Frustration with Teacher with Advanced Reader

Reading a 300 page book three times before he is tested on it is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. I'm not one to interfere with a teacher, but this is one thing I would definitely interfere with. He could read two NEW 300 page books instead!

INSIST that she give him the test NOW, and don't let him reread the book. Take it to the principal if you have to.

Now THERE's a way to take the joy out of reading if I ever heard of one.

THREE times. Dumb, DUMB!!

What would I do? I'd be telling my kid to read the book 3 times and take the test. I don't understand why parents feel that teachers are out to hold their children back from reaching their potential. The teacher is in charge of an entire class and really can't make exceptions for all the children based on what their parents want. Please understand that you son's teacher isn't out to make him miserable. She's trying to get all the children to learn.

I would say meet with her, but don't go in guns ablazin, remember you are getting all this information second hand from a 7 year old, and it may not be entirely accurate.

Talk to his teacher. I was a teacher in 2nd 3rd and 5th grade and did AR tests in all of the schools where I taught. I agree with you that likely, there are 10 questions, MAYBE 20 tops. With AR, once they take a test, it's part of their score and the computer won't let them retest .... technically. The teacher DOES have the ability to go in and delete the exam. She may or may not know it or know how to do it. It may be that she doesn't want him to fail miserably at the exam and have it affect his grade/scores. I was so sad to see a kid spend a week reading a book b/c it was worth 3 points, (They had to earn two points each week), then they take the test and fail it and earn zero points. Basically, all that time wasted.

Also, she can, if she were willing to, preview the test. As a teacher in the AR program, you can take the test yourself and get a score. It doesn't save of course, but it lets you see all the questions. When I taught 5th grade, the whole class read Because of Winn Dixie. We discussed the book and before they were allowed to take the AR test, I previewed the test to make sure we'd done a good job discussing it. I didn't give them the questions, but just reviewed it myself. Your son's teacher could do this for his first couple of chapter books before she decides to give him such strict rules.

She can also create her own tests in AR. We did this a lot in 5th grade. I had a lot of science books the kids were reading. They wanted to earn AR points for them, so we made them into tests. I had the kids help write questions and 4 answer choices. Great learning experience.

Sorry. I got off track there. Anyway - pm me if you have any questions. Your son's teacher needs to realize that your son is not the norm as far as reading the book 3 times. She needs to let him take a couple tests of his chapter books and see how he does. If he fails them, then he should have to read them 2 times or go to a lower-level book. If he passes them, then she needs to just let him earn his points his way and contact you if there's something wrong or if he starts failing the tests.

When you meet with her, ask her if his scores on AR tests become part of his reading grade.

I remember having this problem when I was in school. They started the AR program when I was in 3rd grade. Well, when I started kindergarten, I was already reading at a 3rd grade level. So by the time I was in 3rd grade, I was reading (and fully comprehending) at a high school level. My teachers always encouraged me to read in my 'grade' (3rd...) and lower-level books instead of books that would actually stimulate me. I read what I wanted anyway. lol. I always had the highest AR scores in the school, I didn't let the teachers keep me down! The AR tests are really easy as long as he pays attention to the book and comprehends it. I would say to ask the teacher to let him take it after one reading, and if he 'fails' it, then the next book he can be reasonably expected to read it twice, or more if needed. At least see if he will let him TRY instead of discouraging him right off the bat!

I find that sometimes they don't really know the best way to implement the AR program. I've watched students take the STAR test (the one that sets the AR reading level) and it is basically a vocabulary test... my children always have very high vocabularies.

When it was first introduced in the middle schools here, my 7th grade daughter tested at 13+ on the test... so the teacher was making her check out books AT that level.

A student reading so far ahead of the level doesn't really need the AR system as an incentive to read....... Also, she had the interests of a middle school student, not a high school or college age student. Why MAKE a child select books based on an arbitrary reading level? I should have gone in and talked to the teacher, but I never did.... that was my failing.

Go talk to the teacher, but put it that your son may have misunderstood the requirements.... that your son was saying he had to read the book 3 times before he took the test. And... if that is the case, why? Does she not feel that he is really reading the book thoroughly? He could easily read 3 books in that time which would benefit him far more than reading the same book 3 times. Also tell her that he is getting discouraged by having to read the same book 3 times, and you want to foster his love for reading, not inhibit it.

He will earn more points by reading higher level books, though, than the simpler ones other students may be reading. This may help him get the points he needs to meet his goal.

My daughters participated in the accelerated reader program. As with all reading programs, there's the good and bad, but overall I liked it. I thought it had a lot of excellent points. We were given a password so we could track our child's progress. In middle school the kids were expected to get 25 points during a grading period (approx 8 weeks). My kids got over 300 points each year and instead of being praised, the administration saw it as frustrating.

No way should your child read the books 3 times. He should only read it once.

Here's my guess. Your son is way above the rest of the class. Teachers and the administration don't know nor do they want to deal with the needs of the advanced students. It's all about helping the students who are struggling. That's the reason for the reading the books 3 times, they want those kids to be able to pass the test.

Stick up for your child. Tell them you understand that some children do need to read a book 3 times, but your child does not and will not. Call her on the "it has too many questions". Ask her how many questions that specific books has. When you find out that it has 12 compared to the others that have 10, ask her straight out why shes scaring your son. Let her know in a polite way that what's shes doing isn't acceptable.

I had a similar problem when my daughter was in 5th grade. I met with the teacher and listened to his point of view that he had students in the class that were reading on a 2.0 and then there was my daughter at 12.9. The compromise, the small group reading 8.0 and above, would have time to work on a special project in the back of the room, while the teacher was working with the students who were on the lower levels.

He may be READING at a 3rd grade level, but his comprehension is probably at a Kindergarten level. My 9yr old was reading chapter books at age 4, but his comprehension wasn't at the same level as his reading, therefore he had to read the book twice to really remember everything. Now at 9, he's reading novels and he is also comprehending on the same level, he only has to read it once to comprehend it.

My almost 6yr old is reading Junie B type books, and his comprehension is appropriate, he remembers the highlights of the book and thats about it. If he reads a book twice, he remembers sentences, lines, etc.

I think the point of reading twice is to boost his comprehension.

I agree to try again talking to the teacher. Maybe she doesn't know that he has been reading that much and maybe she's unsure of how he'll do on the test and doesn't want a low score to count against him. You don't really know her reasoning for sure until you actually speak with her, there is probably more to the story. Try to get in contact with her soon but try to keep your cool too, even though you feel frustrated!

It sounds like she is following expectations for 9 & 10 yr old/4th graders. While reading may not be challenging for your son, Q&As might be.

Even if he has a photographic memory, it will be easy for him to recall what he has seen or read, but might not be able to apply when answering a question or a group of words which he has never seen before b/c of his age. Just a speculation here.

You also have to keep in mind that he may walk away w/whatever details he gleans from the book according to his own understanding. Take book clubs for example...a group of women can read the same book and interpret details totally differently than each other, but can still be able to describe a passage or chapter from the book in great detail.

I do suggest talking with the teacher but keep in mind, this is an uncommon and an unusual situation for most schools, so if she sees you are open and flexible, I'm sure she'll be more willing to work with you and your son on what is best for him.

It seems like if she's worried about his comprehension that the test would prove that he's comprehending it. I get that his teacher is concerned about that, and it is important that she is...but again...he's being tested to show his comprehension and it sounds like he's really a great reader. My four year old is similar. He obviously doesn't read at the same level, but he's at first grade level and understands what he's reading. I'm amazing by his comprehension of things. But there are many kids who can read, and they have very poor comprehension of what it is they are actually reading. So remember that whenever you talk to the teacher. She might have seen many a child who can read, even advanced, but then saw how they struggled with comprehension, which CAN become a long term issue. Again, though, the testing shows this and your son sounds like he is ready! I would definitely talk with the teacher and make sure your son gets to read the books one time, take the test with encouragement...not with fear...and be allowed to progress at HIS own pace. Best of luck!

I so understand your frustration. Unfortunately, your son is likely to get more frustrated if things do not change.
If I were you I would specifically tell the you teacher that you are requesting your child's reading level be tested because he appears to be quite advanced and you fear that the current curriculum is not meeting his needs.
FYI...when my daughter was tested for the gifted program I think they expected the gifted kids to be at least 2 years ahead of same age peers. Also, I would request formal testing by the reading specialist and if he does well then by the school psychologist to test his IQ. The AR test will not tell you what you need to know.

I would set an appointment with her if need be (and it does sound necessary- exchanging e-mails will get frustrating). I always go in giving the teacher the benefit of the doubt, and assuming that they do want the best for my child. And yes, it's possible that she doesn't know what to do with his advancement, but don't go in with guns blazing.

Rather, ASK a lot of questions to find out where she/they are coming from. My daughter was always an advanced reader, but they wanted to make sure her comprehension was at the same pace.

Reading the book 3x does sound weird, but here is your opportunity to ask why that is instead of saying it's ridiculous. You may be surprised at the answer, or find out it's not what you thought. If it is what you thought and doesn't seem reasonable to you, express your concern about it and ask if there are any alternatives.

I know with my daughter, she's always been advanced but was never a good test taker, so she often didn't place in advanced classes. Very frustrating. I couldn't fight the district placement criteria, but was always able to come up with compromises with teachers to get her the challenges she needed. Sort of a 'more flies with honey than vinegar' deal. Good luck.

"I'd rather he take the test and get it wrong than be intimidated into not taking it at all because of being afraid to fail."

I'm sorry. I don't understand that.
Your son may be incredibly intelligent for the first grade. Heck, he could be in the Guiness Book of World Records for speed reading for all I know.
I think it's more about comprehension and retaining what is read that is the goal.
Haven't you ever read a book that you absolutely loved so much that you read it again and found little details or nuances that you hadn't noticed before which made you appreciate it all the more?
I'm just not seeing your logic.
If the standard for the class is to read 3 times and take a test, it seems they would be more successful on the test as opposed to "phantom" questions you want him to have to answer correctly after speeding through a 297 page book.
I don't see why you think she is purposely trying to "dumb him down" or set him up to fail.
I'm sorry...I just don't see that.
Talk to the teacher. Try it your way. He only reads the book once and he either knows the answers or he doesn't. If he doesn't, then I certainly hope you will not be offended when he still has to read the book two more times, like everybody else, so he can answer the questions.
I was an advanced reader. Both of my children were advanced readers. Well before they began kindergarten, they had a love for books and reading them more than once because it's not always just about details. It's about feelings that are invoked. It's about imagery and symbolism.
To me, reading isn't a race.
I would be willing to at least compromise. Let your son read a book by himself first and then read it to you. Talk about what certain things in the story are important and why.
Like I said, I don't understand why your son reading a book more than once should make him afraid to fail. It should make him more confident.

I know you want the best for your child, but I just an having a hard time seeing your logic.

No offense and I wish you the best.

Maybe you could ask if there are any choices of higher-level but shorter books he could choose if there really is no option but to read it 3 times. Or ask if you can review the book with him(like asking him a question every 5 pages or so to see if he remembers it) or just read it 2 times as a compromise. Definitely continue to have available fun books to read at home without the pressure of a test.

I'm lucky I didn't grow up with this system. I hate reading the same book twice, other than going back to pick out quotes. Instead, we had a "speed reading" program where they would flash a single word on the screen to teach us to read faster.

I feel your frustration. My son started 1st grade last year reading 3rd grade books. They started 'everyone' off at 1.0 rl or ar. At first I was ok with that figuring he would advance quickly but they were only able to take one test a week and I guess the way it worked was you would have to get so many 100's before you moved up a level. This year he is only on 2.3rl however at home he is reading things like the indian and the cubbard. The way I look at it, is it is good for selfesteem to get 100's. He can practice reading harder stuff at home.

Nothing like discouraging a real reader!
Tell your son to take the test. I'd rather have him try it, discover it's not that bad, and move on. And so what if he makes some mistakes? He can always re-read the book re-take the test because they can re-set it if he does poorly...
I'd get my rear end in to see that teacher immediately if not sooner. She is discouraging reading and making test taking scary.
LBC

I hated those AR tests.
All my children read above grade level. At one point a teacher told my daughter she was not allowed to check books out of the library that were below a certain level. Sometimes kids just want to read a book because it is there. Sometimes they want to read a 4th grade book because it is funny, Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing, Freckle Juice, they're funny. But if the child has a reading level above 4th grade, then those books are off limits.

I don;t' think we ever made our AR Goals. I didn't put a lot of weight into them. It went along with writing down how many pages and how long the child read in a day. I didn't do it or we fudged the paper on Friday's.

Just talk to the teacher. Oh and have him test on some of the nonfiction books in the library. Then he gets practical knowledge too.

My son has been reading above grade level since Kindergarten but I don't think our school has an AR program. Or at least he has never participated in it. It sounds like a lot of pressure to me. I would definitely set up a conference to discuss this with the teacher, you don't want him to get discouraged. Or maybe rethink his participation, is it mandatory? If not, then maybe just have him read whatever he wants however many times he wants by reading on his own. We go to the library every 2 weeks and my son reads every night before bed.

My son was the same, but they don't start AR until Second grade. He was encouraged to read all the chapter books he wanted, but his first grade teacher's assessments in reading stopped at a certain level ( it was coded with an alphabet letter) Which was maybe the level that corresponded with what they were expected to be at the end of second grade. It was explained to me that the content of the comprehension questions weren't as appropriate for a first grader. Oh course your child you can let him read what ever you want at what ever age you want. but that was the reason given to us. And i will say my son reads what ever he can get his hands on, he was introduced to Tales of Fourth grade nothing, Great book right, in first grade he knew all the vocabulary and could comprehend the book, but the themes were more appropraite for an older child especially the chapter where htey talk about Santa not being real. Thanks a lot Judy Blume. He has also read the Diaryof a Wimpy kid books and loves them thinks they are funny, but he is reading about a middleschool kid who likes girls ewwwww.

Ifyou aren't getting an answer to your email. Then call her. Be an advocate for your son but be a team player with her. She doesn't have a vendetta against your kid, trust me she is tooo busy to lay awake at night plotting on how to keep him down.

I would question this whole AR thing in first grade though, is this typical in most schools??