The teacher is not aware of my DD's reading level

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There is a way to answer what the author's intent in writing a book was for pretty much every story, including Clifford.

Way to make a K kid hate reading. Discussion is okay at this stage, but can't we just let them draw pictures before we make them write about the author's intent. Geez.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is a way to answer what the author's intent in writing a book was for pretty much every story, including Clifford.

Way to make a K kid hate reading. Discussion is okay at this stage, but can't we just let them draw pictures before we make them write about the author's intent. Geez.

+1

Sorry, you don't get it. First, there's no writing involved at this age. It is a simple question, "why do you think the author would write a story like this?" If you think asking a kid a higher level of thinking kind of question (versus, Curious George gets into trouble, doesn't he?) is such a burden, I feel kind of sorry for your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is a way to answer what the author's intent in writing a book was for pretty much every story, including Clifford.

Way to make a K kid hate reading. Discussion is okay at this stage, but can't we just let them draw pictures before we make them write about the author's intent. Geez.

+1

Sorry, you don't get it. First, there's no writing involved at this age. It is a simple question, "why do you think the author would write a story like this?" If you think asking a kid a higher level of thinking kind of question (versus, Curious George gets into trouble, doesn't he?) is such a burden, I feel kind of sorry for your kid.

Critical reading has its place. Reading for pleasure is more important.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, you don't get it. First, there's no writing involved at this age. It is a simple question, "why do you think the author would write a story like this?" If you think asking a kid a higher level of thinking kind of question (versus, Curious George gets into trouble, doesn't he?) is such a burden, I feel kind of sorry for your kid.

Sounds like OP thinks her child is on a reading level that would require writing responses.

[Anonymous]

Critical reading has its place. Reading for pleasure is more important.

Years ago, one of the goals of K was to make the kids like going to school. Today, we are talking about the horrors of bringing home a book on too low a reading level. People, do you hear ourselves?

[Anonymous]

Author's intent? Read some Roland Barthes, people. What the author intended doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There is a way to answer what the author's intent in writing a book was for pretty much every story, including Clifford.

Way to make a K kid hate reading. Discussion is okay at this stage, but can't we just let them draw pictures before we make them write about the author's intent. Geez.

Yeah, or sit and count how many times your kid said "uh".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is a way to answer what the author's intent in writing a book was for pretty much every story, including Clifford.

Way to make a K kid hate reading. Discussion is okay at this stage, but can't we just let them draw pictures before we make them write about the author's intent. Geez.

+1

Sorry, you don't get it. First, there's no writing involved at this age. It is a simple question, "why do you think the author would write a story like this?" If you think asking a kid a higher level of thinking kind of question (versus, Curious George gets into trouble, doesn't he?) is such a burden, I feel kind of sorry for your kid.

Critical reading has its place. Reading for pleasure is more important.

More wrong than I can out into words. Both are very important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is a way to answer what the author's intent in writing a book was for pretty much every story, including Clifford.

Way to make a K kid hate reading. Discussion is okay at this stage, but can't we just let them draw pictures before we make them write about the author's intent. Geez.

+1

Sorry, you don't get it. First, there's no writing involved at this age. It is a simple question, "why do you think the author would write a story like this?" If you think asking a kid a higher level of thinking kind of question (versus, Curious George gets into trouble, doesn't he?) is such a burden, I feel kind of sorry for your kid.

Critical reading has its place. Reading for pleasure is more important.

More wrong than I can out into words. Both are very important.

Ask a parent whose child loves to read but fails every reading comprehension test if you're right. Reading comprehension is VITAL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Critical reading has its place. Reading for pleasure is more important.

Years ago, one of the goals of K was to make the kids like going to school. Today, we are talking about the horrors of bringing home a book on too low a reading level. People, do you hear ourselves?

I don't think this is the goal of K. The goal of K is taming them and making them submissive to teachers so the teacher can manage a class. All they do at K is teach them how to line up, how to be quiet, how to follow all the endless rules.

I volunteer at school and I see very little fun there. They often get punished by skipping recess which is the only 15 minutes of fun that they have all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is a way to answer what the author's intent in writing a book was for pretty much every story, including Clifford.

Way to make a K kid hate reading. Discussion is okay at this stage, but can't we just let them draw pictures before we make them write about the author's intent. Geez.

Yeah, or sit and count how many times your kid said "uh"

My kid doesn't say "uh" when he reads. I also didn't belittle the process or importance of it. You clearly do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Critical reading has its place. Reading for pleasure is more important.

Years ago, one of the goals of K was to make the kids like going to school. Today, we are talking about the horrors of bringing home a book on too low a reading level. People, do you hear ourselves?

I don't think this is the goal of K. The goal of K is taming them and making them submissive to teachers so the teacher can manage a class. All they do at K is teach them how to line up, how to be quiet, how to follow all the endless rules.

I volunteer at school and I see very little fun there. They often get punished by skipping recess which is the only 15 minutes of fun that they have all day.

At least you don't exaggerate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had the same problem with our DD in K. She went in there reading chapter books aimed for 9-12 year olds and was beyond anything they had in the classroom. She used to sit and read stories to the other children, during "choice time" which they loved but always struck me as weird.

Our K teacher tried to get harder books from the library for her, but it was actually the librarian who was resistant and trotted out the "no chapter books for K" rule. So ultimately there was zero challenge for our child in K. She enjoyed it but it was effectively a wasted year.

I feel for the K teachers who have such a huge range to deal with but ultimately their target seems to be teaching to the middle and bringing the slower readers up to that. The advanced readers are left to their own devices.

Even the advanced readers have a peer group. You can see from the posts to this one question alone confirm that.

P.s. Wasted year? You do know kindergarten is about a lot more than reading, right?

Er yup, thanks for pointin' that one out. Idiot.

Looks like you missed learning some things yourself in kindergarten, like how to treat others...

I learned quite recently that if you patronize people, there is a chance they will take offence. what you wrote was completely patronizing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had the same problem with our DD in K. She went in there reading chapter books aimed for 9-12 year olds and was beyond anything they had in the classroom. She used to sit and read stories to the other children, during "choice time" which they loved but always struck me as weird.

Our K teacher tried to get harder books from the library for her, but it was actually the librarian who was resistant and trotted out the "no chapter books for K" rule. So ultimately there was zero challenge for our child in K. She enjoyed it but it was effectively a wasted year.

I feel for the K teachers who have such a huge range to deal with but ultimately their target seems to be teaching to the middle and bringing the slower readers up to that. The advanced readers are left to their own devices.

Even the advanced readers have a peer group. You can see from the posts to this one question alone confirm that.

P.s. Wasted year? You do know kindergarten is about a lot more than reading, right?

Er yup, thanks for pointin' that one out. Idiot.

Looks like you missed learning some things yourself in kindergarten, like how to treat others...

I learned quite recently that if you patronize people, there is a chance they will take offence. what you wrote was completely patronizing

Retread your post. I stand by what I said, both times. I wasn't patronizing, but pointing out that I'm sure your kid learned lots of things in K rather than it being, as you summed it up, a "wasted year."

[Anonymous]

Supposed to be 16 according to the company that makes the test I think but it depends on the school and grade.
Ours started at 8 or 10? Super early, in K.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In MCPS there is a writing component to all DRA levels above 16. Being able to actually read the book is only half the battle, so books will seem "easy" for a long time. Its fine though because from an "easy" book she can learn things about story elements, character traits, determining central theme, interpretation etc. and a lot about writing. There is much more than just being able to read the book.

Well, they are not doing this kind of analysis at our K. Neither do they write about books they've read. They answer questions about what the have read, at best.

Writing competent starts at level 20 I believe (second grade levels).