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Reading question - topic covered issue

18 replies

Basketofchocolate · 27/09/2013 18:13

Have a DS who's just started reception.

He is a good reader, always has been so I know that he will be on a higher level than other kids.

My question though is about topics, this is mainly cos he's an only and we don't know any other kids socially of his age.

First book back was ok. Level 10 Oxford Tree system. He read it fine apart from the word 'archaeologist'. That was ok as the word, but he struggled (at age 4) to really understand what one was. He also seemed a little concerned about the girl in the story (character was upset, etc) and I thought it was a grown up theme to talk about parents losing their business and having to move house.

I wrote in the homework book that thought theme was not great and today they've sent him home with a non-fiction book on the Romans. On a flick through seems like am going to have to explain words like 'slave' to him.

Does this seem right? Am I protecting him too much, or myself from having to broach tricky subjects? What age do kids usually learn this stuff? I was thinking that I didn't do stuff like that til Juniors. But prob living in nostalgic world.

He didn't choose either book himself.

Thoughts please?

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MoaningMingeWhingesAgain · 27/09/2013 18:17

I think you are right to mention it. DD is a good reader but hasn't enough understanding of the world to have good comprehension of some of the books.
I have written in the reading planner just a quick note to say she read it well but the content was beyond her.

NewNameforNewTerm · 27/09/2013 18:29

There is a real shortage of books that will challenge an able four year old in reading, but without vocabulary and contents that are too mature.

Basketofchocolate · 27/09/2013 18:32

It does seem mad that they're choosing these for DS. Surely there's something in between?

We manage quite well at home to find books for him, so I'm surprised that between reading books and the school library, that they struggle.

Not sure I want to read the Romans with him, or just return it on Monday and note that I didn't feel it was appropriate content. However, I really have no idea!

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Basketofchocolate · 27/09/2013 19:46

Ooh, thanks 'mrz' will write that in the book to see if they have them. It is possible they don't considering that the two so far are from the 90's Hmm

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Basketofchocolate · 27/09/2013 19:48

The one he has is Oxford Reading Tree 'Fireflies'.

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Basketofchocolate · 27/09/2013 19:52

Now DS is in bed, having a closer look. Not sure want to/can explain to DS 'Slaves were whipped and kept in chains' and that the 'Romans used powdered mouse brains to clean their teeth!'.

Think if am over-protecting him from the horrors of the world then I am happy with that.

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my2bundles · 27/09/2013 19:55

Its very unusual for a 4 year old in reception to be reading such a high level, i very much doubt the school has had a need to supply the kind of books your child requires before.

Basketofchocolate · 27/09/2013 20:08

They knew before he arrived though and said that they could access appropriate books so feel like they should be able to manage. They have a library after all.

Don't think he needs to be reading on a scheme right now.

Is it too much to ask to chat to the teacher about it so soon or just put note in the homework book?

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souperb · 27/09/2013 20:23

We had a run of upsetting books in reception too. Polar exploration where explorers didn't make it back, divorce stories, book about the plague and a charming one about prisons. DS is a bit of a "delicate flower" and these topics worried him a lot. Teacher said she sympathised but simply did not have the time to go through the pile and find appropriate-content books, but I was welcome to. So I changed the books myself and she would leave notes in reading record suggesting more non-fiction, try poetry etc. If you collect/drop off DS yourself, this could be an option if teacher can't/won't manage to scan through books first. By yr 1 he had caught up more emotionally with his reading level, so it did get better.

Depending what schemes you have available, I found poetry books, bloody project x and their non-fiction spin-offs, ORT books about William and Hamid and the Ginn traditional tales-type anthologies mostly OK. But probably you are best placed to know what particularly bothers your DS - with us it is mostly death. Easter at CofE school was a whole heap of laughs...

Basketofchocolate · 27/09/2013 20:42

Thanks Souperb - that sounds like good advice. Just don't want to be a 'bothering' parent but yes, we haven't covered death here as yet (lacking religious framework in the house makes these things a bit harder I think).

I will ask if I can go through them and help out. Any non-fiction to do with transport would be welcome as DS is train and map obsessed.

My main concern is him being put off reading at this point.

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Periwinkle007 · 27/09/2013 20:51

I have one in Yr1 and one in R.

Our school has only sent home 1 book we had problems with which was about apartheid but I just said she didn't like it and they changed it.

I don't think you are protecting him too much - he is 4!

We had a lot of Oxford Reading Tree Glow Worms poetry books which are great, a lot of old Jackdaws books (also ORT but long and very wordy). We now have lots of allstars and some other early chapter books.

I don't think it is unreasonable to return it and say not appropriate.

Basketofchocolate · 27/09/2013 21:04

Thanks PeriW.

I will make a note of some of these names so I can be prepared.

Thanks so much for all replies. Nice to know am not only one.

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souperb · 27/09/2013 21:20

If you don't tell the teacher, they won't know it's a problem. It's not insurmountable and you can offer to help if they don't have the capacity to deal with it. I don't think it's an unusual problem for early readers to encounter - I doubt you would give him 50 shades either. Can read and should read are not always the same thing.

Basketofchocolate · 27/09/2013 21:31

That's the thing, he'll happily read any post I leave lying around (he's a nosey bugger, hence the reading ability) but stuff about water company doing work in the next road or his hospital letters are in context for him, so he reads harder stuff which makes sense to him.

I love reading so much, but have never had the time or inclination for Shakespeare or any real 'classics'. Completely put me off at school until I found books I really loved. Don't want him to be put off so early. He loves poems so think will defo ask if they have those.

So glad I asked on here. Just love Mumsnet- an answer for every question Grin

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Periwinkle007 · 27/09/2013 21:58

I can highly recommend this book if he likes poems
www.amazon.co.uk/Poems-Young-Children-Belinda-Gallagher/dp/1848103212
I think book depository had it for £6.99 so worth shopping around but it is lovely

Basketofchocolate · 28/09/2013 18:13

Thanks PeriW, will look it up.

Our fave here is the Twinkle Twinkle Chocolate Bar www.amazon.co.uk/Twinkle-Chocolate-Bar-John-Foster/dp/0192755811/ref=pd_sim_b_2

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