Y1 having no guided reading

[numbum]

DD is in a mixed yr1/2 class. She's a fantastic reader and is top of the class (the year 1's and the year 2's) BUT her guided reading group is her plus the lower ability year 2's who have extra reading sessions. Is it a problem that firstly she's not getting any guided reading at all and that she's not being allowed to read with the top y2's who are at a lower level than her?

[TodaysAGoodDay]

She should be having guided reading at least once a week, if not more. Please go and talk to the head teacher about this, I'd be up in arms.

[AbigailS]

"She should be having guided reading at least once a week, if not more." Just curious where you got that information?

[upinthehills]

if she is a great reader I would have thought she should have her own reading group. I know a great reader in my DC class and my friends DS is a great reader too. Totally different school hundreds of miles apart and they both had their own individual reading group from the get go as they were leagues ahead of everyone else in the class.

[Ruprekt]

'I'd be up in arms!'

Really?

There is hardly any time to get through the syllabus without going to speak to the head about guided reading! Give them time to sort themselves out! How do you know that she isnt doing a guided read once a week and your dd's group hasnt had their turn yet?

Have you been into class as a parent helper?

[numbum]

I listen to the class read as a parent helper and know she's on a higher level than the others. When I say that's her guided reading group I mean that's the group she's sat with for literacy. When it's guided reading they have different tasks to do and her group never do guided reading with the teacher

[numbum]

And I'm not 'up in arms'

[Ruprekt]

I know you are not up in arms but the poster below you would be!!

Do you not feel that the teacher is stretched to the limit with all that is expected of her?

Does she sit back and do nothing or is she constantly working, juggling all the bits and pieces to try and be a good teacher.

Your DD is lucky to have such a supportive Mum. There will be many children who do NO reading at all so maybe they are concentrating on the non readers.

AsIDoInClass

[numbum]

I do completely realise the teacher is stretched. I see that they give up their lunch time to appease parents when it comes to writing in homework diaries, marking work etc but DD is starting to get that 'my teacher doesn't need to listen to me so why should I read to you' complex! There are 5 groups in the class, 5 days a week...so why isn't she being listened to apart from by me??

[Ruprekt]

Because she does not have the time!!

She is teaching!!!

She might be on playground duty or have to be in assembly. She has 30 children to teach literacy and numeracy to in the mornings. She has books to mark. She has social issues to address or parents to ring about problems. She and the Ta have 30 children to read with over a fortnight? and things crop up ALL The time! Teaching is flipping hard work and I really think if you want to be a supportive parent you should keep on reading with your child and be grateful that she is reading well.

Do not give your teacher grief about guided reading!

30 children - 5 days per week = 6 children per day if it all goes without a hitch.

Highly unlikely!

[Ruprekt]

And you tell your DD that she reads to you every night just as she always does and not to worry at what the teacher does!

[numbum]

OK Can I complain if it gets to Christmas and she still hasn't done guided reading?

[AbigailS]

Ruprekt, are you a teacher? I just your posts tonight sound like a teacher who is having a challenging week? I am too, and I'm MNing to avoid updating my assessments as I know I'll be too harsh after the last few days!

[Ruprekt]

YES!!! And nearly turning to the bottle!!!

A tricky year group this year with lots of social issues!

[AbigailS]

My sympathies. I put an extra couple of bottles of red in the Tesco trolley at the weekend. My class of children are lovely ... it is other school issues that are driving me to drink!

[Lifeissweet]

Another slightly frazzled teacher here. Just wanted to say that I sometimes wish people would concentrate on the good things that go on in a classroom. I used to teach in year 1. We did phonics every day for 20 minutes, literacy, numeracy, R.E ( faith school) and a daily reading time. We had writing coaching, which happens every half term where we had 10 minutes with each child to practice a specific skill and move them on with their writing. Interventions are in place for all children not meeting expectations and the TAs are all out of class working with individuals and small groups every afternoon, we hear every child read once a week - more for those with IEPs, but in all honesty, that tended to be the TA, as there just isn't enough time in the day. The children get such amazing, personalised teaching and I'm proud of what my, very challenging, inner city school achieves. But no. We do no guided reading. In the bigger picture... Meh.

[steppemum]

to be honest op, kids who are good readers and who's parents hear them every night tend to make the teachers think, Phew, they are being looked after.

[steppemum]

and they are! Good parents are the teachers best friends

[justbogoffnow]

Am confused - if there are 5 guided reading groups, each doing guided reading once in a week, does this mean your dd doesn't sit with her designated group and do a session?

I used to teach and had would invariably have some children in a class who were very very ahead of the rest of the class, or significantly behind, such that they'd get little out of being in a group with 5/6 other children.

I or my TA would do a guided reading session with them at other times, sometimes lunch hour, or squeezed in somewhere during timetable. So technically I'd have 7 or 8 groups.

Have you asked the teacher? Sorry haven't read whole thread, may have missed if you have.

[justbogoffnow]

Have a friend who is still teaching and is in a school that gets stellar OFSTED reports (has done for ages). They don't do guided reading anymore, stopped about 2 years ago, no drop in standards.

[numbum]

No I didn't want to ask the teacher if it was a non issue. She has a job share and it appears the teachers listen to one group twice a week so her group get missed. It's either that the teachers feel the need to listen to that group twice a week or that they don't realise one group is being missed

lifeissweet I'm offended that you think I don't appreciate how much the teachers do. This is just a snap shot and I was worried about my DD becoming too sure off herself and not wanting to read to me

I know how much effort goes on and I also curse parents for moaning about trivial matters, I am a parent governor and the things parents whine about are ridiculous

I just wasn't sure if her not having guided reading at all was an issue

[whatalovelyday]

My dd is year 1 too and I don't think she's been heard reading at school yet this year, at least no note in her reading log book. I have been reading with her every night though and I think that's probably enough for her - but I think she could do with going up a band as starting to find this one very easy - but she found reading really tough last year in reception so maybe I'll let her enjoy finding it easy before suggesting a harder band.

In your case I would grab a word with the teacher when you have a chance. It seems that your issue is as much that she's been placed in the wrong group? I guess as it's still fairly early into the year they are still working out who's up to what and depending on the teacher she may be grateful if you point out your view, or of course she may not be! Also, as others have said, she could have other reasons ie comprehension to have her in that group.

I have no idea what group my dd is in - need to go and help so I can have a bit of a spy!

[learnandsay]

Looks like a case of not enough parent helpers to me. Can't you rustle up a list of parents who are willing to go in and listen to the children reading? We've only just started Reception and it looks as though my daughter is getting listened to once a week or thereabouts, (there was one week without a comment.) But together we do readings galore at home and I put comments in her reading log. Later on I'd be perfectly happy if she got listened to every two weeks or so if (as is the case) that the school carried on partnering with me in reading practice through her reading log. I wouldn't want my daughter to develop a I don't have to read at school, why should I read at home? attitude. And if that did happen I'd speak to the teacher. Even if it was five minutes every couple of weeks it would be the principle of reading at school which would help, not necessarily the extra practice itself.

[Churmy123]

My daughter is in Yr 1 and does guided reading every week. She also reads with the teacher or TA 3 or 4 times a week and I read with her every night and some mornings too. Its quite a big increase from reception where she only read with the teacher once a week.

[whatalovelyday]

You lot are so much better informed than me about what's going on in your dc's classes. I didn't even know what guided reading was when I posted - assumed it was just reading to someone - but just googled. Need to up the communication at my school (see separate thread) sorry to hijack! Good luck talking to the teacher.