Thank you for the many responses.

[Wish I lived in Fl]

And it ended happily ever after.

 

[kpm76]

From what you described, it does not sound fair. I wholeheartedly support encouraging kids to read but it sounds like your DS is an avid reader already and his teacher should know that. Giving him a zero seems wrong. I would try your best to get him books through the library so that you don't have to spend a ton of money...books are $$$...good luck

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Fair. I think it is possible to find books for your son to read. He has chosen openly not to read the "teacher's boring books".

If it was my child she would be reading lots of classical literature as punishment. Probably writing a book report to DH and I.

(just so you know, we require dd to do the WORK, no matter what it is)

 

[Puffy2]

Part of getting through school (and especially college) is just the act of "jumping through the hoops" - the skills that are learned are perseverace, problem solving, and cooperation.

I don't think the teacher is being unreasonable and I think your son is capable of figuring this problem out for himself. Or at least I would hope that a seventh grader would be able to. (ie., there is no reason for him to be getting zeros ...and it's not the teacher's fault). Sorry if that isn't what you wanted to hear.

 

[CEDmom]

Sounds to me like it really isn't a battle worth fighting. Have him pull a thick book off a shelf at home and bring it to school. If it's only 5 minutes it won't kill him to read something boring. A little boredom never hurt anyone.

 

[JulieWent]

Lots of teachers / schools have a five minute SSR (sustained silent reading) period during the day. (Some have longer periods. My son's middle school next year will have a 20 minute SSR period. Students will be required to have a chapter book each day.) Having a small number of points attached to this time is very common, and, IMO, not a problem at all. That said, I am a teacher, and I frequently give a five point credit to "starter" exercises at the beginning of class.

Julie

Edited to add: Why don't you have your son pick one book per week that is his SSR book -- that will be read ONLY during that 5 minute time period? That way he won't have to worry about finding a new book every day.

 

[Nite0wl71]

I don't know if it is fair or not, but my DD also in 7th grade, has to have 2 books with her at all times. We go to the library, she is allowed 30 books at one time, not that we ever check that many out. She also exchanges with her friends.

One thing to do is have 1 book that he uses only for his 5 minutes of reading, that should last pretty long. My DD doesn't read her book at home, just in the class when it is time. She reads all the time also and I know how expensive books can get.

 

[KarenC]

Sorry, I think I'm on the teacher's side here. If the "homework" assignment is to bring something to read for the first 5 minutes of the day, and your son doesn't do that, the teacher has the right to give him a zero. Between now and when your son applies for colleges, he's going to be expected to do things that aren't challenging or that he doesn't like. Colleges aren't going to care. As a freshman in high school, my son failed to do what he perceived as "pointless" homework assignments. Although he is smart and mastered the material, missing homework assignments impacted his grades and he wasn't admitted into at least one school because of it. I wish he'd learned his lesson in 7th grade. On this one, it's probably in your son's best interest to back the teacher, not your son. Perhaps your son can trade books with one of his classmates.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Can he bring in magazines or newspapers? I know dd had to have "something" to read and they allowed that.

 

[mickeyfan2]

He just needs to follow the teachers rules. Take one of the boring books and read it each day for 5 minutes.

 

[Ronda93]

No, the teacher is not wrong.

If he's supposed to read a book in her class, then read a book in her class.

ETA: The OPs question was fair or not fair. Unfortunately fair is not the proper measure for this situation. Best he learn this quickly.

 

[AC7179]

It's fair. If he doesn't have to read because he does it during other times, all the kids are going to pull the same thing. He can get library books. A lot of kids I know get stuck in one genre, then say there is nothing left to read when they finish a certain author or type of book. It doesn't hurt to boraden their horizons.

 

[clh2]

I am siding with the teacher too. He has to have a book to read. It's not a surprise. While it is hard to "suck it up" and take the zero, if this is an assignment, and assuming there are 45 days in a quarter, the reading would be worth a total of 4500 points, he would get a total of 4400 of these points, which is an average of 97.8%. It isn't going to hurt his overall grade.

I also agree with the other posters, if he has a book specifically for the 5 minutes, it should last him a while.

Our public library has a used book sale every year. The bargains are great. Paperbacks are in the neighborhood of $1 each, hardcovers are 3 for $5. Maybe you could see if any local libraries do this in your area.

Our sale is coming up in a couple of weeks! Woohoo!

 

[Nancy]

Have him take a book he doesn't want to read. 5 minutes with a boring book won't kill him and he is following the teachers classroom directions at the same time. I feel the teacher is right in this case. If the kids are supposed to read for 5 minutes as part of class work than that is what they should be doing regardless of how much they read outside of class. I read a lot too. But I would read for an alloted period of time if it was required of me...just not a book I was reading for pleasure.

 

[C.Ann]

Sorry, but I have to agree with the teacher as well.. He's in 7th grade - he doesn't get to change the rules because he doesn't like them (or the boring books).. He deserves the zeros for not following the teachers instructions and doing the assignment..

If there's nothing in the school library, use your public library.. If that isn't possible then find books at garage sales, thrift stores, The Salvation Army or simply tell him he needs to read the "boring" books..

Believe me - he's going to have a LOT more "boring" stuff during the remainder of his schooling and he can't just choose not to do it because he's not interested..

 

[padams]

The teacher is not wrong. Your ds needs to read one of the "boring teacher books" or bring his own, or suffer the consequences. What's he going to do someday when his boss gives him a "boring" report to read?

 

[kendall]

The homework assignment is to bring a book to class, the 5 minutes gets the kids focused and reading. Personally, 5 minutes wouldn't be enough reading for me - I like to read (as does the OP's son) - and that is what would bother me, that it isn't enough time. Use the 5 minutes to read something unusual - use the public library and check out multiple books. Tough situation, but I agree with the teacher and other posters - there are solutions.

 

[aprilgail2]

I don't think the teacher is wrong at all....even if its a boring classroom book he should just take it, open it and read it...those are the rules and he should follow them even if it seems "boring " to him!

 

[RadioNate]

fair - read the book. I'm with everyone else and the teacher. If the assignment is have a book to read for 5 min and your ds doesn't have one then he gets a zero. The teacher has given the option of reading one of her books so he does get a zero but he opts for the zero since those books are "boring."

I also can't imagine that he's read every book in the library. It's 5 minutes and that's the assignment, just suck it up and do it.

I would also hazard a guess that this SSR time is district or state mandated and not something mean the teacher came up with.

 

[Beth76]

On the teacher's side here too. Your son should either slow down his reading or read one of the "boring" books.