5 pages a day reading limit???

[KatieKat188]

Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster.

Very sorry for the long rant and if anyone reads this whole thing, thank you so much in advance!

My daughter is 5 yo, in Year 1, and attends a small private school near us. For the most part, we have been overall very happy with her experience so far, and have been pleased with her reading and writing.

However, all of last year, her teacher kept sending home reading books which were too easy for her, and I spoke to her several times about this, and eventually she started giving her books that were slightly more on her level.

This year she has a new teacher who assessed her reading level at the start of term a few weeks ago and I was instantly a lot happier with the reading level of books coming home, and she was on the Level 4 Biff, Chip and Kipper books.

However, last week, even though her book was a Level 4, it was a bit on the easier side again, and I wrote in her reading diary 'read whole book' - it was about 20 pages with 1 short sentence per page. They swapped the book out and the next one was equally easy for her, including going over the reading comprehension questions, so again I wrote 'read whole book.'

The next day I was met with a note in her reading diary saying 'please only read 1 - 5 pages per day.' I asked my daughter about this and she said her teacher told her that she should only read 5 pages per day in her book.

This bothered me all of Sunday and I e-mailed her teacher this morning to ask what this was about and why school would ever tell a child to limit their reading, and the response I got was that this is school policy, because they often find that children rush to get to the end of the book because they want to swap it or move up a level and haven't actually mastered the comprehension of it. She then recommended that dd is free to choose a second book from the school library and read that after doing 5 pages of her reading book if she wants.

When I tell you I've been shaking with anger and seriously considering withdrawing her from there for the next term...

Is it just me or does this seem completely counterintuitive??? Only read 5 pages of one book because it's school policy but then read as much as you want of another one.

I would understand if it was a case where they are reading the book together as a class or something and don't want anyone reading ahead, but that's not what it is. The kids each choose their own reading book and swap it when they want to.

My husband works at the school as well and spoke to the Head of Primary who said, don't worry, of course you can read more with her if you want to.

But that's not the point... she was told by her teacher... at this young age where she is only starting to really form her opinions about school and reading independently... that she shouldn't be reading more than 5 pages a day.

So she now feels like she is doing something against her teacher's wishes if she wants to read more.

I have honestly never heard of something so insane. I am all for testing reading comprehension. You want them to write a few sentences about the story before swapping it? Great. You want them to tell the teacher about the story before swapping it? Also great. You want them to answer questions about the story? Great. Test their reading comprehension before swapping or moving up.

But in what insane world is it ok to tell a child they SHOULD NOT be reading more than 5 pages?

sigh

Ok, so honestly, these replies have probably been the least helpful thing ever for the most part, and for those of you who have understood, thank you.

The issue isn't about the fact that of course I can read more with her at home and go to the library. She does have a big selection of reading books and we often get new ones for her at home.

The issue is that her teacher TOLD her she SHOULD ONLY read 5 pages per day - without any additional explanation of saying you can read more if you want. And that it is nothing to do with her reading comprehension, which is good, but more the fact that this is a blanket school policy for everyone!!

She now feels like she is doing something bad by reading more, even though she wants to.

Yes, if this was a state school issue, it would be a roll my eyes and get over it kind of thing, although I have spoken to friends with kids in state, all of whom are encouraged to read as much as possible, but not when I am paying for her to be in the best possible learning environment, where, I'm sorry, but something like a love of reading, should be encouraged, and certainly not discouraged, which is what happened here.

We paid for school.. Biff, Chip and Kipper books are good, tried and tested + appropriate for that stage of learning. DD started out on them and was reading at a 16yo+ level at the age of 8 so they can’t be too bad! Personally I had no issues with them being used and I would even suggest that parents who do have a bit too much too on their hands.. 4 year olds need the basics, not Shakespeare for goodness sake.

Was it this book?

Because they don't want to change your child's book more than once a week.

Have a library at home. Take your child to the local library. Buy them books.
Nurture reading of other books.

Ah well, send her somewhere else then. That'll stop you shaking 😊

Should read as ‘time on their hands’ - bloody autocorrect!!

Not that it's any of anyone's business, but after a small staff discount, we do still pay a hell of a lot to send our daughter to this school, genuinely thinking it is the best environment for her, but I never would have expected that she be told she should limit her reading.

Of course the issue isn't about not being able to go to the library, etc, and encourage it at home.

The issue is that it sends a mixed message to her - why does school say she should only limit it to 5 pages, when it's encouraged at home?

This is confusing to her because we limit her iPad time by telling her that it's not good for her, so by having her reading amount limited, she is getting the message that reading is also not good. I never would have expected this from any school, let alone a fee-paying private school.

Thank you. She likes the books as well and enjoys reading them to the end, so it has blown my mind that she has been told she shouldn't read more than 5 pages of them!

They are not books that they are reading together as a class, so that is not the issue.

And if it is a matter of they don't have time to change out books more than once a week, that's still fine, I don't have an issue with her only changing books once a week.

I have an issue with her being TOLD that she SHOULD NOT read more than 5 pages per day, making her feel she is doing something wrong by wanting to read more!

It’s quite clear. Her homework is to read 5 pages per day. That’s all. Maybe a lesson in following instructions and context is needed. What are you going to do when things turn into ‘do exercise xyz from your textbook’ for homework? Get upset as they’re not allowing her to finish the entire thing in one night?!

If this is all you’re getting worked up over OP then the years ahead are going to be awfully hard.

Well I agree that this is weird. In year 1, many kids read at a higher level and devour more complex books. Maybe the school don't have enough books to go round?

Shaking with anger is over the top though, if your really are shaking with anger you have bigger problems than Biff, Chip and Kipper books. Seriously.

Explain to your dd that those books are for a reason and you can get her books from amazon or the library to support her reading.

It is very odd though and doesn't reflect well on the school.

I'll add that dc had read the first four Harry Potter books by the end of year 2. all my dc disliked Biff, Chip and Kipper, so very boring.

Edited because evidently my own comprehension is lacking 😂

My son read Lord of the Rings by Christmas of year 1 and wrote a 25 page book review of it.

Teacher didn't even give him a dojo, I was raging.

Yes, we always go over the questions and talk about the story, and her reading comprehension is good.

The problem is that it isn't an individual situation based on her reading comprehension or anything like that. It is a blanket school policy that they should not read more than 5 pages per day. And that her teacher told her this, making her feel like reading "too much" isn't good for her, equating it to how we limit screen time at home.

but after a small staff discount

That sounds like a bad deal. We get 50% off! Kids still don’t attend the school because there’s the small matter of the other 50%, but still…

That’s a strange policy. Although I’m surprised this wasn’t mentioned at any point before she joined. Has your DH heard of this or was it mentioned in the induction etc.?

"Dear teacher,
Thanks for your reply. DD has taken your response very literally and believes she should only read 5 pages in total every evening; would you mind clarifying to her that you mean of the school books and she can read as much of her own choice as she likes? Thanks so much!"

I wouldn't worry about her making the association with screen time. We don't let our kids eat too much sugar, but they don't tend to think it applies to broccoli too do they?
I'd not give it too much thought, keep filling in the diary and get her plenty of other books to read at home.

Nope! That is another crazy thing!

The school teaches EYFS all the way through Sixth Form, and DH is a secondary school teacher so isn't familiar with the primary school policies.

We read all the documents given to us at the start and this isn't mentioned in any of them, but apparently "is a school policy."

I have spoken to a parent of her friend in Year 2 who said "oh yes, last year we were limited to 2 pages, but then they increased it to 5 pages. Can't believe you've not been told about it!"

😂

Must say I agree with this

My rage is about the fact that dd was told she shouldn't read more than 5 pages. Not "doesn't have to", not "but you can read more if you want," but specifically told she shouldn't. She even said "but I told the teacher I wanted to, and she said I shouldn't!"

What school in their right mind discourages a child from reading???

I loved the Biff, Chip and Kipper books haha
I also had the same problem and it almost put my DS off reading. It's natural that a child wants to get to the end of the story to find out what happens.
A different primary school did this with my DD too and in the end she gave up and lost her love of reading.
I understand your frustration OP.

I think part of your challenge here is taking what a 5 year old says happened as gospel. Is it possible that, being only 5 years old, she slightly misunderstood or misinterpreted what the teacher said to her? Or didn't take some context into consideration?

unhelpful?= becuse you absolutely point blank refuse the possibility rhey 5pages is relevant to learning. thnat goes beyond reding ability?
buy a notebook and creat a "home reading" journal which you share with techer or not.
You have her at a fee paying school-not a one to one private teacher so -suck up that blanket policy is not tailored for your misconceptions.
Frankly -your the adult.perhaps try supporting fee paying school and flutter your eyelash extensions in sted oof resorting to schemie type n eyerolling..Teach your child that they adhere to what teacher asks of them and reiterate /ask teacher to inform-free reading is fine.
and rewrite the ipad narrative so she knows it is actually good for her.
before you put her off that cos its pretty much incorporated as learning.

You’re “shaking with anger”
and it’s also “blown my mind” re; the reading of Biff, Chip, and Kipper? Wait until Floppy and Gran come in, you’ll “go nuclear!” 🍪