DD 6 loves to read and reads as much as she can get her hands on,reading books, library books, home books, magazines anything.
The system at dd's school is that teachers assess periodically and give parents a colour band to choose their children's books from. Parents and children then choose books from that colour band until next assessment.
Because she started mid term last summer school encouraged dd to carry on along the level that she read her previous school.
Anyway because she is such a voracious reader we ended up just choosing books that appealed whatever the level seeing as she will read up to 20 school books per week.
Today she has been reassessed and has been put up to the books in the level that yr 6 children generally read. I wasn't surprised that she can read so well and these books aren't a challenge to her to read BUT I am wary that some topics may be too old for her. We tend to read to relax and so choose books that dd doesn't have to work at deciphering words or understanding vocabulary or plot.
So is it unreasonable of me to request that we carry on as we were just choosing books that appeal throughout the week and dd having one or two of the high level books at weekends.
Am I wrong to want dd just to enjoy reading rather than pushing her to perfect a skill and read these high level books.
I know lots of mums even in dd's class would be delighted that their dc were band W and probably think I'm nuts when I don't care if dd chooses low band books after all the story appeals to Lucy so that's what decides her choice rather than the level of the book.
Could I be doing her a disservice by opting out of the "reading book level competition" that seems to be rife everywhere?
Is there a reason for children to be directed towards books that are at the top end of their ability to read?
What's wrong with reading for fun?