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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.

Original poster

Accelerated reader....sigh

58 replies

Badders123 · 02/12/2016 16:18

Hello
My son is 8 and in year 3
The teacher is a maternity leave cover and well....it's not going that well really.
Ds is very able. Teachers words, not mine. He is doing some year 4 work for maths and has lovely handwriting (for a leftie!) and loves reading.
Or should I say loved? 😞
The school uses the accelerated reader programme so the kids read a book then do a quiz. Children cannot move up a level til they have 4 "good" quiz scores.
However, the choice of books is really poor...the school do acknowledge this so I'm not sure there is anything to be done there.
Ds is starting to hate reading,
The books are boring and old.
He struggles to find one that interests him and ergo his scores aren't always great - sometimes only 60% - and I think it's also because he does the quizzes in class he gets distracted.
Anyway, I've written notes in his reading record and had a word at parents evening.
No joy. He has to do it and that's that.
So Wwyd?
We dont have time for 2 lots of reading each night (along with all the other homework and out of school activities)
I seem to be in the very odd position of saying
"No ds you can't read that book you really like, you have to read this school one So you can do a quiz on it"
Which just seems mad to me.
I've had a word with the head this week and she said she will get back to me.
Also since going back in September He has also been doing all the spellings he did in year 2! Why?
Should I just ignore school books?
That would upset ds as he would feel he wasn't doing as asked I think 😖
Should I just keep making him read books he dislikes?
I'm fed up and need advice!
(Lots of other parents in same boat btw and feeling the same...I know some plan to go and seee ht too)

OP posts:
PoldarksBreeches · 02/12/2016 16:20

The spellings is normal, my ds is doing year 2 and year 3 spellings every week
Personally I pretty much ignore the school's reading agenda. He reads aloud to me every night from a book he wants to read (horrid Henry and wimpy kid mostly) and as far as I'm concerned that's more than enough.

Original poster
Badders123 · 02/12/2016 16:22

Hmm interesting
Do the school get in your back re him not reading the school books?
Do you just write in his record what he's read to you?

OP posts:
PoldarksBreeches · 02/12/2016 16:24

No, I don't write in his reading journal at all Blush
I'm really fucking busy, lone parent, work full time and I kept forgetting so I just gave up.
They don't hassle me at all because he's a good reader I guess. It would be different if he was falling behind.

Original poster
Badders123 · 02/12/2016 16:26

Ah.
Maybe is should do that?
I really hate accelerated reader 😡

OP posts:
PoldarksBreeches · 02/12/2016 16:28

What are they going to do?

namechangingagainagain · 02/12/2016 16:29

I'd probably make a game of it..... What questions do you think they will ask? Can we beat the score from last time? That kind of thing. As my children have grown up they realise that at school they sometimes have to read stuff they are not interested in and answer questions on it. And get him to write what he's read in the journal himself and then sign it.
(Then later in the evening ID share a book we'd actually enjoy and encourage a love of reading for pleasure).

fluffywhitekittens · 02/12/2016 16:29

www.arbookfind.co.uk/UserType.aspx

Have a look here and see if any of his home reading books are on The AR list then he can read the books he likes at his reading level rather than relying on what is available in school?

Original poster
Badders123 · 02/12/2016 16:33

That's useful thank you

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BuggerBuggerAndBuggerAgain · 02/12/2016 17:29

My DD sounds similar - very able reader - but hated the quizzes so rushed them and got stuff wrong. Then hated getting a rubbish score (rubbish in her eyes) so hated quizzes more etc etc.

I quite like namechanging's advice - make a game of it. He will at some point have to do similar comprehension tests quizzes - for SATS, at GSCE. Not just for English too. It is also a good check of comprehension.

Get him to slow down, read the questions and yes - push the competitive buttons. He has to kind of suck it up for the next 10 years so may as well try and work with it than fight it. But low-key. Try and stay positive and breezy. No pressure. "DS, well you need to do them, let's have some fun whilst we do it"

As for evening reading - 5 mins of school stuff and then he can read what he likes? Push his bedtime back 10 minutes - it really won't harm, especially if it gives him some reading for pleasure. Or do school reading at breakfast - evenings are for him. And if he is a strong reader, speak to the teacher/HT about not doing the dull school books every day. Alternate it.

PolarBear63 · 02/12/2016 17:35

I just came on here to recommend the AR Bookfinder website. There are so many books on the scheme and they add new ones all the time. You can also contact them and ask them to add a book if it's not there and you feel it's suitable. Lots and lots of modern books are part of the scheme-David Walliams, Tom Gates, Wimpy Kid etc.

It's possible that the school isn't aware of the breadth of books that can be read and quizzed on, so it might be worth making them aware.

Leeds2 · 02/12/2016 17:37

Would it be possible for you, and the other parents who feel the same way, to get together and ask the PTA if they would consider purchasing new reading books for the classrooms (all of the classrooms, not just your DS's!)? I know the PTA at my DD's school wouldn't do this, as they said books were for the school to provide but yours might be different.

Also ask the Head if she would be prepared to put a note in the newsletter asking for any donations of unwanted books that children have grown out of/no longer want? Might be a good time to do this if parents are having a clear out before Christmas.

Owllady · 02/12/2016 17:39

Mine have always read what they wanted at home, of all levels. Reading is supposed to be enjoyable so if they can't enjoy it at school you must put the emphasis on home. It's worked for us.

Original poster
Badders123 · 02/12/2016 17:40

That's a good idea - I will ask.
I know some other parents have meetings booked for next week.
Yes he does rush the quizzes - absolutely - but I have no worries at all re his comphrehension of the books.

OP posts:
northcoastmum · 02/12/2016 17:48

I'm not a massive fan of AR either, particularly for kids who are already keen readers. AR bookfind is v helpful, just check you always use the UK site.

The Overdrive app (which lets you borrow Ebooks using your local library card number) lists the AR level of books so can be another good place to find books.

If the teacher is new and perhaps unfamiliar with AR it might be worth chatting to them about how the ZPD level is being used, as the idea (which I have heard from some schools) that you start on 3.2, then move to 3.3 after a test etc is too restrictive.

Vygotsky's theory of 'Zone of Proximal Development', is about learners making progress when working within a (fairly broad) zone, rather than above or below. So the correct way to use AR is to get children to read books within their ZPD range (an example from my class is 3.4-5.2), starting near the bottom and broadly working up before retesting on the Star Reading test. Restricting children to books in a v precise range does nothing to foster a love of reading.

Having said that, if your son is getting v poor scores then there is definitely an issue, either with the test taking, or his reading, or retention of information. I think Namechanging and Bugger have good advice about the actual reading process.

Original poster
Badders123 · 02/12/2016 17:48

Surely there must be other ways teachers can measure progress?
I feel they are relying on a computerised system rather than actually hearing the child read and that doesn't sit well with me...would be interested to hear any teachers views of AR?
In fact ds hasn't read to an adult at all in year 3 (besides guided reading) but again, I don't know if this is normal?
I know some of the other parents feel that their child is being left behind and whilst I'm not worried about that per se, I don't want this to spoil my ds love of reading.

OP posts:
Original poster
Badders123 · 02/12/2016 17:50

Maybe I should just suck it up?
The year 4 teachers are lovely!

OP posts:
Fram · 02/12/2016 17:58

Very similar situation here. Tbh, we've been in twice this term, and it's not made much of a difference. DS reads what he wants at home (school assessed him as reading and comprehension age over 15 but send home Project X Confused)
Sometimes he reads at home, sometimes he doesn't. He knows it's just something he has to do, like other homework he doesn't like.

Original poster
Badders123 · 02/12/2016 18:06

It's a bit pants isn't it?
I'm trying to be understanding...the school are having to have a move around to accommodate another year group next year so the lovely library with plenty of books is now gone. The library now consists of a bookshelf in the hall 🤔 I'm sure that's not helping. Book choice very limited.
I will see what the ht says.
Thanks for the replies btw.
It's helpful

OP posts:
Lexilooo · 02/12/2016 18:13

Let him read what he wants at home. It is so important for children to enjoy reading and once they are turned off it is VERY difficult to get them to love it again. Reading anything will help improve his reading

Original poster
Badders123 · 02/12/2016 18:19

That's my worry lex

OP posts:
swashbucklecheer · 02/12/2016 18:23

I noticed in my local library the other day that they take part in accelerated reader. Could he choose some books from there that he's interested in?

princessna · 02/12/2016 18:25

I definitely support what others above have said. AR has loads of books on it, usually all the new released ones are on, so you should not be restricted by your school's single crappy bookshelf! The whole idea of AR should be that school can monitor their reading without a huge amount of parental and teacher interference i.e. getting the DDs and DSs to take responsibility for their own reading. My DS is Y4, 2nd year of AR. Took us a while to get into a rhythm, but he has a book he reads with us - usually longer, a bit trickier and then stuff he reads by himself and does quizzes on all of these. They are either self selected by him at library or we nudge him in the direction of one we think might be fun.
Don't lose a year! Don't let reading become a chore!!

BackforGood · 02/12/2016 18:31

My dc have always loved reading and it was something I wasn't prepared to sacrifice so they fitted into a box.
I just let the school know they read loads - usually stuff they'd chosen from the library, and all the teachers (one NQT excepted) were absolutely fine with it - they acknowledged they could tell the dc read widely and were certainly not going to insist on them doing something that involved jumping through particular hoops which may well then put them off reading.
Both my older 2 have chosen to do English through to A-level, and all 3 are still avid readers.

Lexilooo · 02/12/2016 19:25

My mum was a librarian when I was at school so there was always a good supply of books. I loved to read, read quickly and above my chronological age, but hated school reading books. I very rarely read school books at home, I could read enough in class to get by and then read something better at home. Once or twice "words were had" about school reading books and I ended up bringing in library books instead because of the lack of enough suitable books at school.

My mum was never too picky about what I read, she believed that reading something was better than nothing so she never stopped me reading trash like sweet valley twins but would also pass on to me suitable books she had read or find me ones that might appeal from the library. Having books I actively wanted to read meant reading was never a chore, my parents were more likely to have to hide my book so that I would stop reading!

I used to write reviews of the books sometimes they used to use at the library (unless it was just a cunning ploy to check my comprehension!).

It is so rare to hear of Boys that love reading I really hope you can help your son maintain his love of reading, even if it does mean being naughty and not reading school books at home.

Toomanywheeliebinsagain · 02/12/2016 19:30

Tbh, I would be pretty unhappy at the school. I have a v strong reader in year 1, reading at year 3 level and the school have been excellent in providing a range of materials that are age appropriate and stimulate her. Think the HT needs to get a grip