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Primary education

How often do you listen to your 'able' child read?

34 replies

theotherboleyngirl · 03/11/2012 11:24

DS is Yr2, very able across the board and was a free-reader at the end of Yr1. His Yr 2 teacher put the three free readers in the class back on to white band which I'm perfectly happy with, although he does find them very easy to read we can always get something from them in terms of new vocab or comprehension or discussion of characters etc and it forces him to read books outside of his preferred genre etc.

The info home about listening to your child read is blanket for the class - every day for at least 15 minutes. I have 2 yr old DT's and to be honest I'm struggling to give him that undivided listening time (I'm partially deaf so I can't hear him unless it's me sat next to him with no toddlers playing nearby!) on top of other homework, clubs, cooking dinner, bathing kids etc. I'm wondering if it really is necessary to still listen to him every day? Could I get away with 4 times a week? And would this actually affect his progress/ability at all? I'd rather a few times a week if I can get 1:1 time with DS it wasn't always automatically given over to having to do one thing, reading, to make sure we fit it in - I'd like to be able to play with him, or draw, or chat too!

As a side note, DS has taken to reading the dictionary 'for fun' so I don't think I overly need to worry about expanding his vocab... and he probably reads to himself for approx 1.5 hours a day just 'because' anyway...

Just wondering how often others listen to their child and therefore whether I can drop it down a bit...

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Fuzzymum1 · 03/11/2012 12:04

In your situation I would aim for 2 or 3 times a week. If he's reading plenty by himself I wouldn't think it was necessary to read to you every day. My 5yo DS in Y1 is reading white/lime band and we listen to him most nights at bedtime but don't have younger children to care for (our other two are older teens). Some night we read to him and probably 5 nights a week on average he reads to us. If he wakes up early he chooses to read quietly to himself.

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Dramajustfollowsme · 03/11/2012 12:07

2-3 times a week at that age too.

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redskyatnight · 03/11/2012 12:13

DS's school suggests a minimum of 3 times a week for able readers - and that's at year 4. I personally would suggest trying to read as frequently as you can, but perhaps for a shorter time - maybe 5 minutes. One thing I do with DS is get him to read the start of the chapter, then read the rest himself and tell me about what happens - which is good for getting discussion going as well.

As another suggestion, could he read to one or both or your DTs?

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oddslippers · 03/11/2012 12:20

Ds2 is 4c reader in y4 so reading well. However I listen to him read every week night as I put him to bed because it is a nice close activity to do and there is still so much he gains from having me listen to him. I ask him questions as he reads to check understanding/inference. Also there are still loads of words that he reads fluently but perhaps doesn't know what they mean, an adult can explain these words.

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mrz · 03/11/2012 13:20

Every night

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expansivegirth · 03/11/2012 13:53

You have three kids and limited time with your child. If you can spend some of that time doing something else lovely like chatting or drawing, I'd take it. Particularly as you risk getting overworked/stressed/exhausted if you don't find a way to spread the load. Twins are exhausting alone; three kids are properly tiring.

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Runoutofideas · 03/11/2012 14:00

We had parents' evening for my able yr3 dd1 last week. Her teacher said that it was important to still hear her read as we need to discuss "reading between the lines", inference, use of tone and specific language. I aim for 2 or 3 times a week of proper reading and discussion as above. I don't see much point in just listening to her read a couple of pages, saying "well done" and forgetting about it. She reads to herself, out of choice, every day anyway. I would say quality is more important than quantity at this stage.

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ManifestingMingeHooHoosAgain · 03/11/2012 14:04

DD is only in yr1 so still getting the hang of things and too early to know if she is 'able'. But generally, I aim to listen to her read every single day, then about once a week she is just too busy (Rainbows or day out) so we skip a day without worrying about it.

I think if he is reading lots on his own then less often is fine but he may or may not be understanding a lot of what he is reading? I read lots from an early age but in hindsight, I didn't actually understand quite a lot of it Confused

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Prarieflower · 03/11/2012 14:07

Blimey I have 3 including twins,all very able free readers(Y3&4) and I barely get time to fit the homework in.Going to have to up my game re reading,any advice re fitting it in as I barely hear them twice a week?

We get zero input/advice from school.Mrz is there a list anywhere of questions etc to discuss?

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mrz · 03/11/2012 14:19

I would try to spend 10 mins reading every night rather than spend longer twice a week. Newer reading schemes often have questions at the back.
For older more able readers I would encourage them to "infer" rather than just factual recall ...why do you think ? What might ? How do you think X feels now? Why do you think the author said ...? Why has the author put those words in capitals/bold/wiggly ....? type question and just spend a minute or two swapping ideas.

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HolyAutumnGoldBatman · 03/11/2012 14:25

Once a week, if that Blush

She seems to be doing ok though.

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LadyLapsang · 03/11/2012 14:25

I agree with the teacher - every day, but it doesn't have to be you. Won't your DH / DP hear her read either before or after work on some days or when she goes on playdates the other parent may be happy to hear her read; friends & relatives could also help out.

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Elibean · 03/11/2012 16:20

dd1 is now in Y4, and has been a fluent (if occasionally reluctant) reader since Y1, but I still hear her read - probably 3-4 times per week, and the rest of the time she reads to herself and I try to chat about what she's read etc.

She's very good at sounding out new vocab without having a clue what it means - and is prone to blagging it - so reading with her is an opportunity to explain actual meanings!

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FamiliesShareGerms · 03/11/2012 16:28

I could have written this OP word for word, so grateful for the advice received so far! DS prefers reading to himself than out loud to us, and with DD as well to juggle, we've slipped into not listening to him more than once or twice a week. Must do better!

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mrz · 03/11/2012 16:42

Even if it's only a single page read aloud it's worth the effort

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expatbrat · 03/11/2012 17:18

My DS is an advanced reader. I still get him to read out loud even if it's a couple of paragraphs. It's about putting emphasis on certain words while reading and adding inflection, holding the listeners attention and making it exciting. All very valuable when they are older and need to talk or make speeches to a crowd/class.
I love listening to him read and am eternally grateful to the TA that taught him to read like this.

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AChickenCalledKorma · 03/11/2012 17:25

I still hear my 7yo free reader every (school) night. But sometimes she reads a whole chunk of her book for herself and then we talk about it. She might then read me a page or so, but I don't sit and listen for anything like 15mins. Her teacher recommended this approach.

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MissBeehivingUnderTheMistletoe · 03/11/2012 17:30

I have a 15 minute drive with DS to school every day so I listen to him read during that and we discuss. DS likes doing the "voices" Grin of the characters.

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lljkk · 03/11/2012 17:32

it depends on the child. At some point it just felt like it was slowing them down to have them read to me so we dropped the habit. I can't say how old they were.

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PigeonPie · 03/11/2012 17:35

I listen to DS1 (Yr 2) read every evening after bath. He is very able (last book James and the Giant Peach), but I still listen to it all because there are often words which he won't quite know how to pronounce or what they mean and it's good to discuss these things. It's also good to be able to share a book.

Either I or DH will listen to DS2 (Yr R) read earlier - usually after supper as he's too tired to do it after bath. Works for us and means that we get some quiet time together.

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pointythings · 03/11/2012 17:47

I agree with mrz that talking about what you are reading is what matters with able readers - my DDs are 9 and 11 and don't read to me every night - but I most certainly do read to them every night, and we talk about what we have read.

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Fuzzymum1 · 03/11/2012 20:59

Pairieflower i have a list of suggested questions etc, i will dig it out and post it here.

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Fuzzymum1 · 03/11/2012 21:19

Suggested questions to support comprehension.

before reading:
*look at the title, cover and illustration. What do you think will happen in this book? what makes you think that?
*What characters do you think will be in this book?
*Do you think there will be a problem in the story? Why?
*What do you already know about the topic of this book?
*Do you think it will be like any other book you've read?

During reading
*What has happened in the story so far? Can you tell me using sequence words, ie first, then, next after, finally?
*What do you think will happen next?
*How do you think the story will end?
*Why do you think the character did..........?
*What would you have done if you were that character?
*How would you have felt if you were that character?
*Think about your predictions before you read the story, do you still think the story will go that way? Why or why not? How do you think it will go now?

After reading
*Why is the title a good title for the story? If you had to give it a different title what would it be?
*Were your predictions correct? Did you change your mind while you read? If so what made you change your mind?
*If there was a problem, was it solved? How did the character try to solve it?
*Why do you think the author wrote this book?
*Is there a moral to the story?
*What was your favourite part? Why?
*If you could change one part which part would it be?
*If you could ask the author a question what would you ask?
*Can you retell the story in sequence order?
*Is there a character in the sotry that makes you think of someone you know? If so who are they like and why do you think that?

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Tgger · 03/11/2012 22:09

Can you hear him after the Dts have gone to bed?

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theotherboleyngirl · 03/11/2012 22:37

wow, thanks for all the help and tips - been out all day and just got back. DH is never home in time to listen to DS during the week but he normally manages to fit in listening to him once at the weekend. We do try and discuss things a lot - that's easier in many ways than actually listening to him read (because of my hearing). I will continue to try and make it as often as possible but maybe for slightly shorter periods - I think I got fixated on the 'at least 15 minutes' bit so if it would be better that it's 10 minutes frequently then I will aim for that (that's one episode of Peppa Pig so potentially more do-able with DT's distracted!).

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