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Original poster

Reception reading - loosing the will to live...

39 replies

CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 24/03/2009 20:27

DD is in reception.She was 5 last Nov and is what you would call a mature child.
She did a year in nursery and in the summer before reception started we were all invited into the school to discuss reading

Up until then i was doing the oxford learning tree with dd using the look and learn method (as i was taught in 70's)

At the meeting in the summer the school said do not use this method as they use phonics and it will confuse child so i took a step back and thought i would let school take lead.

So far we have had sheets and sheets of phonics to teach at home (we are now on phase 3 words) My dd is on the pink rigby rocket books and shes bored to death.She flys through them.Shes getting the phonics but its been a bit slow and yet she loves books and we read every night and have done since she was a baby (she has about 200 books)

I fill in the reading diary with the usual "read with ease" "understood story" "excellent reading" and at most all we can hope for is a book change per week (tues) today she came home and said they were too busy today to do reading...

Should I be expecting more of the school with the reading?

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edam · 24/03/2009 20:31

Suggest going in and talking to the teacher, explaining what sort of books dd is reading out home. However, as you say she is getting the phonics but it is a bit slow, maybe she does need to work at this level - schools teach a wider range of skills than just reading i.e. looking at a book and decoding the words.

When you are reading normal books, can she discuss the story and predict what happens next? Does she use expression or emphasise the right words? (Don't worry if not, I think these would be advanced skills for reception.)

hedgepig · 24/03/2009 20:33

could you make an appointment to discuss with the teacher? My DS was only 4 & a week when he went to school and absolutely not reading at all, the Phonics have worked well with him and he is now in Yr1 and reading well. I understood they were a building block to help them to read and work out harder words but if your DD is already reading well I'm not sure how it fits in?

Original poster
CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 24/03/2009 20:41

We had a book last week called Something Fishy

The teacher wrote a comment in the diary that with this book its important to understand the title (double meaning, story about fish with suspicious theme)

I talked to dd about it and she got it before i finished.She looks at books and knows whats coming.I dont think she is being challenged enough and thought about buying the books myself and doing stuff at home rather than waiting for her to get them.

The teacher is supply and has been since sept.They are interviewing applicants this week and i think thats been half of the problem

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edam · 24/03/2009 20:45

ah. That could indeed be the problem.

Wouldn't bother buying any 'learning to read' books, just keep reading interesting stories or factual books at home.

Original poster
CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 24/03/2009 20:47

I will thanks

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Original poster
CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 24/03/2009 20:47

I will thanks

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lalalonglegs · 24/03/2009 20:50

All sounds depressingly familiar. Do you get the feeling the teacher thinks you are making it up when you bring up these issues? I'm made to feel completely deluded when I point out that my daughter (also in reception) could read the books she is being given before she started school. Have given up and just buy/borrow lots for her to go through when she is at home (at her request).

Original poster
CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 24/03/2009 20:59

im feeling really fed up about it

tbh dd is one of those kids that has always stod out

shes big for age,mature and has a very good vocabulary.I feel that i have to apolgise for all this when talking to other mums who are complaining about thier kids tantrums

she had main part in nativity and did really well (dh and i were so proud) and some of the other mums were quite snooty about it

school can be a bit of a pain really

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Original poster
CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 24/03/2009 21:46

just emailed school asking for update on teacher

i heard thet are interviewing this week..

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mumto2andnomore · 24/03/2009 22:21

I would go to the library and let her read books of her choice. The most important thing is that she enoys reading and books. Schools are being encouraged not to do much individual reading now but to do guided reading sessions with a group and lots of phonics so it does sound like the school is on the right lines.

coppertop · 24/03/2009 22:38

I can understand why they want your dd to go through the phonics if she had learned to read using a different method. My ds1 was a very early reader due to suspected hyperlexia. When he started in Reception he basically had to go back to the very beginning and learn phonics with the rest of the class. He was also given very easy books to read even though he knew all the words in them.

Learning how to decode words with phonics gave him much better reading skills in the long run. They provided him with a kind of back-up for later down the line when he came up against far more complicated words.

The easier books also ensured that he not only built up his general comprehension skills but also looking at the different ways that language can be used, how punctuation can change the way you read a story etc.

I think I would get whatever I could from the books that are being given, work on the phonics where necessary, and then just carry on with whatever your dd likes to read at home.

Alambil · 25/03/2009 00:36

I think it's something to do with year R teachers!

DS was on the early ORT books at nursery and could read before school but his teacher was having none of it... always refusing to let him read to his level (he'd done and understood phonics etc and WAS advanced for his age)

Now, in Y1, the teacher is letting him steam ahead to keep him enthused.... It's so nice for him to enjoy reading again because he's having to use his brain to do it!

Just keep on at the teacher - no point buying the books because they'll barely get used, but see if the teacher can assess her again

smee · 25/03/2009 13:22

I should talk to the school first - they may well have a rationale behind what they're doing, though they should have told you first. For example at DS's school they don't start phonics at all until the final reception term. They feel the children learn faster in yr 1 as all are ready then, so move on faster and they don't lose the ones who aren't ready iyswim. They think concentrating on socialising the children/ getting them used to school/ learning through play, etc is what reception's about. Maybe your daughter's in a school like that? ie learning lots in other ways? You can always read lots with her at home if that's what she wants to do.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 25/03/2009 13:38

I'd take a two pronged approach to this. Have a supply of books from the library that she can read at home to keep her interest up, plus work on the phonics with her.

I do see how it can seem to be a waste of time doing the phonics when she reads well but agree with Coppertop about helping them long term.

ForeverOptimistic · 25/03/2009 13:43

If she is finding the books easy they should move onto the next level. Ds is a lot younger than your dd and developmentally is probably behind your dd and yet he was moved up without me asking as it was clear that the pink level was no longer challenging enough for him. Make it clear to clear to the teacher that she needs more of a challenge.

notnowbernard · 25/03/2009 13:49

DD1 is in R and was on pink Rigby Rockets and is now on red (don't know if that's a move up or down) But I do know she can read them in 1 min, with ease and no prompting

BUT

I agree with the post that mentioned about comprehension etc. It is one thing to read a word, another to understand it, and its context etc

Let's be honest, if a dc is reading easily in R they probably will continue to read well as school progresses, if they are still encouraged to enjoy books etc

I let dd1 read some of her own books to me as well as the RR ones from school

We haven't got a 'reading record book' though. Is that unusual? I have no way of communicating with her teacher about how she is getting on with the reading books

Niecie · 25/03/2009 13:54

I am always surprised children only get one book change a week in other schools - I don't see the point of having a book so long that you have to keep going over and over it. My two end up memorising them and not reading.

DS2 is also in reception and was getting one a day although it has been cut back to 2 a week now as the books are getting longer but even then he is allowed to take a free choice book every night if his reading book hasn't been changed. I can't think of any reason why a school wouldn't allow this even if they are not keen to advance her level until they have gone through all the phonics.

I know reception is all about playing but I don't think that means you shouldn't bother with the more academic stuff as well. Not that there should be any pressure but if a child wants to learn why hold them back?

But I agree, have a word with the teacher. Ask for more books. And keep reading to her at home as well of course. Even if she isn't doing the reading she will retain a love of books which is the most important thing.

Notnowbernard - obviously I don't know about other schools but we have a reading record and it proves a useful way of communicating which doesn't require me to go into school everytime I have a small query.

jeee · 25/03/2009 13:56

I'm not convinced a child can read, if they can't do phonics - but, hey, when my pfb was in reception I believed that she could read when all she could do was look-and-say.

Niecie · 25/03/2009 14:10

jeee - my DS1 never 'got' phonics. He muddled through but it never came easily. He is 8 now and can't sound out to save his life. I am pretty sure he has learnt to read by memorising.

If it is of any importance it hasn't held him back as he has a reading age of 10.5 and can read pretty much anything.

Littlefish · 25/03/2009 19:54

You don't need to go over and over the books. Once they've been read once and talked about, just move onto something more interesting!

School reading scheme books in the lower stages are unbelievably dull. Their language is dull, the stories are dull, the pictures are usually dull.

They are used by the teachers to check progress, or teach certain concepts.

I really don't understand this fixation with books being changed every day at school (as far as I'm concerned, it just means more dull books to read!) - it's much better just go to the library once a week and let your child choose a pile of books which interest them.

Having said that, pink level is the lowest, and is the dullest of all, and it sounds like your dd is ready for more challenging books. She may already be reading more challenging books during guided reading, however.

Niecie · 25/03/2009 20:19

If you have a book a day you don't actually stay on the 'boring' books very long - you can move through the levels very quickly.

Also going to the library, it is difficult to get books at the right level to match what is being done in the class room which is what the scheme books are all about.

And who gets the chance to go to the library every week anyway!

Littlefish · 25/03/2009 20:24

But it really doesn't matter about matching the library books to what's happening in the classroom. Reading at home is much more about encouraging a love of reading through enjoyment, sharing exciting books and being read to.

Reading scheme books in general are boring. The early stages are very boring, the higher stages are marginally less boring, but still lack a richness of language, structure and concept.

Ok, maybe suggesting going to the library every week was a bit ambitious. How about every other week .

Niecie · 25/03/2009 20:33

TBH we are passed the picture book stage (mine are 5 and 8) so we are currently re reading all DS1's books with DS2 and DS1 buys his own with his pocket money and always gets piles as presents as he isn't into toys (unless they are computer games) so we don't bother with the library very often.

Reading scheme books aren't that bad - they are a means to an end. They serve their purpose. You read it once and give it back. The DSs don't mind them but then they know they only have to keep them for one night. Besides their free choice books are their choices so they don't mind them either.(obviously)

hmc · 25/03/2009 20:33

jeee - my DS1 never 'got' phonics. He muddled through but it never came easily. He is 8 now and can't sound out to save his life. I am pretty sure he has learnt to read by memorising.

Niecie - I'm pretty sure that is how I learnt to read as it happens. Nothing much wrong with my literacy

hmc · 25/03/2009 20:34

Apart from an inability to use speech marks when quoting

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