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Bloody bloody bloody ORT books and reading homework

50 replies

HuwEdwards · 26/06/2007 19:32

DD1 is on stage 8 ORT - and these mommas have 30-odd pages in.

We're asked to make sure some reading is done ach night and school leave it up to us to change the books as and when we feel.

Thing is they're so bloody long, she reads half one night and half the next, but has absolutely no interest in reading it again as she already knows the story.

So my question to you is, is reading it through once sufficient d'you think.

(yes, I know I should ask the teacher, but it's always so chaotic in the mornings, I forget)

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NoodleStroodle · 26/06/2007 19:33

Burn ORT
Move to proper books that you both want to read.
Take in ashes to school

Enid · 26/06/2007 19:34

dont understand why she has to read it again?

Ladymuck · 26/06/2007 19:34

Why should she read it twice? To the best of my knowledge ds1 has never read any of his twice? Well not since the very early days when the book had 6 words or so (and he was getting most of those wrong first time round).

HuwEdwards · 26/06/2007 19:34

oooh tempting, but might the teacher not get a tad arsey with me Noodle?

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Enid · 26/06/2007 19:34

dd1 hsa done NO ort in year 2 [bliss]

moopymoo · 26/06/2007 19:35

We only ever read books once. they tend to be quite simple stories that dont need a second go i reckon. we have a chat afterwards to check comprehension then send it back. ds1 (9) is meant to read aloud to me for 20mins every night. in reality he prob does this every other night and reads to himself the other.

HuwEdwards · 26/06/2007 19:35

I just thought she ought to practise a couple of times through to make sure she'd really picked up any new words...no?

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Enid · 26/06/2007 19:35

so she reads a bit one night then finishes it the next night

job done surely

Enid · 26/06/2007 19:35

god no

you are mad

HuwEdwards · 26/06/2007 19:36

when do they stop anyway - is there Biff and feckin Chip stage 15...?

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NoodleStroodle · 26/06/2007 19:36

Well if she does not want you to burn the books she should send home decent books.

IMO reading schemes are merely for the benefit of the teacher.

Let DD read what she wants - be it cereal packets, The FT or whatever. Reading schemes are prescriptive and limiting.

Hate 'em

ahundredtimes · 26/06/2007 19:37

Drop the repeats, once through is heroic, twice is madness.

MintyDixCharrington · 26/06/2007 19:37

don't make the poor sausage read it twice!

thank god my ds 1 finished with ORT in Jan this year (year 1) and is on proper books now.

I now have a whole further year ORT free until ds2 starts in sept 2008 (which will be my third run through them)

NoodleStroodle · 26/06/2007 19:37

Minty you need some sort of medal

Enid · 26/06/2007 19:38

yes I think they finish completely after year one at dd1s school whatever stage they are on

have seen no evidence of them in year 3 or above

LIZS · 26/06/2007 19:38

We have only ever read them once ! We still get them occasionally at Stage 10 but no Magic Key .

Ladymuck · 26/06/2007 19:38

I make a note of any tricky new vocab and then show ds1 the same sentence the following morning. I record it in his reading diary so the teacher can check if she wants.

Enid · 26/06/2007 19:38

dd2 is LOOKING FORWARD to reading htem

she LIKes BIFF

MintyDixCharrington · 26/06/2007 19:39

I certainly will in September...oooooh.... 2010 when I will be starting it for the FOURTH time with dd2

NoodleStroodle · 26/06/2007 19:39

Enid get her assessed - there might be something wrong there

HuwEdwards · 26/06/2007 19:40

yes, My DD2 loves them. Adores the little floppy fecker.

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ChipButty · 26/06/2007 19:41

NoodleStroodle - why are you so aggressive towards teachers?!

ORT is fine and it builds up repetition and confidence with keywords. There is no need to read the books over and over as long as your child has understood.

No teacher would expect you to just read ORT in isolation. Most good parents will have a variety of books at home to be shared as well as the school scheme books.

NoodleStroodle · 26/06/2007 19:45

Chip - It's not teachers per se but it is their addicition to reading schemes. One size does not fit all - don't the appalling literacy rates in our school leavers point to that (not that that is all Biff 7 Chips fault!). But at a very young age children see reading as a chore, something to be done before more exciting play, a set of something to be worked up but it should not be so.

Why does ORT have no poetry?

DontAskMeToJudgeCupCakeComps · 26/06/2007 20:00

we have ort at a higher stage, but they are factual books - dinosaurs/myths/shipwrecks etc, and they are quite good. They are new to school, so possibly a new range. My son is Y but doesn't have biff chip annena etc anymore! I have only ever read each book once, never repeated!

DontAskMeToJudgeCupCakeComps · 26/06/2007 20:00

should say year 2!