Reading in year 3

[CandyCrush77]

DS1, 7, started year 3 in September and there have been changes in how they teach reading. In year 2 they used to read with the teacher once a week and get their books changed. Now they will be doing guided reading sessions only once a fortnight and getting their books changed then, as well as doing other reading/comprehension activities during the rest of the week. DS1 has been given a really short chapter book (30 pages) which he finished the same day. Getting his book changed once a fortnight does't seem nearly enough to me. He is in one of the lower groups (he scored 2a in the SATs for reading in year 2) so it's not like he is doing brilliantly and would really benefit from more practice and for the school to push more. Just wondering if this is in line with how other schools teach or if the school is being a bit slack.

Ours change books immediately when finished, anything from daily to twice monthly depending on size of the book. Are you sure he is only allowed to change fortnightly or is he only made to change book fortnightly? Our won't push a child to change, they'd assume he's not finished, maybe he's cottoned onto this and wants an easy life? I'd ask the teacher.

My DD3 in Year 3, changes her book when she's finished it, but sometimes forgets and so it can be a few days. Last year I wasn't impressed with the books she brought home so we read our own. I've no problem in finishing one of our books before schools. I record our books in her school reading journal so school know she is reading but does it matter where the book comes from? Find books your son really enjoys or maybe go to the library. School probably run out of time changing lots of children's books.

I don't know how DS2 change his book, as he had the same 2 books in his book bag since the start of the term. But DS enjoys reading very much, he read whenever he has no other things to do. As he has a big brother, so our house full of books from DS1, So DS2 just pick up anybook he likes and read. We need to sign in his reading diary to prove he has been reading every day though.

Our year 3 also change their books once they have finished them, though they are supposed to take resposibility for doing this themselves and several are also quite forgetful. Most of ours are free readers and have a fairly free rein over what they choose and are welcome to bring books from home. 2a for reading in year 2 would not lead to a "lower group" in most schools. They do Guided Reading once a week but this has no link with their reading books. They would be unlikely to read to a member of staff more than once a half term unless they were on some kind of intervention, though parent helpers hear those who do not get heard at home.

My DD doesn't get books changed at school since year 3; that does not mean she does not read; we go to the library often and she reads every evening before bed. School expect them to read every day but can't be on top of them making sure they do it; she does not get a lot of homework either but I get her to study at least 30min per day either maths, spelling or music practice. I think kids who attend states schools can not rely on the school to do everything they need support at home; there is a limit on what teachers can do with 30 kids and so many other things they are expected to do.

In fairness Luna, there are libraries within which it is either hard/impossible to find books at exactly the right level from 1-9 (important for practice and motivation for some kids), or there is a poor selection of early chaper books (all pink kittens, fairies and fluff), or both. OP we used Reading Chest when school couldn't/wouldn't give us enough books. Was great for the period before she started reading her own chapter books at home.

Taking responsibility for their own reading s a big thing in our school from year 3-6, so I'd first ask the teacher if this is what happened and your ds simply hasn't realised he's supposed to take the lead and change the books himself.