Thank you for the many responses.

[bamajill]

I'm just perplexed as to why this is so hard for the OP to figure out.

Your child is in 7th grade. Good student, good reader. If he knows (and believe me, he knows) that he will not have 5 minutes worth of reading left in a book....(here's an idea)...bring a new one to start! BE RESPONSIBLE for yourself. Otherwise, accept that the zero's are deserved.

You are trying to tell us that there are very few books in the library that interest him? Have you talked with the librarian? I agree with the poster who said the librarians LIVE for the challenge of finding books to interest kids. Give it a chance!

Try ebay...try searching for "science fiction books lot" and you'll find almost 200 listings (some very cheap).

I just have to say I agree with the majority here. The lesson you are teaching your son has very little to do with standing up for what he believes in...it's more of a 'you're too special to have to follow those silly rules'. Big, BIG difference.

 

[jim and meesie]

He did read 1/4 of "To kill a Mockingbird" but still didn't enjoy it.

.

My 13 year old daughter also loved "To Kill a Mockingbird" last year, her 7th grade class read it in English. Maybe literature will be a career for her!

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

It is a issue of convenience on the teachers part but a moral necessity on Ds's part? I don't think so!

In every school day he has 200 small issues where he does comply with the requirements, even when it is to his own detriment. His 5th grade math class was a repeat of his 4th grade math class but he just did the homework, did the classwork and did the tests. The paper this morning reports that 60% of the 4th grade class scored needs improvement or failed. 48% scored needs improvement or failed in English/Language arts. He scored advanced on both tests. (Truly he does have his weaknesses also, just not math, science or reading. )

If this was the ONLY exercise in doing what he doesn't want to do, THEN i would agree with the majority of posters.

The librarian said the teacher should be slapped upside the head.

I do feel that he is being penalized for being a fast reader. He has to find 30 plus books a month to read or get zeros on some days. His classmates have to find one or two.

His handwriting is bad enough to be noted on a progress report. Why not MAKE him work on what he NEEDS to work on. NOt much fun either so still another exercise in doing what you don't like.

Luckily the books set aside and penmanship practice sheets were acceptable to the teacher so that is what we are doing.

 

[Nana Annie]

DH WAS the germaphobe . Didn't want me to buy used books or clothes but now i do. His grandfather was worse. Didn't want to live in a used house with other peoples germs.

How much conformity is desireable? Just reading Farley Mowats "Aftermath" where the german officers he meets after the war truly think they themselves innocent. I want DS to have the moral courage to fight when the system is wrong rather than go along to get along. Obedience yes, but not blind obedience.Know too many people who were wiped out of their life's savings because of Enron bring down Arthur Andersen.

Since i was educated at a small private school(50 students,9 teachers), teaching was custom tailored to each student. Obviously at a school of 1200 that can't happen but even Burger King lets you order burgers "your way"

Blind Obedience - from what I have read, that would not be my interpretation. He wants to read science fiction and other stuff is "boring", if I have read the posts correctly. He really should branch out into other stuff. He didn't like To Kill A Mockingbird? He probably should learn to force himself through it. In high school, in the honors LA classes, there are many, many "boring" classics that will be assigned, required reading. Better to learn now how to read something other than science fiction than when TKAM or Shakespeare is required reading.

I am sure this is not what you are trying to do, but the subconscious, subtle message that I see coming across this thread is "I am special so I can pick and choose which rules apply to me."

Wasn't there a thread here the other day where somebody was venting about a person taking flash photography in POTC? The CM broke in several times to say that flash photography is not allowed. The OP said her DH said something to the guy. SHe told her DH he must not have heard because he continued to take flash photography. Guy turned around and told them he had heard but then continued to take pictures. Perhaps he thought he was a better photographer than other people, so those rules shouldn't apply to him.

Don't mean to be harsh, and I am sure that is not your intention at all!!!! But just from the info that I have read in these posts, that appears to be the message that is being sent to your child. He is a better reader than most, so he does not need to follow the classroom rules. And yes, I know that in a message board, we do not have all the information, so just from what is posted here, that is what it appears.

BTW, have you tried a local university's library? Their selection is usually geared to college level reading. And force him to branch out.

Got to side with the teacher here and the others that it is unfortunate that a compromise was made.

Just my opinion.

 

[laura001]

I don't think "War & Peace" would be a joke. This is a very advanced reader and there are some people in the world who actually have read it!!! (OK, not me)

lol....I didn't mean that War and Peace was a joke, I was being facetious, afterall it should take him more than one day to read it and I am sure it wouldn't be "below" him to read. Actually, I had to read it in school, and really disliked the book....perhaps I should have refused to read it as it was boring for me!

Being a good reader is learning to appreciate what you are reading regardless of whether it is Little Red Riding Hood or War and Peace, you don't always have to "like" it.

 

[Crankyshank]

I'm pretty sure you can strive and also achieve excellence despite the tremendous handicap that being forced to read at a lower level or re-reading a book for 5min a day is.

why not buy him a book just for the 5min a day reading?

 

[DawnCt1]

I'm pretty sure you can strive and also achieve excellence despite the tremendous handicap that being forced to read at a lower level or re-reading a book for 5min a day is.

why not buy him a book just for the 5min a day reading?

Two of my DS's are taking a children's literature course in college, taught by a published children's author. They recently reported on Alexander's Really Bad Day and Green Eggs and Ham. I would say that those books have been "below their reading level" for many years now but they were required for this class. They did it.

 

[monsterkitty]

Have you stopped to think that maybe isn't the teacher's policy, but the school policy?

We have a DEAR (Drop Everthing and Read) time in our school. Every person stops what they are doing and reads for 10 minutes. It is a required 5 point grade in the class you are in at that time. 5 years ago our Building Accountability Committee and PTA placed this program into our growth plan. Both of these groups are made up of parents, teachers, community members, and administrators. We, as teachers, have no choice but to give that child who refuses to read a zero for that assignment.

So before blaming the teacher, find out where and who started this requirement.

Oh, and add me to the list of thinking you are doing a great disservice to your son. We all do things we don't like because we have to. I say bummer and get on with it.

 

[Sandy V.]

If this was the ONLY exercise in doing what he doesn't want to do, THEN i would agree with the majority of posters.

If you asked my teenagers, I am relatively certain that there are 10 things each day in school that they are required to do that they would rather not do. But they still do them anyway. So far, no emotional scarring or lack of striving for excellence.

You're still saying that this rule shouldn't apply to your kid because he's a better reader than most of his class, and I just don't understand your logic.

 

[Crankyshank]

Two of my DS's is taking a children's literature course in college, taught by a published children's author. They recently reported on Alexander's Really Bad Day and Green Eggs and Ham. I would say that those books have been "below their reading level" for many years now but they were required for this class. They did it.

I just took Children's Lit last semester. It was a lot of work and I loved the class. Looking forward to lowering myself and the excellence bar by taking adolescent lit next semester!

 

[CheshireVal]

It is a issue of convenience on the teachers part but a moral necessity on Ds's part? I don't think so!

I don't think I can deal with this thread anymore. I'm too frustrated.

 

[Bob Slydell]

It is a issue of convenience on the teachers part but a moral necessity on Ds's part? I don't think so!

Moral necessity? Seriously, this is a 5 minute reading session -- let's not get all over-dramatic over it. Numerous people have said that their schools do the same thing, so this is not one teacher doing his own thing for "convenience".

In every school day he has 200 small issues where he does comply with the requirements, even when it is to his own detriment.

Sounds like school to me. Every school kid for eons have had to do assignments they felt were done for no reason. This is not a unique situation.

The librarian said the teacher should be slapped upside the head.

The librarian should be slapped.

He has to find 30 plus books a month to read or get zeros on some days. His classmates have to find one or two.

No, he needs to find one or two books to be his 5 minute reading books (and 28 others for reading on his own time).

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hello, Wishing on a Star here.
Many of you know that I have been labeled a Teacher-Basher, because I do have a few very valid disagreements and issues with teachers and our educational system today.

But, guess what... Prepare to be surprised!!! I am not simply a teacher basher. I am the first one to agree with, and support, a teacher when that teacher is respectful, and rational, and within reasonable expectations.

Five minutes of reading... definately within reasonable expectations!!!!

DS (7th grade) has to have a book to read for the first 5 minutes of each class. The teacher writes down what page the kids are on each day. DS reads at least one book a day. Frequently he doesn't have a new book to read for class because he read all his over and over and he doesn't want to read the teacher's boring books.

The OP sounds like she feels that she is being expected to provide her child a new book every single day. But, obviously, the child is not being asked to read an entire book every day in one five minute sitting. The teacher has books... The library obviously has books... The kids could share and exchange books.

The OP states that he refuses to read her boring books. Goodness gracious, it is just for five minutes. that is not a valid reason. It is an excuse.

So, to all the wonderful teachers out there who do care, and who are respectful, and reasonable.

I would like to point out to all teachers who parent-bash... There has not been any big outcry on this thread against this teacher, or teachers as a whole. But, yet you parent-bash and wail and whine whenever somebody does have a legitimate issue or disagreement.

To those who I have disagreed with... I hope that you will realize that I am not an outright teacher-basher. It is the views and principles expressed by many teachers that I am disagreeing with opposing. Not all teachers.

 

[Stacy_C]

What really amazes me is the title of this thread, which indicates the OP has already made up her mind about how wrong the teacher is on this issue.

I've been thinking the same thing!

 

[Beth76]

The librarian said the teacher should be slapped upside the head.

I do feel that he is being penalized for being a fast reader. He has to find 30 plus books a month to read or get zeros on some days. His classmates have to find one or two.

If the librarian did say that, that was completely unprofessional and uncalled for.

So, your son is reading 30 books a month during his little 5 minutes of reading time each day? Wow, he is fast.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I also agree about the Title to this thread.

 

[yeartolate]

I would just like to add that my workplace is FILLED with folks who don't believe the rules apply to them -- they customize the rules to suit their own needs. It is a nightmare for the managers and disrupts the functioning of a workplace.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I also agree about the speed-reading thing...

So, the kid can sit and read nothing at all... but not be smart enough to pace himself?

 

[RadioNate]

It is a issue of convenience on the teachers part but a moral necessity on Ds's part? I don't think so!

In every school day he has 200 small issues where he does comply with the requirements, even when it is to his own detriment. His 5th grade math class was a repeat of his 4th grade math class but he just did the homework, did the classwork and did the tests. The paper this morning reports that 60% of the 4th grade class scored needs improvement or failed. 48% scored needs improvement or failed in English/Language arts. He scored advanced on both tests. (Truly he does have his weaknesses also, just not math, science or reading. )

If this was the ONLY exercise in doing what he doesn't want to do, THEN i would agree with the majority of posters.

The librarian said the teacher should be slapped upside the head.

I do feel that he is being penalized for being a fast reader. He has to find 30 plus books a month to read or get zeros on some days. His classmates have to find one or two.

His handwriting is bad enough to be noted on a progress report. Why not MAKE him work on what he NEEDS to work on. NOt much fun either so still another exercise in doing what you don't like.

Luckily the books set aside and penmanship practice sheets were acceptable to the teacher so that is what we are doing.

What you are failing to understand is that SSR is generally a state mandated. I know in Illinios it is. The teacher isn't doing it for her convience.

He is CHOOSING to read 30 books a month. He could have 1 book for SSR time that he ONLY reads during those 5 minutes.

Unless he has read EVERY book in his school and public library then there is no issue.

Yep luckily the teacher caved in to you.

 

[DawnCt1]

If the librarian did say that, that was completely unprofessional and uncalled for.

So, your son is reading 30 books a month during his little 5 minutes of reading time each day? Wow, he is fast.

To add to your thought, why doesn't he leave one book in that class and resume the same book the next day?