can't seem to get through to ds's teacher!(long rant sorry!)

[4ever21]

Don't understand how to get through her at all. she's always on the defensive and really makes an effort to make you feel like a silly parent.

for some reason, my ds was taken a little lower than his reading level at reception, she offered a very brief explanation about how she's making him read a variety of books at one level instead of just moving him up the levels which is a sensible idea, but it's getting really ridiculous now cos the books he gets are way too easy, he usually reads them in the car on the way home. my son is a typical almost 6 year old who wants to watch tv and play all day, but lately he started saying the books are too easy and is very excited to get books from the library.

he recently started getting some reading books he really enjoys and he makes me listen to him read them like 4 times over.on friday, i asked if he could have 2 of those books which she gave him, and he read them in 15munites maximum.he then asked if he could get 2 books again today, i wrote this in his reading record very politely. she then wrote 'one is enough, he has maths homework and spellings to learn'.

btw he already knows the words anyway and the maths homework is really a joke! i thought any teacher would be happy if her pupil wanted extra work, she listens to him read so she should know he finds tyhe books easy, i don't have to correct him or help him sound out any words. what exactly is going through her head.

i could carry on geting library books and doing stuff with him at home that challenges him, but then i thought that's why he's at school, i might as well be homeschooling!

[Jujubean77]

When you ask him about the books is he understanding them or is it just word recognition? If he has a full comprehension of the story she needs to move him up to the next level. Simple as.

[4ever21]

he has full comprehension, he retells the stories, sometimes makes up alternate endings. he reads them on his own sometimes and just tells me the story. she has actually written in his book at the start of the term that he understands what he's reading and answered questions about it correctly. i just dont know what is going on and i really shy away from speaking to teachers for fear of being misread as being pushy.

[Jujubean77]

Oh crikey you have to speak to her. This sounds bizarre tbh...is she v unapproachable?

[hotpotato11]

I am always a bit bemused by posts like this.Reading scheme books are not the only books in the world.Just ditch the school books and read something else

[islandofsodor]

My son reads his school reading books in 5 minutes in the car on the way home (yr 3 ORT Level 5 but I would not say they are too easy. I think they are pitched at about the right level. It is more than just words.

I am against homework in primary at all so I should just be grateful he gets through it so quickly.

[TheFallenMadonna]

I'm not sure a book that takes longer than 15 minutes to read are really suitable for a year 1. Are they?

[4ever21]

thanks everyone for your replies,

hotpotato, it's really not about the reading schemes, i'd rather he didn't bring home anything and we just stick to the library books we get already anyway. If he was happy reading whatever he got from school, then I wouldnt be bothered, but he's bored with it and only reads it so he doesn't get told off the following day.

My ds is a very inquisitive boy, he enjoys reading, HE actually reminds me when to change his library books. I have never and would never force him to read or anything like that, but if he wants to read, i don't stop him. after i tuck him in bed and read to him, most times he reads a book and I sometimes have to go and ask him to go to bed.

ps, i don't want to sound like my ds is all that, i've never written about this in MN, but he enjoys reading as much as he enjoys playing his computer games and watching his superhero cartoons.

I've always supported his learning, but like i said earlier, i'm just his mum not his teacher and i'm tired of doing her job. I'm meant to look after him and educate him about character and life, she's meant to teach him maths and english and whatever else they do in school, that's hwta she'spaid for isn't it?i don't understand why i have take on her responsibility as well.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Hang on a minute. He's bringing home a book that you think is too easy. That doesn't mean she isn't teaching him anything in school

[4ever21]

I know she must be teaching him something at school,I probably sounded a bit.... cause I'm just fed up of teachers brushing parents aside, he is my child at the end of the day and I have a right to know what is going on with him, a lot of parents complain about her as well, one parent wanted to know how her dd was doing and all, and was told to wait till parents evening.

yes, some parents are pushy, do you blame them. we all want the best for our kids and some of us may not know how to express that without going overboard.

the fact that he's bringing home easy books probably means she doesn't know him or his ability at all if she thinks that's the level he's at, so obviously that's the level he's being taught at school.

I want my son to have a fair chance in life, be the best he can, whether he chooses to be a drummer, a scientist or a plumber. He needs to realize life is not a bed of roses, life is full of challenges, and he needs to start learning that now. bringing home a book re reads in 5minutes (yes even though he's 6) is telling him 'hey, you don't have to put in so much effort to get things done' where's the sense of accomplishment for doing what he initially thought he couldn't.

For me, it goes past reading scheme or colour codes, or being labelled as G&T,it's about letting him know you need to work hard for what you want and taking pride in what you get by putting in a little bit more extra effort,not being served all the time on a platter of gold.

[colditz]

Take in a book he has recently enjopyed, and tell her that your son enjoys THIS sort of book.

Ds1's teacher is lovely but has so much going on in her head that you have to tell her things several times.

[seeker]

and remember he's only 6!

[cory]

On the one hand you probably have a point and she should be giving him harder books.

On the other hand it sounds a little exaggerated to say that he will not develop a sense of accomplishment if his reading books are too easy at age 6. Why can't he read the reading book in the car and then read something you set him from the library when he gets home?

I hadn't even started school when I was 6 (grew up abroad) and I'm not a plumber. I worked hard reading in my own time - and playing!- and developed enough confidence to pursue an academic career in another country.

But in my culture it was thought that playing when you are still little was just as important as hard work- in fact, it is hard work. And a good place to develop the qualities that lead to success later in life.

[FernieB]

I wouldn't worry about it. Mine are now being given very easy reading books on a lower level than they were on last year because the school now has new books at this level and so is making all the kids go back and read them (makes no sense to me!) However, my DD's are quite happy cos they don't really like the school reading books and these are shorter and take 10 minutes to read, so then they can read something they really enjoy.

[4ever21]

thanks everyone for your contributions. i guess after waking up this morning, i'm not so upset anymore

i just wish the teacher could communicate more with me, then at least i know what she's doing is helping him and not just that she can't be bothered.

she gets defensive if anyone asks her and she gives the impression she doesn't owe us any explanation.

i generally try not to bother teachers, all i did was ask for an extra book because it's on a topic he really likes and he wanted it. was i wrong to ask?

the school says they want to foster a parent-teacher relationship, i don't see how this is helping at all. even if she felt i went beyond my boundary to ask for an extra book, she as an experienced teacher should be tactful enough to say it in such a way to make it seem like we're on the same side here not just writing 'one is enough'.

like you all advised, i'll do what i've been doing all the while, encourage him to read what he gets and carry on with other books and stuff.

[Millenniumbug]

I get so sad when parents jump on to the kick a teacher bandwagon. If your DS is having his reading book changed regularly, twice a week, then all is well. If your DS is having regular spellings and maths homework, (what about a maths game - I know a lot of us like photocopied worksheets, why??)then I would say your DS's teacher is doing a damned good job. Would it be good if your DS's teacher sent home books and homework that he struggled with, or books/homework that he felt confident with and could consolidate through practise at home? I'm glad that you're not so upset anymore. What a pity that you had to go online and attack a teacher to feel that way!
Come on Mums - teachers are better trained today than they have ever been. What about some support for their professionalism and hard work. It is too easy to join in and kick from the sidelines. I'm sure that if we put in as much energy to supporting them as we do to pulling them apart, our schools would be a better place. If you feel so strongly, why don't you apply to be a parent governor and see what really goes on???