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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Isn't this book too babyish, even for reception?

57 replies

Comingroundthemountain · 27/09/2015 21:12

So dd started reception two weeks ago. I know they are still getting to know the kids and their abilities. Last week dd was sent home with The Scarecrows' Wedding as her book to read at home - we all enjoyed it and read it many times. This week she has been sent home with The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We've been reading this since she was about 6 months old and she knows it verbatim - so she 'reads' it to me except I know she is not reading because she gets the odd word in the wrong order or issues out word like 'and'. Now I know that the point is they learn to read so need books that are simpler to read than they are to understand, but is it reasonable to think this one is way too simple and also that she will not be able to learn to read with a book she already knows more or less off by heart? And what do I write as my comment in her reading diary?

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mrz · 27/09/2015 21:55

The book is used with all ages in primary it's certainly not aimed solely at under 4s

mrz · 27/09/2015 21:58

TVHC is often used for healthy eating /life cycles/days of the week/ sequencing/counting/growth and change etc etc etc

Kampeki · 27/09/2015 21:58

Oh gosh, I still enjoy the Hungry Caterpillar and I'm 42!

At this stage of reception, it really is about encouraging kids to enjoy books, the reading is secondary. There is an immense pleasure to be had from going back to old favourites.

My dd, now 10, has always been an exceptionally good reader, and the books that she usually reads are pretty challenging. However, she sometimes likes to pick up the books that she enjoyed when she was much younger, and why not?

In fact, I sometimes re-read my own childhood favourites, they're like old friends. Let your dd enjoy the Hungry Caterpillar, and rest assured that there is plenty of time for "harder" books further down the line.

sunnydayinmay · 27/09/2015 22:05

Our school have a fantastic selection of similar books in the library, and Reception children can choose one each week. The point is that they are fun to share, have great pictures to look at.

Snossidge · 27/09/2015 22:12

Sounds like these are books for you to read to her, not "learning-to-read" books.

DS1 did a whole topic on The Very Hungry Caterpillar in Reception anyway - they learnt it by heart, retold it, drew story maps, did their own writing, learnt about healthy eating, did cooking, raised caterpillars to butterflys, wrote about the butterfly lifecycle etc etc.

madmotherof2 · 27/09/2015 22:15

Definitely sounds like a school library book, not her reading book

bloodyteenagers · 27/09/2015 22:25

A part of learning to read includes confidence and enjoyment.
If it's a book that's easy and enjoyed by the learner this helps to keep their interest.
Learning is also about talking about the book and understanding what it's about. As vocabulary increases so does understanding. And this in turn leads to different questions asked by the learner.
If the book is too difficult, i.e. 4
Out of 10 words unknown then this has an impact on the
Learners confidence.
its about recognition and exposure to the letters words.

LisbethSalandersLaptop · 27/09/2015 22:28

not sure how the teacher is supposed to divine what books the children have at home.

catkind · 27/09/2015 23:44

If your DD is happy to read it then it's fine. If she finds it too babyish then ask to change it.

There's nothing wrong with TVHC per se except a lot of children having done it to death in nursery. And even then some of them will like having something familiar.

There are varying levels of maturity in reception year. Some of the things the teacher read to the class in Yr R were terrifying for DS, he had to be taken out for his 1:1 reading at story time until they finished one particular book. The rest of the class loved it, DS couldn't cope. He was even scared by one of the Biff and Kipper books at level 1 or 2! I think he'd have preferred TVHC.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 27/09/2015 23:56

DD started Reception three weeks ago and she hasn't even had a book to bring home yet, although we have been told to expect them soon!

I'm sure at this stage it's just to get the children used to books. That may sound very babyish and unnecessary to you, but unfortunately there is bound to be at least one child in the class who doesn't have books at home. Or who has them, but they are never opened.

hibbleddible · 28/09/2015 06:57

It is a great book, and I also think yabu.

Dd has had far more 'babyish' books sent home. (Think 2/3 words per page).

I appreciate this is because they are doing phonics and are hoping the children can read some themselves. Unfortunately dd is nowhere near that point yet.

louisejxxx · 28/09/2015 07:02

I would be very surprised if she is expected go read it to you - I would ask for clarification on this..

AuntieStella · 28/09/2015 07:03

It sounds like her choice of library book to read at home with parents, not a 'learning to read' book.

Our DC had both in reception. The first was their free choice from the classroom shelf, the second the one the teacher sent once they were in the swing of learning to read.

If you have the sort of school where you can ask a quick question at drop off/pick up, that might be a good time to ask who chose the book and if it was meant as a 'read together' one.

Devilishpyjamas · 28/09/2015 07:09

It's not a kearning to read book. Believe me you'll know when you have to do those (they're very dull). It's a book to share - at some stage she'll start reading the story books that come home as well as whichever reading schemes are used. But until they're actually free reading they're not expected to read the sharing books - some will be able to from early on, some won't

BitOutOfPractice · 28/09/2015 07:10

Op it's going to be a looooooong KS1 if you're at this level of concern after 3 weeks in YR!

EugenesAxe · 28/09/2015 07:20

YABU for all reasons mentioned. This book is a reader for the child at my son's school; around Level 4 I think. If they know the story well it will help them learn - they will be able to follow the words better and it will teach them a little about rules for proper nouns and stuff. It has plenty of value as a reading book.

When they aren't reading, just having exposure to words and hearing your expression is good.

SoupDragon · 28/09/2015 07:28

A part of learning to read includes confidence and enjoyment.

This. I would say that enjoyment of reading is almost as important as the actual skill itself.

Did she enjoy "reading" it to you herself? If so, then it has served its purpose.

EugenesAxe · 28/09/2015 07:29

Sorry I wasn't clear. Yes at first in reception you pick out books to read to them. We were given a list of words our child had to learn before they progressed to level 1 (Floppy, Mum, Dad, Chip etc). They read ORT in school and when the child could do all these words with no mistakes, they moved up. Take home books for level 1 were a mixture of read it themselves and read it to them books. As PP said it was obvious which ones they were expected to read.

mrz · 28/09/2015 07:50

Was that recently Eugenes? ??

Inkymess · 28/09/2015 23:21

Perfectly fine. Reception is is not formal schooling with text books and homework !

Letustryagain · 29/09/2015 13:04

It may be that they are going to study this book as part of science or maths lessons.

DD had it in Reception too, they were asked to find out about insects from reading it.

EugenesAxe · 02/10/2015 06:51

mrz yes, but I'm scared to ask why?! What bit offended you?

mrz · 02/10/2015 07:01

Nit offended just shocked

mrz · 02/10/2015 07:02

Not

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 02/10/2015 08:26

Don't worry Mrz, whole word/mixed methods are alive and well in English schools. I've come across 3 different schools still using that method in the last month. Including 1 who is using RWI to teach phonics.

I'm not sure schools can win though. Even when they seem to be getting it right, there will always be someone that complains.

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