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Primary education

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Original poster

Not allowed to read none school books anymore?

54 replies

NoBooksMore · 10/09/2022 19:51

DC is Year 4, still on the Reading Scheme due to dyslexia.

If a child reads 3x a week at home in Years 2 and above they get a house point on Friday.

Teachers in Years 2 and 3 both told me to let DC read whatever they wanted, a page from Harry Potter or whatever even if it was a bit advanced for them because we didn’t want to take the element of choice away or to make DC feel lesser than their peers. Year 3 teacher felt it would also be good as due to the dyslexia DC has a speech issue so it improved vocabulary. We’ve taken to taking it in turns, I read a page then them etc. it works and I just wrote it in and the teacher awarded the house point on Friday.

Year 4 teacher has just replied to an email I sent asking about this after DC told me they got told off for me writing “none school books” in the reading diary. They’ve confirmed this and told me not to let DC read anything other than school books or very simple first readers like Julia Donaldson until they were a free reader.

I don’t understand, am I doing something wrong and harming my DC? I get that reading a book that’s too hard can be damaging but I’m there helping them with words and explaining them and they just want to be like their friends who’re all mostly free readers now.

DC has a reading age of around Year 2 level so they could easily leave primary not as a free reader.

So teachers, is it worth battling the teacher over this given that both Year 2 and 3 teachers (2 diff teachers btw) thought it was ok? We find the ORT books dull and repetitive, DC doesn't enjoy them so then refuses to read, this way at least they're reading something and motivated to give it ago.

OP posts:
Takeachance18 · 10/09/2022 20:07

Ask for age appropriate books - most schools don't have them, but yes reading infant aimed books would be boring, so needs Hi/Low (high interest low reading ability) books.

MindGoneBlankNeedName · 10/09/2022 20:07

That's a disgusting attitude on the teacher's part.

My dyslexic autistic child has just started secondary. I pulled her out of primary because they weren't helping her at all and she hates books so much.

She's doing so much better and loves her books now. Because she can read whatever she wants to.

Original poster
NoBooksMore · 10/09/2022 20:13

MindGoneBlankNeedName · 10/09/2022 20:07

That's a disgusting attitude on the teacher's part.

My dyslexic autistic child has just started secondary. I pulled her out of primary because they weren't helping her at all and she hates books so much.

She's doing so much better and loves her books now. Because she can read whatever she wants to.

@MindGoneBlankNeedName That was the attitude of Y2 and Y3 teachers, that it's better they're reading something thats a little advanced than nothing at all, especially as DC is one of the youngest in the class (July born) and was trying to be friends with the September and October kids.

I think I will email again and ask about what I can do, and what they will let me write down.

OP posts:
Bootoagoose123 · 10/09/2022 20:15

Teacher here - this sounds like total rubbish to me. Talk about killing a child's love of books for life. I always advise reading whatever the child is interested in - comics, kids news, recipes, poems, even listening to audio books as otherwise their vocabulary and understanding starts to lag behind as they are limited to what they can decode themselves. But if it means a lot to your child to get the HP and the teacher won't budge, I'd just write whatever they want to see in the reading diary (lie!) and carry on reading whatever makes you both happy!

Goldbar · 10/09/2022 20:25

I think you should let your DD read what she wants to read at home. Even if you have to help her or read to her. If she is finding it difficult, it would be so easy for her to go off reading altogether... in your shoes, I would be trying everything I could to maintain her interest and expand her vocabulary and hopefully she will get there in her own time.

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 10/09/2022 20:27

I agree with @Bootoagoose123 . Also a teacher and SENCO.

Read what gives DC pleasure. You will kill any enjoyment of books by forcing them to read school books that have remained inaccessible throughout their time in primary. Just write what they want you to write in the books and read for pleasure. I find ‘read at home’ a good phrase because technically you did, just not their book.

Libraries often have a range of books that are accessible for children with dyslexia. Barrington Stoke are one type of publisher you could investigate. Sometimes just a change of font is important.

MaryJoLisa · 10/09/2022 20:28

Teacher is chatting shit. Reading anything is the ultimate goal and some school books are so crap they suck all the joy out of reading. Ignore her. As a teacher, I'm a bit stunned at her lack of knowledge around reading and very sad some parents will believe her.

BendingSpoons · 10/09/2022 20:30

Can you agree with your child to read a page of their boring school book and then what they want? Then you can legitimately write the book in their reading diary.

TeacupDrama · 10/09/2022 20:31

just don't put it in reading diary teachers do not have the right to know everything you do at home
however poor your child's reading they don't want to read the mouse's wedding or jon's new tractor over and over just because it is their reading level, neither should they be made to

Caaarrrl · 10/09/2022 20:32

Read whatever DD wants to read. Write something in the reading diary thst will get her the HP. Lie if you have to. I'm a yr5 teacher and think the advice from the teacher is bonkers.

MsChatterbox · 10/09/2022 20:32

I think I would do the reading he wants to do and write a different title in the log...

Flossiemoss · 10/09/2022 20:33

I’m fuming for you. Ds is dyslexic - school ruined any chance of enjoying reading for him.
They insisted on age inappropriate reading books and had clearly not bothered to invest in any age appropriate material for kids who struggled to learn. Talk about making them feel it’s a chore.

he is a voracious reader now - just don’t ask him to read fiction.

im not in a position to advise as school and sen provision was shit from start to finish but with hindsight I would be more of a pain than I was.

Ask for a meeting with sen lead. Does he have an assessment and educational support plans? Really feel for you and ds.

Kellie45 · 10/09/2022 20:34

Let your kid read wha5 they like and don’t bother with the diary. We never had them and we read like mad.

HotelKettle · 10/09/2022 20:35

Another vote for Barrington Stoke books.

HirplesWithHaggis · 10/09/2022 20:36

My DS is dyslexic, he read Harry Potter voraciously from age 8. Still love JKR for that blessing.

Isaidnoalready · 10/09/2022 20:36

Is the book they send home one they have read at school?

serenghetti2011 · 10/09/2022 20:37

Total nonsense
any reading your child does especially at home and something they enjoy will benefit. I’m dyslexic and loved to read and stories it benefits so many other aspects of education and I think the teacher is incorrect to try and inhibit that.

Your child should be reading age appropriate books at school, how can you enjoy reading if you’re reading books designed for a much younger child. I get fed up with teachers who think dyslexia means you’re not capable or able and try to assert their own agenda over what a child learns or read. I don’t think teaching dyslexic children has got any better since I was at school - my nephew is also dyslexic and his school were horrendous. He’s come on leaps and bounds in a new school even house captain due to the confidence he’s gained

Beamur · 10/09/2022 20:37

I'm normally very supportive of teachers. But we had one like this at DD's primary. We hadn't written in the reading diary enough (DD was reading lots and fluently) and she got reprimanded for effectively my and DH not filling in her book. She was also very keen on only reading certain books (which DD found dull). So we just carried on as we were at home and ticked the boxes for school.
Let your child read whatever they want to.

Mum2jenny · 10/09/2022 20:38

Let them read what they/ you want. The school should not be able to police your reading choices although they may expect you to support their reading options. As far as I’m concerned, as long as children are reading, I don’t care what it is.

StarlingsInTheRoof · 10/09/2022 20:38

My eldest is not dyslexic to my knowledge, but very resistant to anything school related. Gave up reading the books they sent home ages ago in favour of comics / graphic novels. Whatever gets them reading is better thst the very dull school books.

itsgettingweird · 10/09/2022 20:41

Have a look at the dyslexia friendly books.

They were a game changer for my autistic ds who has lots of dyslexia type learning difficulties.

They are designed for those with dyslexia to end able to free read.

When ds was in secondary school I always brought the dyslexia friendly texts for him to read of the texts they were reading in school. I then donated them to the English (well send) department for future pupils.

But yes - I'd want to know why they've advised something for 2 years they are now saying is detrimental.

Mischance · 10/09/2022 20:41

Oh bollocks! - your home, your child - read what the hell you like. Teacher is on a power trip.

What she does with him in school is her choice; what you do with him at home is yours. It sounds as if he is having a fun time reading with you and you are both enjoying it - what better way to learn to love reading?

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 10/09/2022 20:43

She has the audacity to think she can tell you what YOUR child can/can't read at home

id want to tell her to fuck off as she clearly has no idea!

id settle for toying with her like a cat with a mouse.

ask why she thinks this is appropriate. Really make her explain her reasons.

then be very clear, that YOUR child will be reading whatever YOU decide they're allowed to read & tell her she needs to improve her knowledge on dyslexia.

id be emailing the HT too.

im very supportive of teachers, but not of tears who just happen to be teachers

i understand finding teachers isn't easy for schools, but that doesn't mean HT's don't need to be told when their staff are failing the children.

RafaistheKingofClay · 10/09/2022 20:47

Are the books that he’s being given at school part of a phonically decodeable scheme or has he moved past that? If they are then really he needs equivalent books aimed at KS2 children. I’m nor convinced it’s a brilliant idea to skip those books out completely in favour of reading whatever he likes. It might work for some children it’s not necessarily a great long term strategy for children with an underlying reading issue. Doing what you are doing on top of the schoolbooks might be a better idea.

what did the year 2-3 teachers do about the school books? Did they change them unread or where they listening to him read them in school?

PathOfLeastResitance · 10/09/2022 20:49

I’m writing this as a SENCo, ask the school SENCo for their opinion. Is this a reasonable adjustment? Do they want any interest in reading to be crushed due to the lack of an (arbitrary) house point? Is it in the reading policy to change tact from years 2 and 3? What was the handover procedure between the year groups? What does it say in your child’s plan?
Alternatively, the parent part of me says to just lie in the reading diary.

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