Children to read by age 6

[Mogga]

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2212809,00.html
David Cameron will put his party on a collision course with the
teaching profession this week when he announces that virtually every
child in the country will be expected to read by the age of six under
a Conservative government.


Is this really contraversial? Should children be expected to read
before moving on in school? If children had to meet reading standards
before going up to another class then it'd be more incentive for
parents, kids and teachers!
Reading is such an essential skill - and unlocks so much more - that
it should be seen as really important.

[Amy]

Post by Mogga
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2212809,00.html
David Cameron will put his party on a collision course with the
teaching profession this week when he announces that virtually every
child in the country will be expected to read by the age of six under
a Conservative government.
Is this really contraversial? Should children be expected to read
before moving on in school? If children had to meet reading standards
before going up to another class then it'd be more incentive for
parents, kids and teachers!
Reading is such an essential skill - and unlocks so much more - that
it should be seen as really important.

I think he is missing the point a bit. The teachers only have a certain
amount of time to devote to reading. I have noticed in our area, and in the
schools my children have attended in particular, that reading ability is as
a general rule directly attributable to the child's experience at home. If
the parents are reading to the child regularly, providing a stimulating
environment and encouraging their child in their phonics and reading, then
the child will learn to read much more quickly. At the end of the day,
children spend much more time at home than at school.

Amy

[Anonymous]

Post by Amy

Post by Mogga
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2212809,00.html
David Cameron will put his party on a collision course with the
teaching profession this week when he announces that virtually every
child in the country will be expected to read by the age of six under
a Conservative government.
Is this really contraversial? Should children be expected to read
before moving on in school? If children had to meet reading standards
before going up to another class then it'd be more incentive for
parents, kids and teachers!
Reading is such an essential skill - and unlocks so much more - that
it should be seen as really important.

I think he is missing the point a bit. The teachers only have a certain
amount of time to devote to reading. I have noticed in our area, and in the
schools my children have attended in particular, that reading ability is as
a general rule directly attributable to the child's experience at home. If
the parents are reading to the child regularly, providing a stimulating
environment and encouraging their child in their phonics and reading, then
the child will learn to read much more quickly. At the end of the day,
children spend much more time at home than at school.

Absolutely right. But our society thinks all people have a "right" to
have and bring up children, regardless of their own literacy or
qualifications.

[Mogga]

On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:59:01 +0000 (GMT), Anonymous

Post by Anonymous

Post by Amy
I think he is missing the point a bit. The teachers only have a certain
amount of time to devote to reading. I have noticed in our area, and in the
schools my children have attended in particular, that reading ability is as
a general rule directly attributable to the child's experience at home. If
the parents are reading to the child regularly, providing a stimulating
environment and encouraging their child in their phonics and reading, then
the child will learn to read much more quickly. At the end of the day,
children spend much more time at home than at school.

Absolutely right. But our society thinks all people have a "right" to
have and bring up children, regardless of their own literacy or
qualifications.

So do you believe in licencing having children? Compulsory
sterilisation for all until proved fit to be a parent?

[Anonymous]

Post by Mogga
On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:59:01 +0000 (GMT), Anonymous

Post by Anonymous

Post by Amy
I think he is missing the point a bit. The teachers only have a certain
amount of time to devote to reading. I have noticed in our area, and in the
schools my children have attended in particular, that reading ability is as
a general rule directly attributable to the child's experience at home. If
the parents are reading to the child regularly, providing a stimulating
environment and encouraging their child in their phonics and reading, then
the child will learn to read much more quickly. At the end of the day,
children spend much more time at home than at school.

Absolutely right. But our society thinks all people have a "right" to
have and bring up children, regardless of their own literacy or
qualifications.

So do you believe in licencing having children? Compulsory
sterilisation for all until proved fit to be a parent?

Parents who don't encourage their kids to read
should bear the blame for the problem. Not the
teachers who have to try to undo the damage that
bad parents have done.

[Henry]

Post by Anonymous

Post by Mogga
On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:59:01 +0000 (GMT), Anonymous

Post by Anonymous

Post by Amy
I think he is missing the point a bit. The teachers only have a certain
amount of time to devote to reading. I have noticed in our area, and in the
schools my children have attended in particular, that reading ability is as
a general rule directly attributable to the child's experience at home. If
the parents are reading to the child regularly, providing a stimulating
environment and encouraging their child in their phonics and reading, then
the child will learn to read much more quickly. At the end of the day,
children spend much more time at home than at school.

Absolutely right. But our society thinks all people have a "right" to
have and bring up children, regardless of their own literacy or
qualifications.

So do you believe in licencing having children? Compulsory
sterilisation for all until proved fit to be a parent?

Parents who don't encourage their kids to read
should bear the blame for the problem. Not the
teachers who have to try to undo the damage that
bad parents have done.

What problem? I know a family where the father instructed the teachers
not to teach his son to read at age 5. He later visited the school and
heard his son reading - from another child's book, upside down; the
teachers apologised saying that short of excluding the boy from the
classroom there was little they could do. The boy is now 25+ and reads
for pleasure in several languages.

[Penny Gaines]

Post by Mogga
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2212809,00.html
David Cameron will put his party on a collision course with the
teaching profession this week when he announces that virtually every
child in the country will be expected to read by the age of six under
a Conservative government.
Is this really contraversial? Should children be expected to read
before moving on in school? If children had to meet reading standards
before going up to another class then it'd be more incentive for
parents, kids and teachers!
Reading is such an essential skill - and unlocks so much more - that
it should be seen as really important.

The problem I had with the announement was that he was also talking
about testing "after a child had been at school for two years".

One of my children was born in August, so she started school when she
was only just four. She was still only five at the end of her second
year at school.

However, it was extremely noticeable with her that when she was ready to
read it all clicked into place very rapidly: she went from sounding
out words (using synthetic phonics ;-) ) to reading chapter books in the
space of a single term. Now her reading level is at least two years
above her chronological age, and she reads a lot for pleasure.

However if she had been under a lot of pressure to be reading any
sooner, she would probably have been put completely off reading: this
has happened to children I know, after their parents who pushed them to
read before they were ready. And boys are supposedly behind girls when
it comes to these early reading skills.

I'm not saying no child should be pushed to read, but at this early age
(and my experience is based on having summer born babies), is just
too young.

[Sarah Vaughan]

Post by Mogga
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2212809,00.html
David Cameron will put his party on a collision course with the
teaching profession this week when he announces that virtually every
child in the country will be expected to read by the age of six under
a Conservative government.
Is this really contraversial? Should children be expected to read
before moving on in school? If children had to meet reading standards
before going up to another class then it'd be more incentive for
parents, kids and teachers!

Yes, but incentive for them to do what? Sounds like it would be an
incentive for the parents and teachers to spend time pushing kids into
reading regardless of whether or not they're ready, at the risk of a)
putting them right off reading by pushing them too far too fast, and b)
taking time away from other things that are also important.

Different children do progress at different rates. I'm sure there must
be children out there who are perfectly intelligent and will learn to
read if things are taken at a pace that suits them, but who won't be
reading by six. What if they have some specific disability such as
dyslexia? Holding a child back a year is horribly stigmatising. It
could make children targets for bullying, it could leave them convinced
they're too stupid to bother to try.

Post by Mogga
Reading is such an essential skill - and unlocks so much more - that
it should be seen as really important.

What makes anyone think it isn't? My experience in another profession
is that governmental attempts to micromanage professions from above can
do more harm than good. I really doubt if the problem here is that
teachers don't see reading as important or aren't, in general, prepared
to try. I'd be interested to hear from any teachers as to what they
think the problems are with getting children to read, and how these
problems would be best dealt with. Something's telling me that lack of
sufficient threats is probably not the problem.


All the best,

Sarah

[Mogga]

On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:31:36 +0000, Sarah Vaughan

Post by Sarah Vaughan

Post by Mogga
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2212809,00.html
David Cameron will put his party on a collision course with the
teaching profession this week when he announces that virtually every
child in the country will be expected to read by the age of six under
a Conservative government.
Is this really contraversial? Should children be expected to read
before moving on in school? If children had to meet reading standards
before going up to another class then it'd be more incentive for
parents, kids and teachers!

Yes, but incentive for them to do what? Sounds like it would be an
incentive for the parents and teachers to spend time pushing kids into
reading regardless of whether or not they're ready, at the risk of a)
putting them right off reading by pushing them too far too fast, and b)
taking time away from other things that are also important.
Different children do progress at different rates. I'm sure there must
be children out there who are perfectly intelligent and will learn to
read if things are taken at a pace that suits them, but who won't be
reading by six. What if they have some specific disability such as
dyslexia? Holding a child back a year is horribly stigmatising. It
could make children targets for bullying, it could leave them convinced
they're too stupid to bother to try.

I suspect this is what the current system does. If by moving all
children up at the same time means that some children don't read and
therefore can't do any of the things which require that skill then
that must also stigmatise them.

Children do progress at different rates but if you can't read by age 6
then you need special help to get them able to read.

Is 6 unreasonsable? Some leave school at 16 still unable to read
because the system doesn't catch and support them to give them the
same chances as everyone else.

Are you saying dyslexia is a reason for children not to be given extra
help learning to read ?

Post by Sarah Vaughan

Post by Mogga
Reading is such an essential skill - and unlocks so much more - that
it should be seen as really important.

What makes anyone think it isn't? My experience in another profession

Actually perhaps the answer would be intensive help during the summer
holiday - to ensure that all children start the year on a level
footing.

I don't think there are any teachers who would see reading as not
important. If there are then they shouldn't be doing the job.

Post by Sarah Vaughan
is that governmental attempts to micromanage professions from above can
do more harm than good. I really doubt if the problem here is that
teachers don't see reading as important or aren't, in general, prepared
to try. I'd be interested to hear from any teachers as to what they
think the problems are with getting children to read, and how these
problems would be best dealt with. Something's telling me that lack of
sufficient threats is probably not the problem.
All the best,
Sarah

[Sarah Vaughan]

Mogga wrote:
[...]

Post by Mogga
Are you saying dyslexia is a reason for children not to be given extra
help learning to read ?

Of course I'm not saying that. What I'm objecting to is the idea of
keeping children back a year because they can't read rather than letting
them advance with their peer group, and having one-size-fits-all
government solutions imposed from above that may not allow sufficient
scope for teachers to work out what might work best for individual
children in individual situations.


All the best,

Sarah

[Welches]

Post by Mogga
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2212809,00.html
David Cameron will put his party on a collision course with the
teaching profession this week when he announces that virtually every
child in the country will be expected to read by the age of six under
a Conservative government.
Is this really contraversial? Should children be expected to read
before moving on in school? If children had to meet reading standards
before going up to another class then it'd be more incentive for
parents, kids and teachers!
Reading is such an essential skill - and unlocks so much more - that
it should be seen as really important.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7107798.stm
Couldn't help chuckling at the timing of this!

Debbie

[mogga]

On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:24:48 GMT, "Welches"

Post by Welches

Post by Mogga
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2212809,00.html
David Cameron will put his party on a collision course with the
teaching profession this week when he announces that virtually every
child in the country will be expected to read by the age of six under
a Conservative government.
Is this really contraversial? Should children be expected to read
before moving on in school? If children had to meet reading standards
before going up to another class then it'd be more incentive for
parents, kids and teachers!
Reading is such an essential skill - and unlocks so much more - that
it should be seen as really important.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7107798.stm
Couldn't help chuckling at the timing of this!
Debbie

LOL

They have bookstart don't they for 2 year olds to be given books. For
some families that book might be the only one in the house. The argos
catalogue does not count as a book. :)

It's got to be about showing kids that reading is brilliant as well as
essential. You have to make a choice as a society though if you'll let
people leave primary school (let alone secondary) without being able
to read.
We should get all kids reading. It might take massive help from
parents - perhaps even teaching some parents to read at the same time.

[Welches]

Post by mogga
On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:24:48 GMT, "Welches"

Post by Welches

Post by Mogga
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2212809,00.html
David Cameron will put his party on a collision course with the
teaching profession this week when he announces that virtually every
child in the country will be expected to read by the age of six under
a Conservative government.
Is this really contraversial? Should children be expected to read
before moving on in school? If children had to meet reading standards
before going up to another class then it'd be more incentive for
parents, kids and teachers!
Reading is such an essential skill - and unlocks so much more - that
it should be seen as really important.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7107798.stm
Couldn't help chuckling at the timing of this!
Debbie

LOL
They have bookstart don't they for 2 year olds to be given books. For
some families that book might be the only one in the house. The argos
catalogue does not count as a book. :)

We got bookstart at 3yo for #2. i think there's a baby pack too, but I
haven't seen it.
the bookstart was very nice. It's packed in a neat little box, had a book
(which she loves), a pencil sharpener, a pack of crayons and a colouring
book. Nicely done!
Debbie

Post by mogga
It's got to be about showing kids that reading is brilliant as well as
essential. You have to make a choice as a society though if you'll let
people leave primary school (let alone secondary) without being able
to read.
We should get all kids reading. It might take massive help from
parents - perhaps even teaching some parents to read at the same time.
--
http://www.freedeliveryuk.co.uk

[Sarah Vaughan]

Post by Welches
We got bookstart at 3yo for #2. i think there's a baby pack too, but I
haven't seen it.
the bookstart was very nice. It's packed in a neat little box, had a book
(which she loves), a pencil sharpener, a pack of crayons and a colouring
book. Nicely done!
Debbie

Jamie just got his yesterday, at nursery. He was delighted with it and
insisted on lugging the bag home himself despite the fact that it was
obviously too big for him to carry comfortably (mutterings of "It's
*very* heavy" kept emerging from his level as we walked, but he was
absolutely resistant to any suggestion that perhaps I should carry it
instead). The box is made to look like a treasure chest, which he
thought was very exciting, and he was pleased to find books in it. And
I was pleased with the pencil sharpener, since mine has gone missing and
I really need one. ;-) All in all, a big success!


All the best,

Sarah

[mogga]

On Fri, 23 Nov 2007 08:56:45 +0000, Sarah Vaughan

Post by Sarah Vaughan

Post by Welches
We got bookstart at 3yo for #2. i think there's a baby pack too, but I
haven't seen it.
the bookstart was very nice. It's packed in a neat little box, had a book
(which she loves), a pencil sharpener, a pack of crayons and a colouring
book. Nicely done!
Debbie

Jamie just got his yesterday, at nursery. He was delighted with it and
insisted on lugging the bag home himself despite the fact that it was
obviously too big for him to carry comfortably (mutterings of "It's
*very* heavy" kept emerging from his level as we walked, but he was
absolutely resistant to any suggestion that perhaps I should carry it
instead). The box is made to look like a treasure chest, which he
thought was very exciting, and he was pleased to find books in it. And
I was pleased with the pencil sharpener, since mine has gone missing and
I really need one. ;-) All in all, a big success!
All the best,
Sarah

Awww bless him!
Fab stuff! I think the free books are a great idea - several of my
son's teachers have given books out as presents at the end of the
year.
I just used to love getting book tokens - must have been school prizes
- going and deciding what to buy was great fun!

[Amy]

Post by mogga
I just used to love getting book tokens - must have been school prizes
- going and deciding what to buy was great fun!
--

Whaddaya mean, "used to"? Book tokens are still my favourite present to
receive, and I'm like a little child trying to decide what to spend them on
in Waterstone's ;-)

Amy

[mogga]

Post by Amy

Post by mogga
I just used to love getting book tokens - must have been school prizes
- going and deciding what to buy was great fun!
--

Whaddaya mean, "used to"? Book tokens are still my favourite present to
receive, and I'm like a little child trying to decide what to spend them on
in Waterstone's ;-)
Amy

I now make a wishlist and tell them all about it in plenty of time...
I now go and spend my own money in the bookshops...
Maybe I should ask for a book token this year ... in fact that's an
excellent idea! :)

[Debbie Harrison]

My son had this pack last year in Nursery as part of book week. Inside there
was a counting book called Anthony Ant, along with other bits and pieces.
This year as part of book week he had to take into school his favourite
book - you guessed it - he took Anthony Ant. He chooses this one at least
twice a week.

Post by Sarah Vaughan

Post by Welches
We got bookstart at 3yo for #2. i think there's a baby pack too, but I
haven't seen it.
the bookstart was very nice. It's packed in a neat little box, had a book
(which she loves), a pencil sharpener, a pack of crayons and a colouring
book. Nicely done!
Debbie

Jamie just got his yesterday, at nursery. He was delighted with it and
insisted on lugging the bag home himself despite the fact that it was
obviously too big for him to carry comfortably (mutterings of "It's *very*
heavy" kept emerging from his level as we walked, but he was absolutely
resistant to any suggestion that perhaps I should carry it instead). The
box is made to look like a treasure chest, which he thought was very
exciting, and he was pleased to find books in it. And I was pleased with
the pencil sharpener, since mine has gone missing and I really need one.
;-) All in all, a big success!
All the best,
Sarah
--
http://www.goodenoughmummy.typepad.com
"That which can be destroyed by the truth, should be" - P. C. Hodgell