the day she was born.

I read to her, she watched me read, lots of stories, etc. We kept reading a joy rather than pushing through the book bands the result is a motivated kid with a good grasp of the basics. A wide variety of material to try has made her hungry for more. DD2 is now on the same path and has just made the jump, leapfrogging her peers by reading comics, Rainbow Faries, Joan Aiken, whatever she can get her hands on. DD1 still insists on reading all DD2's reading scheme books because 'it's a book'.

A lot of parents don't read, don't have a stack of Chalet School books waiting, and confuse developing a love of stories or information with technical levels - they are the ones that will question you.

[Periwinkle007]

Ofsted an the Chalet School - nope have missed that one. Will search for it now and also look for The Dark is Rising. thanks

[Pyrrah]

The Dark is Rising series is truly fantastic - probably suitable for 11 year olds in general and earlier if they're ready for it... and adults. It was in a way the 'Harry Potter' of its day along with Diana Wynne Jones' 'Chrestomanci' series.

It's a mix of Arthurian, Welsh and Cornish legends brought into the modern day (well, 1970's). Really exciting, stay-up-all-night page turners.

Start with 'Over Sea, Under Stone'...

thegreylady - what a fantastic dissertation topic!

[thegreylady]

I am another Chalet School fan-there are a lot of us about.Have you seen the thread about Ofsted and The Chalet School?

[thegreylady]

I love The Dark is Rising and used it as a central text[s] for my dissertation on Fantasy in Modern Children's Literature.I wrote the dissertation in 1977 so it was fairly modern :)
My dgs is 6 and has just become a 'free reader' and he can't get enough of 'Mr Majeika' [sp?].

[Periwinkle007]

oooh really - someone else who liked the Chalet School. oh I feel much better now. I would have been teased mercilessly if my friends had known. I can't wait for them to all come out of the loft again for my daughters.

I never read Dark is Rising, never even heard of it. might have to look into that.

[sittinginthesun]

No discussion in our school either, particularly in key stage 2. I help with the books, and the more able readers switch between authors without any comment at all.

Oh, and Jeremy Strong remains a firm favourite right through the school.

[2468Motorway]

I loved the 'The dark is rising series'

My kids must go to a weird school as no one has yet asked me about their reading levels.

[Pyrrah]

Yup - Y5 if I remember correctly. Certainly when I left at the end of Y8, we were reading Evelyn Waugh's 'Decline & Fall'...

I was also secretly reading The Chalet School and keeping v quiet - have been known to creep back for a sneaky read nowadays for pure nostalgia. I bought the whole Susan Cooper 'Dark Is Rising' series on Kindle at xmas.

[Periwinkle007]

Jane Eyre in prep school? I found it peculiar enough and we were Yr9ish I think. I used to feel embarrassed at school because when I was in yr7 my friends were tending to move to read adult books and I still liked the Chalet School and Dick King Smith etc. I remember in my English book review book in Yr7 I only wrote in 1 book one half term and the teacher said that wasn't good enough but I was too embarrassed to write in the numerous Enid Blyton and Chalet School books I had read. silly really because did it matter if for fun I read childrens books when I was still a child rather than Agatha Christie?

[Pyrrah]

LOL, I'm thinking my plan of continuing to send DD to the nursery 'after-school club' till she's 11 is going to deprive me of all the school gate angst!

So depressing how competitive people get - most children grow up to read big books eventually, in the meantime there are so many fun books at every level available there's no need to push them.

I remember having to read Jane Eyre at prep school - totally lost interest after Helen died and Jane grew up - wasn't till I reread the book as an adult that I even got half the adult bits. I was an avid reader, but worthy books put me off English lessons for life.

[MaisyMoo123]

My experience is similar to yours Abby - no chat about reading levels at the school gate and no unhealthy comparing and I have to admit that looking at some of the posts about competitiveness over reading etc I feel relieved!! Dd is a free-reader (y2) but I don't know how many others are (other than her best friend). I don't really see why it's important to know how others are doing as long as you know your dc are on track and happy? Competing isn't going to make them learn faster or get better results, and they're all individuals learning at different rates and in different ways.

[AbbyR1973]

DS1 is in reception. Nobody has ever asked me what he is reading, other than somebody who said "Your DS is doing very well, isn't he?" and I replied "He does enjoy school." Nobody has ever told me what level their child is on and I haven't asked. There doesn't seem to be a lot of this parental competitiveness here, which is lovely.

[Elibean]

Competitiveness over reading seems to stop in KS1 (but admittedly, there isn't that much in the first place at dds' school - not sure why!).

It really is weird, isn't it - I wonder why those who compete in the first place seem to focus on reading rather than other skills?

No one ever, ever asks me what dd1 is reading (Y4). Or writing, or doing in maths. They just ask me what secondary school she'll be going to

[Periwinkle007]

really? no seriously she is enjoying rainbow fairies.