Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Primary education

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

Original poster

Same reading book weeks on end and other probs!

23 replies

fernie3 · 05/01/2010 17:43

my daughter is in reception and since October has been bringing home reading books, since then she had has a grand total of two. Now she cant read and I understand that we might need to read the same books over and over BUT surely 2 books since October is really overdoing it?.She knows the book she has off by heart.

I wrote a note in her reading book (which the teacher has only written in once to say which book my daughter had chosen) and all this got me was an embarrassing display in front of all the other parents where she accused me of not providing "appropriate clothing for my daughter" and my daughter had complained of being cold. Some of the other parents I have never even spoken to came up to me afterwards to say how out of order it was especially since my daughter was actually well dressed for the weather.

I spoke to her in parents evening and all she really ahd to say was that my daughter "asks to many questions" her exact words.

None of the other parents seem to have a problem with anything so I am starting to feel a bit like I have done something to offend her!

How can I go abotu repairing things and trying to make sure my daughter doesnt suffer with her reading? she really has not learned anything at school since being there only what I have taught her at home which I am sad to say is probably not as much as I should be since I have two preschool chidlren as well.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 05/01/2010 17:44

Book a proper time to talk to her.

Books are usually changed twice a week but at busy times it will be less.

maybe your child is meant to change it herself though that normally happens with library books.

MumNWLondon · 07/01/2010 20:21

We had 2 books a week in reception - idea was to read each one at least twice - and i think that was about right.

What are the other children getting?

Is your DD able to read CVC words etc cat, bed, dog etc it may be that they don't change books regularly until she can read some basic words?

If she can read basic words (and you can practice this at home) then go and speak to teacher about reason that the books haven't been changed.

thecloudhopper · 07/01/2010 20:47

I would 1st go into school and ask the teacher if you could have a word in private when it is convenient for her. If she agrees then put the issues to her, have them written down if this helps you remember.

If she will not agree to a word then I would look at going to the head and talking to him/her.

With regards to the reading I would ask if she is not ready for books could she not have tricky word flashcards, and sound flashcards with a book to share ( not for her to read but enjoy) I don't see the point of starting children on reading if they are not ready.

Good luck

muppetgirl · 07/01/2010 20:57

I would;

1.) Write down what was said, what you said etc etc in case you need it.

2.) Ask for a meeting with the teacher to discuss the schools strategy for teaching reading.

3.) Tell her what you'd like to discuss (maybe written in a letter) so you have written evidence of your request but also so she can come prepared to any such meeting.

If you're not satisfied you can request to meet with the early years coordinator/keystage 1 leader, if not then ask for a meeting with the Head.

Whilst all this is going on carry on reading to her, sharing books and if you feel you need to start the Jolly Phonics sound books.

Good luck, keep calm and make sure you keep any evidence you can.

mrspink27 · 07/01/2010 21:09

She "asks too many questions"????
That would be enough to set alarm bells ringing for me. You need to get an appt to see her and have a list of concerns written down and note her responses as soon as you leave the meeting - or at the meeting if you feel it's appropriate. Ask teacher how you can support your child at home ( not in a pushy way - but as a concerned parent ) and I would ask about the too many questions thing - much more detail needed from teacher... in what circumstances, is is because she doesnt know what to do or that she is seeking extension to her existing knowledge and understanding.
Above all, keep calm, stay smiley and positive and be ready to do extra stuff at home.

smee · 08/01/2010 10:45

Teacher really does sound out of order and the 'asks too many questions' thing is worrying. But is your daughter happy? Does she bound into school/ like her teacher/ have lots of friends and excited about school? If so then that in itself shows probably that the teacher's doing a lot right, so I'd maybe not go in too hard, but ask more about the way literacy's being taught. A lot of primaries don't teach it in a very formal way in reception - in our school for eg did no guided reading until year one and in reception the children just picked reading books that they wanted to bring home - as many as they wanted - for parents to read to/ with them. My son learned masses through writing shopping lists and play based learning in general, but a lot of parents were really stressed by the apparent lack of more obvious reading/ writing. The school rather dimly failed to tell us the policy, but once they did it made sense and I think worked well.

Am not saying this is what's happening at your school but it might be. If so the teacher has a different view on how important the books (in terms of learning to read) are at this stage - if so though she should tell you her strategy and explain why this will work, so book a meeting and let her talk. If she can't then get v.grumpy..!

GrumpyYoungFogey · 09/01/2010 21:36

Our eldest keeps bringing the same sodding book home. But since it invariably stays in the book bag unread before being taken back to school I can't say I'm too fussed.

What is it with forcing small kids to read dull-as-ditchwater school reading schemes in their spare time? I can only think it is to help the millions of "English as Second Language" kids but lets not appear discriminatory so everyone has to suffer it.

Your child is 4 or 5. She is too small for this sort of nonsense. Just ignore the books and make sure she is happy.

thegrammerpolicesic · 10/01/2010 20:47

What a strange post GYF.

Reading books help kids learn to read don't they? What's that got to do with EAS kids?
Didn't we all have reading schemes in the 70s too when there were fewer EAS children around?

smee · 11/01/2010 09:48

GYF likes looking for positive discrimination in the strangest of places. Total daftness, but it's what seems to make GYF tick. And no, am not saying you can't have an opinion GYF as of course you can, but you do sound a bit like a stuck record at times.

thegrammerpolicesic · 11/01/2010 09:54

Perhaps you'd feel more at home on the Daily Mail website GYF.

madamearcati · 11/01/2010 10:20

GYF - actually I send my kids to school to learn stuff.If 'being happy' is the only thing they go to school for, then they might as well stay at home-they're happy here too!

Original poster
fernie3 · 11/01/2010 11:24

I dont want to force her to read but it would be nice not to read the same book over and over again!.
she has finally had it changed now so things are looking up in the reading department.

OP posts:
Original poster
fernie3 · 11/01/2010 11:26

smee my daughter went through a phase of crying going into school although thats less of a problem now, she seems pretty indifferent to the whole thing really! she doesnt care if she goes or not!

OP posts:
Original poster
fernie3 · 11/01/2010 11:27

mrspink27 the teacher told me that the question were a mix of things which were not needed to be asked (example my daughter asked "is our world a playset" OR she asks question she already knows the answer to.

OP posts:
claig · 11/01/2010 11:38

fernie3,
"is our world a playset"

wow, she might just be light years ahead of her teacher

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant..."

MattSmithIsNotMyLoveSlave · 11/01/2010 11:41

"Is our world a playset?" is a fab question, IMO.

Original poster
fernie3 · 11/01/2010 12:13

lol I laughed out loud when the teacher said that she does ask some really strange questions, although I DO admit it is annoying when she asks things like "why am I eating dinner" "why are you big" etc etc... but the teacher also said she doesnt shout out so I cant see a huge problem but then again I am not a teacher so I dont know what it like having 30 5 year olds for a day!

OP posts:
claig · 11/01/2010 12:22

it is very sad that the teacher is possibly stifling her curiosity. She is asking some very profound questions that the teacher doesn't know how to deal with

Original poster
fernie3 · 11/01/2010 12:28

I hadnt thought of it like that claig, I have to admit at home I try to answer her questions but alot of them are so random and hard to answer it just ends with "it just is" or "I dont know ask daddy" (who doesnt know either!). Its easy if it something you can look up but it is mostly totally random like the playset thing... she asks the question so you say no she asks why and so I cant think of anything else to say apart from "it just isnt!". I am no great thinker lol. (she didnt ask ME this question but it is a good example of how it would go lol)

OP posts:
MattSmithIsNotMyLoveSlave · 11/01/2010 12:32

But potentially a better way to go would be
DD: Is our world a playset?
You: That's an interesting question. Who do you think would play with a playset that big?

Follow-up questions for you to ask her: Where do you think the handle would be? How might we know if it was a playset? Do you think your toys ever wonder whether they are toys? Where would you get a playset as big as the world?

Asking more questions back is often a good idea if they are the more "philosophical" type questions. Or if it's something obscure and factual, say "I don't know; shall we see if we can find out?" and try looking the answer up online (Google, or just start a MN thread posing the question).

Original poster
fernie3 · 11/01/2010 12:37

MattSmithIsNotMyLoveSlave those are great questions, I will try and remember to ask questions about her questions!. Maybe I am worrying too much about her not reading and writing and not enough about what she knows if you see what I mean, I have been a little annoyed by her not doing the lines of letters I have seen the other children with (you know where they repeat the letter over and over on the line) or not writing her name clearly. I suppose these things will come if her mind is elsewhere on other questions then writing must seem pointless to her!

OP posts:
claig · 11/01/2010 12:49

fernie3, these are the classic "why is the sky blue?" questions
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1241542/Why-sky-blue-And-questions-baffle-parents.html
asked by clever inquisitive children.
It seems the teacher can't see the positive side of them, as she didn't seem to have a good word to say about it at parents' evening

thegrammerpolicesic · 11/01/2010 12:53

What a cool question. I would be disappointed by the teacher's reaction. Of course she has 30 children to deal with but it is really sad if she stifles your dd's curiosity as others have said.

My ds also asks questions he knows the answer to a lot too. I don't know why he does it. So he's asked me "what's my first memory?" every day this week I'd say. I think maybe he likes hearing me say the answers/ the stories.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page