Why has Year 2 teacher sent DD home with a ridiculously easy reading book?

[pokesandprodsforthelasttime]

Granted it's only the 2nd week of term and the teacher probably hasn't got round to assessing all 30 children yet.

But surely they should know which book band she left Year 1 on?

Is it my job to let them know where she's up to via the reading record?

Yes I see what you're saying but didn't think about it like that. The children still do guided reading in groups it's just that the reading scheme books they have banded now lead into a wide range of reading material.

Personally I'm delighted we can choose from much more interesting fiction and non fiction ranges! DD and I have really struggled to maintain interest in magic key books etc.

We no longer use book band but the teacher selects books to meet individual children's needs ...which may be How to train your dragon or the Pharaoh in the Bath or Varjak Paw ...we don't have any Magic Key/Biff Chip or ORT books at any level.

I'm unclear as to why being a 'free reader' is such a bad thing. I know it means different things in different schools, but I have always thought it meant the child choosing their own reading books from an appropriate selection- is this not broadly correct? I don't see how that equates to 'has learned everything about reading'.

My DD1 has just started Y1. Her school don't work through any particular scheme, they have a selection of books and are told which box to choose from. In reality though, in reception the books were often not the right level, or just plain dull, so I usually allow DD1 to choose and read one of her own books. If it's too hard, we choose another one. If it's a bit too easy, I expect her to discuss it in more detail. Is this not how 'free reading' should work?

I meant to say that when given free choice, DD1 almost never chooses a book that is too hard- she naturally seems to go for the right level to build confidence.

My DC school have scheme books up to lime level.

They are a free reader after lime.

I can't understand why someone would be "appalled" to call a level 3 child a free reader

Surely it's just different in every school?

Even an adult can still learn from books/about reading.

The school most certainly does not assume kids free reading know everything about books. It just means they are exposed to different genres, non fiction, poetry, fiction etc in their read at home books.

Personally I think kids should be exposed to this earlier (age appropriate) rather than a series of Biff every week to take home.

Jesus Christ are you lot still point scoring about bloody book bands?

My DD has just started yr 1 and is in this position. She was getting books from a mixture of purple and gold bands and has been given a book which is green (not sure how many levels lower this is as cannot remember the order) but it seems a lot easier.

I am really not concerned about levels and was toying with asking her reception teacher if she could stay as she was or go down a level at the end of last term as, while she read the books very well technically and used expression etc, she didn't seem to want to read and I was worried about her reading stamina and that she may see books as work rather than develop a love of reading.

Given that, and not much reading over the summer, I think some easier books will be useful and help her consolidate her skills. However, this is quite a bit easier and she has only been given one book this week. In our school yr 1 is when they advise you read for 10 min everyday. I realise this is mumsnet heresy but we have not done this to date and have only read when she was interested and not shattered. Even then I think we were reading two books at this level per week at aroundJan/Feb last year.

I have made quite a big thing of the need to read for 10 min per day this year and am keen to try it as I do think my Dd's biggest problem is that her technical ability and comprehension is ahead of her reading stamina. I really, really don't want to get this teachers back up and for various reasons think I am at risk of being viewed as "one of those mothers" by some already. However, she could read this weeks book perfectly andwe discussed it in some detail within 10 mins. I realise we could read otherhome books on other nights but my DD is very motivated by the fact it is school work and less so by my suggestions!
H
I thought I would leave it for another week and then put something in the reading diary asking if DD needs to consolodate skills at this level could she have her books changed more regularly. Would this get your back up if you were a teacher? I think I do have pushy tendencies and try hard to resist them, but was so thrilled by how my DD took to reading in reception I want to keep her motivated.

"but I have always thought it meant the child choosing their own reading books from an appropriate selection" it depends what you mean as "appropriate" - at roughly the same level as they were reading or selected to meet an individual learning need.

Why would I be appalled that a level 3C child is a "free reader" because level 3 is a beginner in terms of the skills and knowledge they still have to master and the teacher/school for whatever reason isn't bothering to select a text to teach the skills the child needs to progress as a reader. A teacher selected book doesn't need to be of the Biff & Chip variety at any level and the idea that by allocating texts narrows the breadth of exposure to books is simply not true.

Reading books are also to provide experiences for children and develop their vocabulary.

I have read books with children about weddings for example and whilst they can read 'groom' and 'bride' they often don't know the meaning of these words.

Understanding the language and the content is more important than racing through the scheme.

I don't care what DD reads (within reason) she still reads Topsy and Tim ( one of her obsessions) which she has been able to read for nearly 2 years.

She has an absolute aversion to reading scheme books (unlike her brother who in KS1 refused to read anything else) so to me I am not too bothered if a book is too easy as long as its suitable (age wise) and she hasn't read it before (for school books, she can re-read her own books to her hearts content).

So for her to get Biff etc every week is of no benefit whatsoever as she hates them.

MaeBea,

I would have no problem with a parent who wants books changed more regularly (I know in my old school books for Y1 were changed 3x per week at least) AS LONG AS it is not a stealth request to 'zoom through the books quickly so she can move up'. So just think about how you request it!

Simpson, you are creating a 'false dichotomy' between free reading books and Biff Chip et al. In schools which run 'levelled books' well, a whole range of real books are integrated into the scheme at all levels above the very basic (phonic readers there). So a child will be exposed to all the genres BUT at exactly the right reading level for them...as mrz says, higher levels have e.g. Eva Ibbotsen, Cressida Cowell, Anne Fine, Roald Dahl, Michael Morpurgo etc iuntegrated into the scheme, plus appropriate non-fiction, poetry etc.

So if we're doing non-fiction and I spot a child who although an able writer and reader is less aware of the features of non-fiction, then I can ask them to select non-fiction books of exactly the right level for them to develop those knowledge and skills. In a 'free reader' scenario, then the child may only too easily select books that are either too easy or too hard (and in the worst case, not of the approprate genre because the choice is genuinely 'free') and thus miss the opportunities to progress (not 'progress through bands', but progress as a reader and thus as a writer, which is after all what we all want)

Books 'selected to meet an individual learning need'.

Interesting, mrz. I am now thinking deeply about DD1's individual learning needs and whether I am meeting them...

Teacher - it is not like that at my DC school they get Biff and Kipper, jolly phonics books, Project X, songbirds and some school reading books from Australia up to stage 11.

I am sure the teachers read other stuff in class but no other books come home apart from school reading scheme books until a child hits that magical NC Level 3 and then they get a mixture of Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton, treetops etc (cannot remember more but basically a huge variety of different books.

(I read with yr1, 2 and 5 and have a child in yr4).

So I can understand why you have set up what seems to me (and I suspect to mrz) as a false dichotomy, as we have a different picture in our minds when you say 'reading scheme'.

And yes I guess you mean by free reading a child can read whatever they choose which is obviously not going to happen for DD as she is 5.

But they do take her to the school library and let her choose whatever she wants (from age appropriate areas) but reading scheme wise a child cannot choose, they are just given a book each week.

Quite frankly as long as a child has a book they want to read and is suitable (ability wise, content wise) it does not matter whether its Biff or Roald Dahl (for littlies like DD).

Once in KS2 (DS is in yr4) every book in his classroom is deemed suitable and he can grab any one he wants.

I am finding this debate fascinating and am genuinely not sure what to think.

My DD was reading fluently before she went to school. In reception, when tested, her reading age was 13. Her (independent) school allowed her to bypass the reading scheme altogether and she chose her own books to read, either from the school library or from home. It was pretty obvious that her comprehension of what she was reading was excellent so, rightly or wrongly, neither we or the school listened to her read that often.

She's now in Y11. Still a voracious reader and doing extremely well at school, particularly in arts/humanities/languages.

I don't know if she progressed as she did in spite of not following a reading scheme or because she wasn't constrained in her reading material. I am fully aware that some children need the structure that a reading scheme gives (my DS certainly did) but do all children need it? Some posts on here from teachers (wholesale downgrading of free-readers back to reading scheme?) sound like a somewhat mechanical approach to reading.

As I say, I am well aware that some children benefit from that approach, and I am very grateful that my DS was taught in this way. But should it apply to all DC?

I personally think reading scheme books have their place in that they aide a child in learning to read.

However once a child has reached a certain level IMO reading scheme books need to be supplemented with other books.

I read with yr1, 2 and 4 last year for 6 hours a week ( and did the stock check on all reading scheme books in the classes) and only one child in KS1 (ie below the magical L3) had a non scheme book "Winnie the Witch" which I think was levelled at 8/9.

Thanks teacherw2kids, I will give them some time to get settled in and tactfully ask! I think she probably has zoomed up a bit too fast in the past so am happy to stay at any level really, but do think she needs to read more frequently.

This debate is fascinating and I will freely admit that although I know it is utterly ridiculous I did feel a bit downheartened when DD was put down so many levels. Rationally, I accept the point is learning to read and "levels" are as much a tool as an indicator. I wonder if it is because in some schools there is relatively little communication between parents and teachers, which can be a shock in the early years. Reading levels were/are the only feedback I get regarding dd.. and they therefore perhaps assume an importance they shouldn't.

I wish it was like that at our school mrz and teacher. But it's not. Ours is similar to simpson's. KS1 kids use the KS1 library- rather restricting for DS, I may have a word at parents evening.

I would love the teacher to choose books for DS's reading need at just the right level, but it doesn't happen. I try to do this. But I also give him access to all sorts of things like Marni. Tonight his school book was Mr Creep the Crook, (read about 18 months ago at home, but it's good quality and he enjoyed it so I don't object), then and chose to read for his own reading before bed.......the Times and Sunday times Inventions, Flags, Solar System and Evolution pull outs , followed by "My Brother's Famous Bottom" Jeremy Strong, re-reading it from about a year ago, enjoying the humour. Who knows what his reading age is, I would guess aoout 13, but that doesn't mean he fully understands everything as he is not quite 7.

Freetrait - that is DD's new obsession, the Happy Families books

She is obsessed with them. She read Mr Creep the Crook (my personal favourite along with Mr Biff the Boxer) over a year ago and loved it. She then read another 3 from the library. But whilst on holiday (Isle of Wight) they had the whole set for 20P each in a charity shop and she sat on the beach and read 3 of them one after the other.

I think they are fab, they seem to have finally replaced her other obsession which was Topsy and Tim. Although her obsession with Frog and Toad is still going strong a year later...

Good obsession! Quality stuff. DS's is Horrible Histories. Horrid Henry has finally gone. Hooray! I have taken them out of his room (on request) and put them in DD's drawer ready for when she can read. Maybe she won't like them! Jeremy Strong still popular.

DD can't read yet, but still has obsessions. Knows quite a few of her picture books off by heart. Learns books very quick, complete with the expression I use (very funny, she is SO expressive!)

DS loves Wimpy kid books, they are the only ones he will read and yes he went through a phase of HH!

DD is into HH too and read one this eve to herself (one about the tooth fairy).

Our local £ shop has quite a few gruesome history books atm, I bought DS one about gruesome diseases (nice!)

Ah yes, DS likes those Horrible Science books too, but they go over his head somewhat, think they are designed for much older. Doesn't stop him wanting to read them though...odd...I guess he gets stuff out of them. Haven't had pleasure of Wimpy Kid yet...

Wimpy kid is quite amusing, quite frankly I am grateful that DS is reading something

DD spent 2 hours (not in one go but in one day) reading The BFG. I reckon a good chunk will have gone over her head, but she still sat there and read it, so I get what you mean, they must get something out of it!