My 4-th grade son’s reading level is around 7th grade, so the books his class reads for Reading are easy for him. The teacher takes between 6-8 weeks to cover a 130-page book, which might mean that in one day they are told to read just 5 pages. He’s pretty hyperfocused when he starts reading, so its very hard for him to stop, and I can’t tell you how many times he’s gotten in trouble for reading ahead. I know he should stop, but for heavens sake its reading!!! There are a lot of other behaviors it would be a lot more appropriate for him to “get in trouble” for! And to top it off, 2 of the 3 books they’ve done this year he read a couple years ago from the public library. The teacher is very big on the kids writing predictions for what they think will happen next in the book, which of course my son already knows, so he has gotten accused of reading ahead even when he hasn’t. (Sigh.) I and some other parents of good readers have asked for a more challenging book for our kids, but the teacher says he can’t provide that due to the behavior challenges he faces in the classroom (of which my son is one, some of the time, but by no means the worst). This is a perfect area for my son to feel good about himself, since its such a strength for him, and instead its just one frustration after another. He’s got a 504; I wish it would include reading books matched to his level!!
Re: Reading Class
It’s always hard when one is faced with these silly things in school. As a parent and a teacher, I’ve found the easiest and maybe the best way to deal with it is just to go with the flow. Many excellent readers do go underchallenged in their school reading as they are so far above the ‘pack’ as seems to be the case with your talented son. The good news is that at home he can read all the hard books he wants. As hard as it is, I’d encourage him to stay out of trouble and just read the 5 pages in his school reading but to run free and read as much as he wants in his second book at home.
Perhaps the teacher would let your son make video presentations of the other books he reads and show those videos to the class. Or do a short oral book report for the class when he reads other books. That would let your son shine as he deserves to but still allow the entire class to stay within a common curriculum.
Good luck.
Re: Reading Class
I teach a fourth and fifth grade literature program. Depending on the group of students I’m working with, as a whole, there are years where the reading level is easy and years when it’s harder. I go with the level of the average reader in the group. So yes, the reading itself might not be challenging for a given student. But there’s so much more to a literature program than the reading level.
My children use Literature Response Logs. And yes, with some books I have them make predictions. There’s ALWAYS at least one child who’s already read the book I’ve chosen for the group. I give that child a choice. I ask what the child would like to do for each chapter instead of making a prediction. You’d be surprised at the suggestions - they’re often way more ambitious than any I’d assign.
I also ALWAYS tell kids up front that when I was a kid, I could never stop reading a book till I’d finished it. I recognize aloud that’s true of some people. I tell them that it’s OK with me, but it then means that they have a serious responsibility to the rest of the group to not give away anything. You really can’t stop a child from reading ahead and it’s silly to punish them for doing exactly what we want to see in a child: be so interested in a book that they just HAVE to keep reading! Most of the kids are relieved that I find it’s OK (that they have to feel relieved for this makes me sad) for them to read on ahead and they’re very good sports about not giving away the ending.
I tell them that, along with THEIR responsibility to not tell the rest of the story, >I< also now have a responsibility to give them assignments that are more suitable to someone who’s read the entire book and that often they won’t be able to share their assignments with anyone except myself or anyone else who’s finished the book or read it previously. I let them know I’m willing to assume my responsibility but they have to assume theirs just as seriously.
Especially with a litereature group, where the emphasis, really, should be all about being excited about reading, WANTING to read, wanting to talk about books, I will do everything to protect the curiosity and enthusiasm of kids who are so into the books that they just have to gobble it all up. It’s worth it to me to take on extra work of assigning extra lessons.
Re: Reading Class
Perhaps you or other concerned parents could volunteer to run an enrichment morning book club. You probably have many students in the population of the school that would benefit from a higher reading level. See how local junior book clubs are run and fashion yours according to the needs of the children. Your child will find it easier ‘to go with the flow’ of the classroom, if there is something else at school available for him/her to enrich the mind. I wouldn’t give up on the teacher. Keep after him, in a kind way. Perhaps he needs good volunteers to help with an advanced reading group. Just a thought.
I feel for your son, I am also a fast reader and I remember getting in trouble in 6th grade when the class was taking turns reading out loud, when it was my turn I didn’t know where the class was in the story because I was several pages ahead. The teacher exasperatedly asked me what I had been doing and I picked up the book and said “reading the book!” Amazing what a person can remember 25 yrs later after the fact.
A couple of things I thought of was, perhaps your son can read the 5 pages of the teachers book and then read a book your son chooses until the other kids finish. Or talk to your son about being the big person in this situation(the teacher sure isn’t acting like a big person) and just going along with the teacher as best he can knowing that later he can read anything he wants as fast as he wants. Hope I helped some.Best wishes.