do I go with this or talk to the teacher - re reading

[PrincessScrumpy]

Dd 1 is in year 1 and had been reading all summer (loves it) so she went back to school last week and had a new book every night which she raced through, doing different voices for the characters and full comprehension of what she'd read. I was really pleased when on Mondaythey put her up a level - but this level seems very similar and still isn't really challenging dd at all. She's not complaining but she isn't the kind of child who would.

A friend suggested I ask for her usual book plus one from the level above to see how she does - is this a good idea or is it best to leave the teacher alone and not interfere?

I think I will be in exactly the same position with DS1. He's not gone up a level yet, think he should go up at least one if not two. Am going to wait and see as its so early on in term, and the teacher is just getting to know DS1 and what he can do. If it gets to week 3 and his books are still too easy then I will make a comment in his reading book or perhaps try and catch his teacher at the end of school.

I'd leave it for now.
One book is not a good guide to how she might fare anyway - IME they tend to vary a lot within a level - tomorrow's book might well be the same level but more challenging.

IT's worth asking about what your DD should be working on to improve her reading. As she progresses up the levels reading becomes much less about actually decoding the words and more about comprehension of harder topics/inference/understanding use of language etc.

DD has just moved into Y3 and has effectively moved down a level from last year as the school policy is they won't start any children off on reading books that are higher than this level. Consequently DD is galloping through the books and making lengthy comments about plot lines, characters etc etc. IT's actually doing her confidence a lot of good (at the harder level she was struggling more to follow) and I trust the school to only keep her there till she finds her feet (which is presumably why they won't let anyone start at a higher level).

Also remember the world is full of books - if her school book is too easy, read something else with her at home!

I would make a comment such as "DD read this with ease". You don't have to actually ask for her to be move up a level yet just give the teacher an indication of how your found that particular book.

I am in a similar position. DS has been getting books that seem too easy for him for the last few weeks of Reception, and again now as he's started year 1. I haven't said anything, and I don't think I'm going to. I just read each book he gets from school once, then read library books of varying levels with him the rest of the time. I think it does his confidence good to read the easy book, as well as some harder ones, and there is no rush to go up the levels.

We've been reading the worst witch together which she loves. I think waiting for 3 Weeks in would be a good idea.
So many parents at school seem to constantly be talking to the teacher about this and that so I didn't want to be that parent but as dd enjoys reading I don't want her to be put off. thanks for the comments.

DS still gets books that are quite straightforward for him. The school has their own banding system and the books he is currently given are enormously variable in terms of difficulty with conventional levels between gold and lime. At home he reads fluently, and over the summer has been reading the delightful Beast Quest series. The thing is I discovered that his effort in school is variable after a chat with his teacher last term. He had very quickly figured out if he answered a question with "I don't know" he would get to go and play quicker. He doesn't probably put his best effort in when reading at school- now if he does this at home I know what he is capable of and he won't get away with being half-hearted. The other thing is he absolutely HATES doing expression. I think he feels self-conscious about it. He does it very well with a lot of motivation at home but I'm not sure he does at school.
I think the point I'm making is that performance can be hugely different between school and home. I would wait and a few weeks and if you aren't seeing the progress you expect at school perhaps enquire as to how things are going.
On a separate note... anyone got any ideas for motivating bright DC's to work hard at school, not coast along in 1st gear???