Should we ignore the "reading" homework?

[LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE]

Not sure how to tackle this. My son has just started his lovely primary school and had his first reading book this week. It doesn't have any words in it except the title and what is on the back. DS can read already - we did it as a project during lock down. He can manage books around the "The Owl who was afraid of the Dark" level.

So we've gamely gone through the book and described the scenario as requested, but it seemed a bit of a waste of time. He's read me his library book this week too. They have a scheme to work towards reading certificates. If we don't engage with these books, I presume he won't get one and will be left out. However they aren't adding anything to his reading skills. What's the best way forward?

[LetItGoToRuin]

Another vote for investing the time in the wordless books. It's not the same as reading, but these books are useful as conversation starters, developing inference and reasoning skills ("Why do you think it's summertime?") and his vocabulary ("Can you think of another word for 'smile'?) etc.

I'm sure you'll continue to read with your DS at home as well, and as long as the school knows he can read, don't worry too much what sort of books they send him home with at this stage. They will be teaching phonics systematically in school, and as he hasn't been taught to read using phonics, this school learning will help him in the long run (even if it seems very easy to him at first) as it will consolidate his knowledge and fill in any gaps to his understanding of how words are pronounced and spelled.

[MonteStory]

Several posters have explained why these books are important and yet some are still replying effectively “oh yeah they’re annoying, just ignore them, your kid is far too clever for them” This is nonsense.

Wordless books aren’t for children who don’t know their letters or sounds yet, they are for developing understanding of story and character. I have used picture books with high level year 5 and 6s.

Unless you’re telling me your 4 year old can see a picture of Floppy the dog sleeping and say “Floppy was sleeping on the grass in a patch of sunlight, his head resting on his large paws. From across the garden he heard the sound of Kipper laughing.....” then he’s not too clever for them.

In terms of his ability to decode - the teacher will be completing assessments. He’ll get books with words soon enough. The wordless books are nothing to do with it, he won’t have to go through all the levels.

[LynnThese4reSEXPEOPLE]

Thanks for the comments. I asked DS1 what made Floppy save Biff's hat when he didn't want to play fetch. He said "His brain."....

We've done everything he needs to do to get a certificate anyway so hopefully he will get one along with the rest of the class.