What purpose does reading to the teacher serve? (Reception)

[wellthatsdoneit]

and how important is it?

DC1 started reception in september and he could pretty much read before he started (self taught). He brings home a 2-3 books each week, he reads them to me and I put comments in his reading record.

He had a classmate over this weekend and the mum was complaining that her DS had only read three times to the teacher since the start of term. DC1 has only read once to the teacher.

Should I be concerned about this? It's not my preferred choice school and doesn't have a very good reputation (applied late due to unforeseen circumstances so was the only place left with places), but I am trying to comfort myself that parental support has a big effect on a child's education. I figured that as he reads a lot to me at home it's not so important that he reads to the teacher. However, I'm not a teacher, don't know anything about phonics, or how a child learns to read. The books he brings home seem a little bit easy for him, but we read other stuff together too (mainly non-fictional stuff as he is into the solar system and stuff at the moment). I sort of also thought that reading is a bit like walking and potty training and, bar exceptional circumstances, most kids will do it at some point and in the end it doesn't really matter when (and many other countries don't start formal reading until 6 or 7).

However, the other mum's comment got me a bit worried. Should I be? I think with the school not having such a brilliant reputation I perhaps don't have as much faith in them as I otherwise would. I hope that makes sense.

[ElphabaisWicked]

Reading to the teacher (or a TA) lets them see how a child is doing. They can assess whether they are souding words out correctly or getting them wrong, whether they are on the correct level books (a certain percentage of words need to be accurate) whether they understand the book (teacher can ask questions). Its important for lots of reasons.

My children were heard read by a TA approx 3 times a week and by the teacher every so often. It is so important.

[EdithWeston]

The teacher or TA should hear him reading, so they can monitor his progress. This could be one to one, or group reading (less common in reception as if there is a range of abilities). I do think that reading to the teacher has a benefit simply in terms of "because I'm worth it" by having the teacher's undivided attention for a little while.

But if you're happy that he's making progress, it's not something to be greatly concerned about (especially if everything else is going well: for him, not the wider reputation).

Have you had a parents' evening yet? It's perhaps something you might like to ask about.

[hocuspontas]

As long as they have daily phonics and group guided reading at least once a week there's no need for individual listening on a regular (e.g. weekly or daily) basis. There is a recent thread on this. The majority thought it was a waste of the teacher's time as it takes hours to listen to 30 readers.

[wellthatsdoneit]

3 times a week!!

Bit different to once since september then. Hmm. He's a sight reader (I was too) and I think he's good at reading because he has a good memory. He seems to recognise all the phonics (eg will know that 'ai' make the sound 'ay' in 'rain') and indeed I got a full-throated and enthusiastic-with-actions rendition from a-z of all the jolly phonic songs in the car last week. But, he's not very good at building the sounds up together - tends to take a best guess at the word, partly from impatience I think. I worry more about comprehension so will make a point of asking him more questions about what's going on in the story.

I'm not sure if they do group reading and such like in his class. perhaps I should ask the teacher or TA how often they do hear him read.

[wellthatsdoneit]

Ooh hocus, now you've made me swing back the other way! Yes, I think they must do phonics daily as he does seem to recognise them all.

I will ask about group reading though.

[ElphabaisWicked]

They did guided reading once or twice a week. They are now 7 and 10 and fluent readers who enjoy books. Now in Year 3 and 5 they are heard read much less often. Ds maybe once every 2-3 weeks,dd less often.

[ElphabaisWicked]

I always knew when someone had heard them read as they also put a comment in the reading record book. Guided reading had a red sticker next to the book title.

[wellthatsdoneit]

That's why I think he's only red once to the teacher as there's only one comment from her in their (none from the TA). All the other books listed are ones he's read with me and the teacher puts her initials next to my comment.

[wellthatsdoneit]

red?!!!!!

READ!

[maizieD]

But, he's not very good at building the sounds up together - tends to take a best guess at the word, partly from impatience I think.

Well, just keep an eye on him because the memorising strategy doesn't always work once texts become more complex and he'll need his phonics then. Full and proper comprehension (not to mention the enjoyment of the subtleties of written language) is not possible without accurate word reading.