Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

Original poster

Am I being unreasonable

22 replies

orangehead · 31/10/2007 18:25

I picked up my ds from reception when he heard another child telling his mum about his reading book so ds asked his teacher for one and she said he wasnt ready yet as he needs to learn to blend letters. But for my ds who is more interested in running around I think that was a huge step that he showed interest. Surely it wouldnt do any harm to give him one as he was showing an interest. O.k he probably not going to learn to read it if he not ready but surely interest should be encouraged and if he just looks at it thats good, isnt it?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

pageturner · 31/10/2007 18:36

Seems odd he hasn't been given a book at all. He's never going to get the idea otherwise. Our reception children all get a reading book from the beginning; it doesn't matter if they just look at the picures or have it read to them. They need familiarity with the system.

Have the school explained to you how they teach reading in reception? My ds2 (also in reception) can't blend letters, but he loves looking at the books.

sinclair · 31/10/2007 19:09

NOt unreasonable to ask for a book but you have to respect the teacher's opinion as to whether DS is ready to start - she knows the system they are using. At our school they start the children group by group - but no-one brought a book home (to read to themselves I mean - they were all bringing home story books to be read to them) before Oct half term.

Nothing to stop you showing him beginner books at home if he is keen of course.

professorplum · 31/10/2007 20:17

some children in my ds nursery are given specific books for learning to read in addition to the ordinary story book. They are all dcs who are moving into reception after Christmas. Does your ds not bring home a story book for you to read to him?

Reallytired · 31/10/2007 21:19

I realise that your son is desperate for a book, but it is important that the first reading book is a positive experience.

If he has not learnt any strageries like blending then there is a risk of him making a lot mistakes and failing. There is no point in a child doing nothing else than make ramdon guesses.

I suggest that you practice letter sounds and blending for about 5 to 10 minutes each day.

My little boy did not get a reading book until he had spent a whole term in reception. The time that he spent on learning his phonics stood him in good stead. Once he was issued with reading books he raced ahead with the reading scheme.

Original poster

orangehead · 31/10/2007 21:44

It was ds that asked for a book. Im not actually that bothered that he hasnt got a book yet, espeacially if he not ready. But more bothered that the interest that he showed was just replied to with a 'no'. We do read together at home although a bit hit and miss as more often than not he is not interested so I try not to force him.
Thankyou for your thoughts.

OP posts:

alp · 31/10/2007 22:08

DD started in Reception this September and began bringing books home with no words in to start with - the idea is to get them used to telling a story to us as parents, instead of us reading the story to them. I think this has helped all the kids get excited by taking a book home not just those who can 'blend' sounds. Although DD is learning to blend letters by having a book with phonic words in. The trouble is every school is different as are the kids - your DS sounds like he is interested and enthused which is great. HTH

SmileSam · 31/10/2007 22:27

I am a teacher and as alp says, children are usually given books without words in to take home first. If the school is being rubbish get some yourself from the library. Grab him while he's interested!!!

Reallytired · 31/10/2007 23:55

"Seems odd he hasn't been given a book at all. He's never going to get the idea otherwise."

pageturner, sorry I really have to disagree.

The little boy has only been in reception for half a term. I am sure that his teacher will give him a reading book in a few weeks time. Are you sure that the other child actually had a reading book or was it just a library book?

As I said earlier, my son did not get a reading book until January inspite of starting school in September. He is now in year 1 and on stage 6 of the Oxford Reading Tree inspite of being partially deaf.

He even though he did not have a reading book he had a library book that we read to him.

pageturner · 01/11/2007 21:51

I don't mind being wrong, I can take it. My third child is currently in reception and they were all given books from the first day. S'all.

2boys2 · 02/11/2007 05:09

my ds(reception) has not had a book yet, but he has home work each night which is writing, colouring, phonics and spellings to learn - so i think over all he is learning to read just without the aid of a book!!

He is so pleased that he can "read" now that i have brought him some kipper, biff etc books so he doesnt get put off by the masses of text in our story books.

mysonsmummy · 02/11/2007 22:12

homework everynight in reception - do you actually do it? i struggled just once a week on a friday to be handed in tuesday.

have to aggree - i would think the best way to start a child with reading books are to give them the ones with no words to get used to the book itself. although not sure ds was even given one of those in the first term.

2boys2 · 03/11/2007 06:46

yes we most definalty struggle to get it done. He is only just 4 years as well and he cant even hold a pencil properly in a "pincer" grip.

seeker · 03/11/2007 06:57

2boys2 - don't do it! Homework every night for a reception child is outrageous!

RomanCandles · 03/11/2007 06:58

ATM dd is getting the books that hve no words, plus the occasional one-word card. She's not hugely interested in reading - much prefers being read to. Ofcourse the child should have a 'reading' book, even if he's not yet reading. It's all part of the learning through play experience, as well as giving importance to school activities.

onebatmother · 03/11/2007 06:59

I thought general idea was to encourage any/all interaction with books.. you know, from babyhood onwards.

Is it different once they get older reallytired? Altho understand the importance of positive first experience,would it be a problem if he just looked/pretended a bit and then mummy helped a lot? (Genuine question, rather than my firm opinion phrased as a question!)

rosybud · 03/11/2007 07:05

My dd is one of the oldest in her reception class and a few of her younger friends are taking home reading books with words. I totally appreciate they are all ready at different stages but am sure i remember my ds bringing home the books without words. could they all not have a book but some have words if they are ready and others without? It seems to matter to my dd that she doesn't yet have a reading book.

rosybud · 03/11/2007 07:07

sorry orangehead, YANBU imo. maybe ask teacher about books without words to keep the interest going??

harpsichordsgoingbangandwoosh · 03/11/2007 07:09

I think it is bad policy too, to ignore his request and say no you're not ready. no harm at all in starting to get into the habit of taking a book home.
I think being refused is a negative experience and to restrict taking a book home until he is ready to read is overthinking it, imo

SofiaAmes · 03/11/2007 07:12

I think it's sad that a child expressed interest in a book and the teacher didn't take him up on it and instead actively discouraged him. I had experiences like this when I was still in the UK and it's one of the reasons that I left....I didn't think that my ds would respond well to a rigid style of education where you must only look at books that are deemed exactly appropriate to your reading level by (in my ds' case) a 23 year old on her first teaching assignment.
As it turns out, I am having some of the same problems here in the usa, but feel more in a position to battle them. My ds was completely uninterested in reading until 1st grade when he discovered the Goosebumps series. His teacher kept insisting that I shouldn't let him try reading it (even though he was desperate to) because it was too difficult for him and he would get discouraged. In fact, (as I knew would be the case), he had completely the opposite reaction...he was determined to read the books and quickly learned how to read really well. His problem wasn't his inability, but his disinterest.

Blackduck · 03/11/2007 07:47

I think it depends on what the school means by a reading book. Ds can't read, but all the children get a book in their book bag every week (parents are expected to read it to them). If that is the case your son should get one regardless....do agree thou' that if he's shown nterest they should give him one, surely wouldn't do any harm

Freckle · 03/11/2007 07:51

If the school don't think he is ready, get a book and read it with your ds yourself. Parental involvement is the single most important thing in a child's education/development. If he can't read a word, help him understand and soon he'll be reading well - and then he can shock his teacher!

noonar · 03/11/2007 08:11

orangehead, it was probably a reading scheme book, which ds may not may been ready for. however, she shouldve offered an alternative. in any case, most schemes have books with litle or no text that children can start off with. bad practice imo, to knock your ds back in this way.

Flip