Kid and Caboodle

Today A.J.’s English teacher sent home a note asking us to help him practice retelling stories using the “take-home reading” books she sends every day. The problem is that the books he brings home are so simple they don’t really have plots to retell.

For example, the entire text of tonight’s book reads:

Ten
Ten buttons
Ten needles
Ten pins
Ten pieces of cloth
Ten zippers
Ten pom-poms
Ten costumes

So what’s the plot in this case? Someone is assembling the materials to sew ten costumes?

This “take-home reading” project has been going on for several months. When it began, the teacher told us that the books she would be sending home would be below A.J.’s reading level “to build confidence.” Although I appreciate the intent, I think these books may be so far below A.J.’s reading level that he is becoming bored. At home he is reading the “Magic Treehouse” and “Curious George” series independently, as well as Dr. Seuss books. (The Sneetches is one of his favorites.) I don’t think confidence in his reading skills is a problem with him. But perhaps he is having trouble demonstrating those skills to his teacher?