How challenging should reading be?

[AleHouseWench]

I'm not sure if I'm right or if I need to give my head a shake so am open to all advice. I firmly believe my son (year 1) should be on at least the next level of reading book. He reads everything he gets almost fluently, uses expression and understands what's going on.

I don't feel that he's being challenged at all. Surely there should be some words he's struggling with or just can't get at all in each book otherwise how is ever going to learn.

I have shown him some examples of higher level books (which he has also had home from school) which he can still read well.

What are you thoughts? Does anyone know what criteria schools use to move them up.

I just wanted to gain some outside opinions before I spoke to his teacher. TIA

I am not even a teacher, but I wonder if you are actually familiar with NC for primary, Trifle. If not, why comment?

I think the average classroom teacher should be aware of the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum ...don't you?

As for the literacy policy if it's full of such nonsense they should challenge it.

"It's fine for the teaching and practising of phonics" no they aren't

Irvine: Why the hell shouldn't I comment? I wasn't giving anyone expert advice, just making an observation about enjoyment of reading. Is every person commenting a teacher? No. Are they commenting? Er, yes.

Mrz: I'm not going to get involved in teacher bashing with you. My point was that the 90% rule, whether teachers use it as a rule of thumb or not (and I think many do) isn't the best way to engage students in reading. That's all I said. Go and jump down someone else's throat because I am not really interested.

As a primary literacy coordinator I'm not into teacher bashing ...

Not sure why that would follow, Mrz. Plenty of teachers involved in bashing their colleagues. Regardless, you have insisted on going on at me when I done nothing more than make a simple observation and it's starting to get on my nerves. I'm done answering you.

Perhaps that's why this nonsense continues

Trifleorbust, everyone who has commented has criticised the practice of using the 90% rule of thumb and explained why it's not good practice. They aren't attacking you personally, or saying you shouldn't have mentioned it. Lots of teachers do it, they shouldn't, and it doesn't match the curriculum, which they most certainly should know. That's it. Those are the facts. You seem to have developed some kind of persecution complex about it - of course you don't need to take it on the chin it's nothing to do with you - that's what I was saying!

Feenie:

everyone who has commented has criticised the practice of using the 90% rule of thumb and explained why it's not good practice.

I didn't fucking say it was good practice. And no, not everyone has commented to that effect at all. In fact, my comment was in response to someone not making the point that it is outdated and does not match the NC. Seriously, are you not questioning why you are fixing on my posts? I certainly have no idea because there is nothing objectionable in them from the perspective of what you are saying.

NO ONE IS FIXING ON YOUR POSTS - EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT 90%. NO ONE IS ADDRESSING YOU OR ATTRIBUTING THAT PARTICULAR PRACTICE OR THE POSTS TO YOU. ANY ANSWER REGARDING SAID NINETY PERCENT IS IN NO WAY AIMED AT YOU.

Got it now?

Oh piss off, Feenie. If you're not fixing on my posts, stop responding to them. You know exactly what you're doing and it's irritating.

You seem to be confusing challenging misinformation with fixing on you

What misinformation? If you can tell me something I have said that is factually incorrect, go right ahead. Otherwise please stop responding to me with comments pretending I have said something I haven't. It's irritating.

The misinformation from posters saying 1 error in 10 words and 90% accuracy ....

Oh my god. Seriously, go back and read your posts - you are picking a fight that isn't here. I'm embarrassed for you,; this is quite some tantrum.

I don't think I am the one doing that, Feenie. You are the one taking issue here. I would just like you to go away and stop responding to me, since you have nothing to say. Try it.

Mrz: It would help if those challenges were directed at the people who were actually suggesting that is how things should be done, not those - like me - saying the opposite.

I don't think trifle did say she agreed with it. She just said it happened, which is likely to be true. There certainly have been people who've claimed to be teachers giving the advice about 90% and comprehension on here in the last few months.

I do think we need to be able to say that teachers/schools shouldn't be doing this or giving this advice without calling it teacher bashing though.

I was on this thread from the start, discussing an issue sensibly. You turned up and went quite bonkers. I certainly won't be bullied off a thread because you have become quite unhinged.

I wouldn't dream of turnng up on a secondary thread and behaving like a jackass. No idea what your problem is.

I don't think anyone has suggested they did ...it doesn't make the information any more reliable

Rafals: Thank you so much. I was beginning to think I had fallen down a rabbit hole.

My comment about teacher bashing was solely directed at the poster who argued that classroom teachers who have to follow certain literacy policies are somehow failing in their jobs. Of course if teachers have control and are still not getting it right, there is a training need there.

I don't think trifle did say she agreed with it.

Neither do I! That issue was being discussed way before she got here.

Feenie: No, it is not unhinged to become frustrated when someone persists in misinterpreting what you are saying, despite having their misreading pointed out to them and being repeatedly asked to drop it. I suspect you would become frustrated too. Now again, please refrain from doing it. I am not trying to get you to leave the thread at all, just to cease directing your irrelevant shite at me.

I haven't directed anything at you - I even said the issue was nothing to.do with you. Several times. I even shouted it. What is the matter with you?