What sort of comments do you put in your child's reading record?

[mumtoone]

My ds started reception in September and the reading record book appeared in his book bag just before Oct Half Term. I've been filling it in but I'm not entirely sure how much use my comments are. There's been no letter to give guidance on what they expect us to do so I've made it up. Do you ever ask for your child to be given harder books or do you just leave that to the teacher to decide when to move them up? We've got a parents even in a months time so I'll ask then but in the meantime I'd be interested to know what you do.

If you want him to have harder books then write 'ds read this very quickly'.

usually sign to say he's read it

sometimes ask for a harder book or use it to pass on other info to the teacher

I generally put things like: "dd2 really enjoyed this book and whizzed through it really quickly" and "dd2 found this book really easy" sometimes "dd2 struggled a bit with this book" and sometimes "dd2 refused to read to me tonight so I have no idea how she's doing with this one"

I generally put loads more than the teachers do

read well

sounded out words

that sort of thing

I write 'DS finished Frog and Toad tonight'. And voila! he comes home with a new book the next day

squonk thats because they have loads of reading records to read through.

well I started off like sqounk, and now I just make ds1 write it

"Oh god, not poxy frog and poxy toad again" I said to ds1 when he brought 2 of them home just before christmas. and we have had them before.

this week I put that DS1 had enjoyed the book but I was aware he wasn't reading it - he had remembered the story and it was clear he was saying the story from memory.

we have a different book this week and he is working hard to read it at the moment because he doesn't know the story yet.

Ah Yes GreySkull we get the reading from memory thing.

I once wrote "wonderful reading today, she managed it all without once looking at the words".

Not sure what the teacher thought about my sarcasm, not convinced they actually read what we put though.

Any info is useful, most of all the indication that you are reading with him at all

We normally comment on how well he got on with with the book, whether he needed any help with any words and note down any comments he made about the book. If it is an easy book, we comment on the fact that he whizzed through if it was tough, we say it was 'challenging'! DS is in year 1.

I'm looking very slack then

I sometimes give examples of words from the story which my dd managed/didn't manage to read. The teacher gave us some suggestions for skills they are supposed to achieve and we're supposed to comment on whether they've demonstrated the skills, but some of them are pretty basic eg 'commented on the characters' (this is yr1). Recently I mentioned that dd1 had read quickly and fluently and put "Is she ready for the next level?" but the teacher said "no", even though she is finding them very easy and usually there are only a couple of words in each book which make her pause

I write whether DD enjoyed the book, any new words she may have learnt and that she used letter sounds or picture (whichever applies) to read new words.

DD only has a new book every week and finds them quite easy, but enjoys reading them. Sometimes ther have been comments from the teacher such as "LittleLoen has learnt to recognise new words 'it and of'." I wrote back saying "DD has learnt new words 'after and garden' this week. The next week the teachers comment said "I have moved LittleLone" to the next reading stage. I think that parents comments can be a useful indicator to teachers. But I agree, it would be helpful to know more specifically what they want parents to comment on.

Which indicates fluency is great - maybe comprehension is more of an issue. Maybe you could help by asking your dd questions about the story/characters' motives, etc?

Sorry, that was directed at melpomene.

Depending on whether I write it in the evening or as we're leaving the house in the morning I usually comment on whether ds enjoyed the book, if we talked about it and whether he read with expression.

I usually just sign it - no comment unless particularly struggles.

I struggle with what to write to, and don't write in it everytime she's read to me I just put things like she sounded out the letter, she enjoyed the book, which words she knew, that kind of thing.

What about those of you with children who can read - do you still get them to read to you and write in their reading book?

Takver, I listen to Y1 ds much less than I did when he was in reception, but we do read together at bedtime (he reads a chapter, I read 2) and I put that in his reading record. We do go weeks without reading the books he brings home though.
I have just started (last week) getting him to write in his reading records himself - good practice and saves me doing it!

dd1 (8) has never had a book home that she had any trouble with

I stop myself form writing 'can we have a book that may stretch her please' as I know they have some comprehension and have to wait for everyone else to read it

You must sign it even if you don't write a comment, just so the teachers know the child is being listened to at home.

As a TA in a class responsible for dishing out the reading books and checking the records, sometimes its clear the parents NEVER listen to their children read...or if they do they don't sign to say they have.

I do feel however that most parents are in the dark about how they should listen to their children read, what sort of thigs they can help them with etc. I know I was until I became 'professional'

TBH I really do almost never listen to dd (yr 2) read books. When we are working together, I do get her to read out instructions, recipes or whatever, or if she brings a letter home from school I get her to read it to me. But she doesn't like reading books out loud, and since she reads so much to herself, I don't see the point of forcing her to do it.