Reading a waste of time during lesson

[chillx]

My son is 13yrs old and reads regularly at home. During their English lesson the pupils sit in silence for 40 minutes in silence for 'reading for pleasure'. I personally think this is a waste of the pupils and teachers time together. I'd rather my son worked on his spellings or actually learnt something from his teacher. Whilst I understand that not every child wants reads in their own time I know plenty that do. It could be set as homework. Am I being unreasonable to think their time together could/should be better spent?

[Badhairday1001]

Just read the rest of the posts. I am a teacher and my class read for 30 - 60 mins daily. In that time I either listen to pupils read, read to the class or deliver interventions. I work in an SEN school and despite some pupils coming in to the class with a very low reading age within a few months of regular dedicated reading time daily they are all exceeding their reading and writing targets. The more children read the better they progress in all subjects.

[Badhairday1001]

Sorry about the lack of punctuation and grammar, I've had a few wines.

[echt]

echt: Well, you seem to have an answer to everything

Well, this is about opinions after all, so I don't understand your reproving tone.

Unfortunately, your answers seem to be more likely to make the lives of teachers harder, not easier, without very much benefit to students in the grand scheme of things

The teacher actually taking a full part in the lesson they're in, and not doing admin unrelated to that class will always be of benefit to students. For what it's worth, It's a some time since silent reading was done where I teach, because it didn't fully engage (horrid word) all students. A more active book club and blogging has increased reading engagement, even with reluctant readers. No time for admin though.

[NaomiCole]

If you can't read then you can't access the rest if the curriculum. If you can't read confidently then that will hold you back. Practicing reading with no other objective is ALWAYS worthwhile.

And your kid is able but wasn't in the mood? Now I DO appriciate your viewpoint (I promise!) But what about the less able kid who really doesn't want to do maths but has to? Doesn't want to do music but has to? Struggles with geography but gets on with it? Just because you do it at home doesn't mean that you can opt out at school. Doing stuff you're not in the mood to do is an important life lesson as well as generally good for your education.

[NightCzar]

This feels off topic now, but to go back to the original post...my friend is an excellent, dedicated english teacher who works harder than almost all our other friends. I know for a fact she sets "silent reading" when she's been out the night before.

[Tinkerbec]

Our school uses accelerated reader. Y7 and 8 read for an hour a week.
They quiz on their books and it gives out a reading age.
www.renlearn.co.uk/accelerated-reader/

There is so much admin to do as teachers. Too much! However if a student is not in my lesson they are marked with an N. I don't have time to chase them. The attendance officer can check all class records on Sims / Cmos or whatever system schools use and can chase the student accordinginly.

My school would be in uproar if we had to chase the previous lessons teacher who probably all have their own class infront of them.

Also admin while Reading not in my school. If you take your eyes awat for one second. You end up with behavioural issues.