Do your children get read to at school?

[bookbag40]

Just wondered do your children get a story read to them every day at school? Mine don't seem to and never have (they are year 1 and year 3).

When I was at school we used to sit on the carpet at the end of the day for a story - usually a chapter book. I remember really enjoying it. It was nice to listen to a story for pleasure, the teach role modelled reading with expression and we usually had a discussion about the book, who we liked what we thought would happen next etc.

This just doesn't seem to happen now which I think is a real shame. I read to my children every night but I think there are probably a lot of children who don't get read to and being read to everyday could really help them.

Is our school unique in not doing this or do others not do it too. Is it that the day is just so packed now and teacher have to constantly be showing progression etc that this would be seen as 'ofstead' as a pointless activity?

[dontknowwhat2callmyself]

Dd's class Y4 are read to but I think it's usually just once a week.

[AChickenCalledKorma]

Yes, mine both do. 15 mins at the end of each day. DD2 is now in year 5 and still has a story at the end of each day. I was in her class for an open afternoon recently and it was clearly a well-established part of their "end of the day" routine.

[clam]

I've been a primary teacher for 28 years and was trained to believe in storytime being sacrosanct. I have to admit that a few years back it seemed that it was being elbowed out of the curriculum a bit, but I've rebelled and placed it firmly back on the timetable.
If I say so myself, I'm bloody good at reading/telling stories, and there is nothing to beat the rapt silence as they hang on your every word, eyes wide, as you relate stories from authors that might be beyond their reach as readers themselves. Often, when I get to a cliff-hanger and stop until the next session, there's an audible sigh and a spontaneous round of applause.

I defy Ofsted to visist, witness that and object.

[eddiemairswife]

Until I retired I read to my classes most days (Y5/ Y6), and I would still do it. They enjoyed it, and would want to borrow the books when they were finished. Inner city school, most children from Indian/Pakistani heritage, many parents not fluent in English. On one occasion a girl asked if she could keep a book for longer as her Dad was reading it. I remember from my long ago schooldays how much we enjoyed the books our teachers would read to us.

[Beautifullymixed]

I'm a TA in a year 2 class, and they are read to every day, just before home time. It's a lovely time, the children adore it- you can hear a pin drop. It's usually a chapter book and this fuels the excitement, as they wait for the next installment.
The class is wonderfully calm before home time, and I can tidy the classroom in peace

[Beautifullymixed]

Oh, and I also remember being read to by my teacher- and hanging on to every word.
The Narnia series, and later on Judy Blume books. The feeling of wonderment. Amazing.

[Thatssofunny]

I have Year 6 and try to read to them at the end of each day. When there's too much on and I'm ditching guided reading, I'll also read to them at that time. It can sometimes take them a little while to get into a book, but they really appear to enjoy our current one and complain when I stop. All of our classes have class readers and all of the kids are read to regularly. We tend to develop our English lessons around different "high quality texts". (Although sometimes I just pick a book I know they'll just enjoy. My class really liked "I know what you did last Wednesday"...and all the deaths in it.)

Whenever I get a new class, I read them my favourite story on the first day. They usually still remember it several years later and ask for me to read it repeatedly.

[sillysausagewithsauce]

Y6 teacher here. Despite the overcrowded curriculum I make sure I read to my class every day for 10-15 mins. currently reading 'Wonder'. They love it; I love it!
I find it very hard to believe that a y1 child/class wouldn't have stories. Are you sure? Children that age don't always have a brilliant recollection of there day at school!

[Pikkewyn]

Yes, everyday during morning snack they are read to by the teacher/TA in younger years it is a picture book, in junior classes they start a chapter book and get a chapter a day read to them.

[LonelyThisChristmas28]

I am a TA so do get to work with children with all abilities and in my school I read with all children as we have guided reading everyday and we have groups according to reading ability so I am reading with a different group each day but I also do one to one reading with certain children that need it most days (unless busy)

[LonelyThisChristmas28]

Adding to that I mean when in guided reading I do also read a page or two (depending how long for each group) to the kids and when I do one to one We also like to take it in turns reading a page each! It works well and the kids love it

[zingally]

I teach year 1, and either read to them, or tell them a story (which they LOVE) at least 3 days a week. I love it, and think it's so important. Unfortunately it does get squeezed out some days, with other demands from the curriculum.

[JennyBlueWren]

I try to read everyday and sometimes will read twice in a day. I use it as a bribe to get ready quickly -might have time for two stories, first one ready gets to choose etc. Up the school I'll do a chapter a day and give children a chance to prepare and read a chapter to the class as a special treat. It's great for discussing a book as you're all reading it together and it doesn't exclude any children.

[Starlightbright1]

MY DS year 3 does get read to..Can't say how often but his friends and him have even made jokes that refer to the books...

[Tzibeleh]

Mine were read to all the way through primary. Usually at the end of the day, and usually several times a week.

Even in Y6 they were still being read to, if not as frequently as before.

I still have one dc in primary, so this is current.

[mrz]

We have a "5 a day" policy in EYs and Y1 (stories that is) and other classes have a class novel read to them every day as we believe it's essential all children share stories with adults. I'm afraid guided reading just doesn't fit the bill.

[simpson]

I am an LSA in yr3 & the class is read to (from a chapter book) every day & I know both DC are read to as well (same school).

[erin99]

Yes, loads I think (also Y1 and Y3). It's not something they talk about much, but we see them through the window.

Are you sure yours don't though? I can't imagine YR without stories!.

[18yearstooold]

I've actually just written an essay on this subject at uni

It does seem that in some schools reading stories has been pushed off the curriculum by the NLS but only in junior years not infants

I would be very surprised if a yr 1 class wasn't having a story. Both my DC had them and the schools I've observed have done them in KS1 -KS2 it was a bit more hit or miss though

[suze28]

I teach a mixed yr3/4 class and we have a class book that I read to them for twenty minutes at the end of every day. We've just finished Mr Stink which they loved.
I need to choose a new book now for next half term.
I think it's vitally important the children listen to an adult reading aloud and they are completely absorbed in the story.

[18yearstooold]

I was a rat

I live that book ??

[mrz]

18yearstoold the NLS hasn't been around since 2006

[18yearstooold]

Yes but the research shows that reading whole books to KS2 has been a declining trend since the introduction of it

Whole book reading is still thought to go on in 80% of schools but 20% is a worrying number that don't get that experience
There have also been concerns raised over the quality of the books shared and whether there is opportunity to discuss the books or whether it's a passive exercise for the children

[mrz]

Yes but you can't attribute that decline to something that was never statutory and hasn't existed since 2006.

[18yearstooold]

It's impossible to prove a reason either way, i'm just sharing the research, not necessarily my view although I do think it's one piece of the puzzle