I have upset DD1's teacher with my comments on her reading matter!

[SourOldBat]

DD1 is in Yr 2 and is top of her year for reading. Teacher has said that she races through her books too quickly and she needs to slow down. Fair enough, but she can always tell you what she has read. She races through because they bore her - they are just too easy, and she is really reluctant to read them. She reads widely at home (Roald Dahl, Finn Family Moomintroll, the Diddakoi are some that she has read recently) and she is really bored with these trite little stories about lost cats that she brings home.

I wrote in her reading diary that we were both bored with these books and gave examples of what she read at home and got a really snotty note saying that the teacher was "glad she had the luxury of reading widely at home, but while she was at school DD1 would read the "appropriate level book for her." I realise that I am probably the teacher's worst nightmare, but this teacher is v v keen on group reading and I feel DD1 is being kept back so that she can group read with some others. She's on ORT levels 13-14.

[tillykins]

Gosh, how unhelpful was she?
I was an advanced reader (all that early promise, where did it go?!) and my primary school got me books from the local library
Sounds like your DD's school couldn't be more different!
I should raise it again and ask what the benefit is, to keeping her on age appropriate books, when they are clearly not stretching her, and what the possible risks are for stretching her
she can still group read - i don't see that reading more advanced books excludes her from reading with the group as well

[Yorkiegirl]

Message withdrawn

[hunkermunker]

Sounds like she's not at the appropriate level for her, so she's shot herself in the foot, really.

[ScummyMummy]

Personally, though I would be v peeved at this too, I would let school do their own thing and encourage her to read what she wants at home. I expect you'll get lots of advice about raising it with the teacher but I reckon you're on a hiding to nothing and she'll just think you're being pushy and refuse to change anything.

[geekgrrl]

souroldbat - SNAP!
My dd was 'downgraded' considerably for reading too fast last week. - She's also in YR2, is a very enthusiastic, fast reader and reads stuff like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Narnia etc at home and now has been put back on ORT level 7 - what a joke.
I wrote a note about it in her reading record book, but the teacher ignored it (I know she read it, dd told me).
I don't want to go in and make a fuss - will just have to ensure dd has appropriate books at home.

[frogs]

Bat, is it ORT level 13-14 books she's bringing home? That may be the best you can hope for, tbh. It is entirely likely and possible that your dd1 is being held back to make the teacher's life easier. As a veteran of these scenarios (my ds in Y2 is reading Harry Potter, dd1 in Y6 who was reading proper books by the time she turned 5) you have several options:

1. Get the teacher onside. Some teachers maybe easier than others. In my ds's case I've just achieved that bigtime by organising a box of 'proper' books for the many fluent readers in his class so they can stretch themselves instead of being fobbed off with 'Joanna and the bean bag bunny" (I kid you not). Teacher now loves me to bits and ds and his chums are happy too. In our school offering to go in and change books is a fast track to making the teacher want to kiss your kneecaps, so might be worth a try if resources are the issue.
   
   
2. Some teachers may not be amenable to this because it suits them to keep brighter kids back, or because they have some kind of inverted snobbery about bright kids/middle class kids/children whose parents are perceived as 'pushy' (not saying you are, but that's the reaction you can get). In which case you can take the matter further, by contacting the literacy co-ordinatory/deputy head/headteacher, whoever is likely to be the most sympathetic. It may require a Big Fuss, and may have consequences for your future relationships with the school.
   
   
3. You can ignore the school reading books and do your own thing at home. Clearly this has the disadvantage of showing your child that you do not fully support what the school is doing, but if you have a bright child in a state school that is not sympathetic to her needs, it won't take her long to work it out anyway. And that way at least you are showing that you're on her side. As a side-effect they do also learn that they and they alone are responsible for their own achievement, which is probably quite a handy lesson for life.
   
   There's no one right answer it depends on the teacher, the amount of classroom support she has, financial and book resources and a whole bunch of snobbery/politics/prejudice. If you trawl through old threads you'll see that you are by no means alone in this dilemma Marthamoo had a recent thread called something like, "Another rant about school, sorry it's long, blah blah". Won't make you feel any better, but at least you know there are lots of fellow travellers.

[SourOldBat]

Yes, frogs it is ORT. It is private school, but her class has v mixed ability. They have been saying for a year now that they want the G & T woman to assess her, but that's come to nothing.

Oh - and she IS the literacy co-ordinator!!

[frogs]

In a private school this is seriously not okay. Not that it's okay in a state school either but at least they have the excuse of lack of funding, and at some level we middle-class state school parents know that our over-achieving kids are not going to be the school's top priority.

But what is the point of private school fees if not for a staffing and resourcing level that enables them to meet each child's individual needs?! I am seriously considering putting dd2 into private school at junior level because of the problems we've had with the others. So in your scenario I would be spitting tacks. Some arse-kicking in order, I think.

[GeorginaA]

Sour: I empathise completely. When I was 10 my parents moved house and I started at a new school. I was made to go back onto reading scheme books (my previous school had been fairly amenable and allowed free reading for children who had outgrown the set readers) and I was BORED TO TEARS. Rather than rush through them I was on the same reading book for weeks at a time, because I just couldn't be arsed to read them, whereas at home I was storming through my father's collection of Alistair MacLeans and Ian Flemmings as well as taking home 8 library books every week.

I don't remember any particular outcome, I doubt my mother would have sorted it with the school as she would have deferred to the teacher, but I do remember her being very pushy with the local library to up my book limit so she only had to take me once a week!

I'd make sure she was getting lots of library trips in, tbh, and encourage her reading in as many other ways you can think of if her teacher isn't going to be supportive.

[Kathlean]

Wow this is appauling (spelling?). What are you paying this school for?

DS is 4.5 and in reception since Sept. We have just had his parents evening to be told he is reading past year 1 level and that they will give him the appropriate key stage words and books for his level.

His teacher was very keen to say that she would work him at his level not the general class level.

I think this teacher is just trying to keep her own job easy and not looking longer term.

[Nightynight]

um - its not acceptable in a state school either (for which you are still paying) but in a private school you should realistically have more chance of making your point.
I doubt they would want to be named and shamed on mumsnet for example! (not suggesting you shd do that just yet btw)

[MarsLady]

Talk to the teacher and the literacy coordinator or whatever they are called. If you get no joy go to the Head.

Had to do that for DS1. He taught himself to read at 3 and his reception teacher wasn't happy. When I complained that perhaps he ought to be reading other stuff and that he was bored she replied "Well he doesn't get the concept of Biff and Chip and his handwriting is appalling!"

Told me all I needed to know about her and I went off to see the incredibly helpful Head who looked at his Maths and English etc and put him on a reading scheme that allowed him to read age appropriately without boredom. He was even stretched.

Can't abide that attitude (the teacher's), and I'm a real teacher supporter so I don't say that lightly.

[miggy]

The thing I have found with school reading schemes is the dogged determination that they need to go through every book in the box for that particular level before they can move up. Given that you have one book a night, there is a limit on how quickly one can progress (not talking about pushing, just to get to stage of being comfortable with grammer and subject matter).
Have reached compromise (ie dd ground teacher down!) in that she gets level book every night (which she reads in car on way home) plus a free choice book (something like sheltie) to read over a few nights. Would that work for you?

[gigglinggoblin]

love the name souroldbat

ds is on the g&t list (i lol every time i say that - sad old alcoholic that i am), he hates the school reading books and so do i. i mentioned this to his teacher and she said she would move him up but the books we are getting now are equally as dull. so i said that if it looks like we never read at home, thats just becasue we dont read the school books. he reads for at least half an hour a night and there is no way i am going to force him to read rubbish which is way below his level. so she knows, but carries on sending the books, and i carry on ignoring them. everyones happy

[frogs]

You have one book a night, miggy? Our standard issue was one a week, sometimes only changed every other week.

[Ellbell]

I've found the same thing as Miggy, although my dd is only on ORT Level 3 (... am already bracing myself for a long haul ahead!) and, I think, fairly average for her age and class (Year 1, younger end of the age range). There are so many books at each level and they were only changed about once a week in Reception (though it's three times a week in Year 1) so it took ages to feel as if any real progress was being made. When she moved from Level 2 to Level 3 there was a real change in her attitude - suddenly she started enjoying reading. Now I'm worried that it'll take her so long to get through Level 3 that she'll lose that enthusiasm again. However, I shouldn't moan too much because I've noticed that in the last couple of weeks her books have been changed for her even on the non-book-changing days, so obviously someone is noticing that she can read them without too much difficulty. Anyway, SourOldBat, I think that (as others have said) you either have to go in and have it out with the teacher or the Head, or else just ignore what the teacher sends home and encourage your dd to find more stimulating things to read. Good luck.

[vickiyumyum]

gigglinggobblin - we do exactly the same thing, we have a quick look at ds1 reading book and they are far too easy and he can read them in ten minutes, so i went to see the teacher who said about his appaling handwriting and that although he may be more than bright at reading maths, science, his physical abilities (hopeless at games like catch) and his handwriting were way below par so until he had caught up in other areas she would not give him books fromt eh year 6 cupboard! to which i replied i would provide my own books for him and he would read for at least half and hour each night (usually more than that at least an hour, his choice not ours) but books of his choosing rather than as prescribed by the teacher.

surely it is better for a child to read a non approved book, such as roald dahl and many of the other great authors for children, that the child enjoys reading than to force them to read a book wherby they are just going through the motions and not actually 'reading' it. ds1 also likes to read lots of factual books, and has got a number of books out of the library that are relevant to the curriculum, e.g vikings, romans, egyptians and has been praised for his factual knowledge.

oh and if you are paying for the privilige of this school i would def expect a more satisfactory answer than that.

[aloha]

Vickiyumyum - that's appalling! I'm horrified. What a ridiculous and even vindictive-sounding way to behave!

[edam]

That's a really snide comment about 'the luxury of reading widely at home'. WTF? How dare you allow your child to read at home, you bad parent you, don't you realise you are disrupting the school's carefully planned scheme to bore the children to tears and turn them off reading for ever!

Your dd1 clearly isn't 'reading the appropriate level book for her' at school, she's being made to read stuff way below her level. How bizarre is that?

And this tedious rubbish isn't just what she reads at school, it's what school is expecting her to spend time on at home too. Fine, if this woman is making a point of keeping back advanced readers (well, not fine, but YKWIM), but why the hell should she expect you to force dd to read boring stuff way below her ability at home too?

She sounds like she's got a real chip on her shoulder about advanced readers. Would be worth trying to find out if she's taken against your dd for some reason - hopefully not but teachers are only human so some of them will be sour old bags, just like in any other walk of life. Or maybe she's just damn lazy and can't be bothered to deal with kids of different abilities. Just wants to teach to the average level with no trouble catering for those who are more or less skilled.

(I'm coming to this with memories of being forced to read tedious reading scheme books way below my reading level so am hugely prejudiced. I HATED the reading scheme.)

[Ellbell]

Vickiyuyum, that's terrible. How will reading books that are too easy help to improve handwriting (not to mention the ability to catch, ffs). I am, and always was, physically rubbish (can't catch, can't run, can't jump...) and also found writing hard. I never did learn to do 'joined-up' writing... still don't, apart from a few letters. But would have been horrified if I had been prevented from reading because of this... Good luck to you and your ds.

[laligo]

why are people with that attitude even allowed to be teachers???
after a few more years of mumsnet i can see that i'll be ready to homeschool before ds even sets foot inside a school!

[Shimmers]

Don't know whether the school your daughter goes to is private or state but with the Literacy strategy, there is no time for the teacher to read 1-1 with the kids and the emphasis is for group and guided reading which is a real shame- that's why I opted to work in the private sector as we are able to use a number of strategies. When I was a year 1 and two teacher, I used to hear every child read on a 1-1 and have group reading. The overloaded national curriculum is failing our children.

[cod]

Message withdrawn

[paolosgirl]

I'm going to rock the boat a wee bit here. I'm not suggesting the teacher was right for a minute, and of course she should be encouraging your child to read - but a)could the tone of the letter maybe have been a bit condescending ie "we're bored" with the work you've given and b)is she understanding the books she's reading at home, and by that I mean is she actually understanding the concepts, the meaning of the vocab, can she understand the sentence structure and so on, and not just reading the words?

I also think it might be worthwhile going to see the teacher (and head if nec) and see what you can all come up with in a way that benefits all. Before I'm shot down in flames, it's not a criticism, honestly!