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Original poster

AIBU? Reading book

21 replies

swissfamily · 23/06/2014 07:53

My son's school seem to do mostly the New Way reading books. I hate them; they're dull as dishwater and so old-fashioned.

My son is 5 and currently doing the 'purple parallel' books whatever that means.

He came home this week with one called the The Ugly Duckling. By page 10 it was talking about 'beating' a duckling for being ugly which I balked at a bit and then (rashly?) decided to write in his school-home book that I would like him to be given a different book.

It's not the first time; there was a pretty disturbing Hansel and Gretel book while ago and another about a tiger being tied to a tree while he was beaten.

Not cool for 5 year olds right? Or am I being a bit lame?

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JenniferJo · 23/06/2014 08:00

I think you're being a bit precious. It's a traditional story that's been told to children for years.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 23/06/2014 08:02

I wouldnt be happy about a story of beatings.

Xihha · 23/06/2014 11:04

I think you are being a bit precious too, but then I really hate the new fuzzy versions of fairy tales and would much rather DD read versions that are closer to the originals, so the ugly duckling gets beaten, the witch in Hansel and Gretel is burned to ashes and the first 2 little piggies get eaten by the big bad wolf.

Xcountry · 23/06/2014 11:13

Those are pretty standard traditional books. All the kids I know read those stories at school and None of them are that fussed.

Original poster
swissfamily · 23/06/2014 12:48

OK....will suck it up next time..

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FinDeSemaine · 23/06/2014 14:42

DD would be really distraught at the idea of beating a duckling and she is seven so I don't think you are being particularly precious. Did it upset him? If so, I would mention it to the teacher and ask if he could be given something a bit gentler. If not, then I wouldn't worry too much.

isitsnowingyet · 23/06/2014 15:04

Why 'suck it up'? If you think it's wrong, say something. You're not being precious by expressing your opinion.

I'm a big fan of Oxford Reading Tree (the Biff and Chip books) which all 3 of my DCs learned to read with and thought they were brilliant. Lots of people 'hate' them - but I don't recall one duck being beaten in the stories Smile

Original poster
swissfamily · 23/06/2014 17:14

I didn't let him get far enough to read it; he probably would have loved it and not in a good way....

The teacher has told me at pick up that I'm the first to mention it ever! So maybe I am being a bit lame. He has a different book now anyway.

My son's in Year 1 now. He went to a different school for reception where they did Biff, Chip and Kipper and he loved them. I wish his new school did ORT but he teacher says New Way is more 'phonetic'?! New Way is so dull. His new book is an 'orange level' and from the back of them, it looks like the last level so with any luck, we only have another 8 to go....Wink

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Original poster
swissfamily · 23/06/2014 17:16

*his teacher..

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MilkRunningOutAgain · 23/06/2014 18:46

Does it upset your DS? If so let the school know and with luck they will vet books. Otherwise I wouldn't worry. My DS got quite upset with books of this type, the school let me vet the reading books for him. He grew out of it by KS2 and got much less sensitive.

Original poster
swissfamily · 23/06/2014 20:26

Extract from tonight's book; "Chang was so unhappy that he ran to the river and jumped in, hoping that he could also die...."

Only 8 to go....!

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nonicknameseemsavailable · 23/06/2014 20:36

we had some random ones that DD1 wouldn't read, some were ORT, some New Way and some were something else that I can't remember. In total probably about 6 books that for some reason or another she found upsetting/scary whatever. I just wrote that she didn't like that book in her record. she just happens to be oversensitive.

Itsfab · 23/06/2014 20:41

Shock that seems a bit much for a year one child!

twille · 23/06/2014 20:51

Seems to me these book are meant for older children, Purple level is around year 2 I think, so 7yrs of age!

RainbowsStars · 23/06/2014 20:53

Swissfamily that is a book that mine studied in year 3 if i recognise it correctly - the blue willow pattern story?
They read it and wrote their own versions.

Original poster
swissfamily · 23/06/2014 20:56

Is it really Twille? I'm going to say that to his teacher I think then. He's an August babe so young for his year. Is there somewhere online I can find out what ages the different colours / bands are aimed at? I've had a look but can't see much about New Way (presumably because most other schools have updated their libraries)! Thank you.

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Original poster
swissfamily · 23/06/2014 20:58

No I don't think so Rainbow; it's a collection of short stories called "The bank robbery and other stories". The extract above is from "The cricket boy".

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twille · 23/06/2014 20:58

www.mount.dudley.sch.uk/pdfs/policy-literacy.pdf

Page 10, I take it by Purple parallel books, you mean they are Yellow new way books which or Purple National Level books so parallel.

twille · 23/06/2014 21:02

Yep, it's a Yellow book so around Yr2 book around a 1a/2c!

Original poster
swissfamily · 23/06/2014 21:03

Got it. Thank you. No, actually the duckling book was a violet New Way level so aimed at Year 3 by the looks of it and now he's on orange which is also aimed at Year 3. So 7 / 8 year olds which explains things!

I'm going to run that by his teacher tomorrow. Thank you very much.

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twille · 23/06/2014 21:03

Sorry that's an orange book, so actually end of year 2/ Yr3 book!

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