DS helping another boy with reading in lesson time

[RedKa]

My DS is in year 3 and is an advanced reader, on G&T register, etc. He told me the other night he had missed parts of some lessons because the teacher had asked him to help another boy with his words (he's well behind with reading). Should the school be doing this? I would rather my DS was given additional tasks to stretch his learning rather than being used like this and held back. I also feel quite resentful because the school places a lot of emphasis on parents reading with their child at home and I am pretty sure this boy's mother doesn't ... so my DS has to!

I can see what you mean, but it might benefit your ds in all kinds of ways, actually, eg self-esteem, social interaction skills, understanding others who are less bright/the learning process. My ds was 'used' by his primary school in this way to a limited extent, and on balance I'd say he benefited from it, particularly in terms of learning not to be impatient with other children's pace of work. It heightened his sense of responsibility.

I know at my dd's school they get some of yr 5 and yr 6 to help the reception classes with letter formation. This has proved a big success. I would want to ask the teacher if this will be a regular thing and how long would ds spend helping?

I would love my ds (who's yr 2) to be given the chance to do this, for exactly the reasons fauve says - and he'd love it too - he sometimes tells me about being allowed to do it in his own class, helping with sums, that sort of thing.

But it should not be at the expense of your ds's own learning, so it might be eg at break time, or another time when your ds wants to do it. Oh, that's a thing - does your ds want to do it? Because of course this shouldn't happen if he's being forced into it.

How does he feel about it, RedKa? Is he happy/proud of this status, or frustrated that he is being kept away from other work? Has he been given this role because he has finished these other lessons before the other pupils?

I agree with Fauve, it could be very useful to him (I wish my dd would be given the same opportunity, it would increase her confidence and self -esteem too!) - but only if it is done with his understanding and is not affecting his own progress. Maybe a quick word with the teacher when you collect him might reassure you.

I was asked to do this at primary school

I still remember teaching x to read The Pit Pony - it was brilliant

This is the current new thinking behind this.If your child is helping another read he is showing them how to break down words and showing how two sounds together can make another without even knowing he is developing a greater understanding of the whole reading thing himself,so that is how it helps your child.I agree parents can and should do more though.

I used to help slower readers when I was at school (many moons ago!!) and the same thing happens in dd2's school. In their mixed-age classes (P1-4 and P5-7) the older ones help the younger ones and it seems that both sides of the equation benefit. But I would want to find out exactly what my child was missing, in your case, Redka.

Thanks for your reassurances. I had a word with his teacher and it is practice for the brighter group of children to help others in maths and reading, particularly when they already know the work being covered. DS seems to enjoy this. He is popular with his class and a lot of the children look up to him. The teacher said that she tries to provide alternative exercises but that it is not always possible when she has to plan for the whole class. I can see the benefits of DS helping others and developing a range of skills but I am concerned that he is not being stretched academically.

Dd reads to other children in her class and she absolutely adores it. I think if he likes doing it then I wouldn't worry. If you're worried about his work then I would speak to his teacher/G&T person - sounds like he had finished everything he'd been given in that lesson already and the teacher hadn't bargained on that!

I think there has been research showing that G&T kids benefit both from being mentored by older kids and doing mentoring in the way your son's doing it - but I can't give you chapter and verse, I'm afraid.

Hmm agree with the others about could be good for your ds but not at the expense of being stretched himself. Can the G&T (can't help thinking of Gordon's!) people help the teacher come up with some more demanding stuff for your ds to do if he's bored by/already completed the class work?

I used to finish what we were supposed to be doing early and was soooo bored waiting for everyone else to finish - great that they now have better support for the quicker kids.

I agree you need to check how your son is being stretched enough - and keep checking. But as you say, there are benefits to him helping others. And school isn't just about learning.

Can I ask why you seem pretty sure the other boy's parents don't read with their child at home? I have two sons. Ds1 age (11) picked up reading easily. Ds2 (6) is having a struggle. Ds2 has had more reading and writing attention at home than ds1, but that's the way it goes I guess.

Also, IME having good reading and writing skills may well be a sign of general brightness, but I would say many children can be bright in other ways or develop later. This was certainly the case for me. I was labelled as 'a slow developer' by my primary school teacher but went on to get a good degree (no brain of britain, but not so bad).

I think it's important that children in primary school don't think their classmates in lower groups are 'stupid' or that the children in the top group are automatically the 'brightest in the class' . I hope whatever the teacher is doing, she is making sure that isn't happening.

Studies seem to show that one of the reasons why the older of two siblings does better academically (on average) is because teaching or helping another child actually improves the 'mentor's' performance. So not only is this giving your child self-esteem, new skills, both social and academic and teaching him to be more empathetic and patient, it will probably also stretch him and help him achieve more himself. Sounds win-win to me.

I think you should be very proud of him. He sounds great.

Um, that was meant to have a - of course, I know that you are proud of him!

Tigermoth's right - being ahead of the others in primary school, or even secondary, doesn't mean there will be huge gap between you and everyone else in adulthood. It all tends to level out. By the time you get to university you are surrounded by lots of bright people and not so special.

It's important bright kids don't label other kids as stupid, and that those who take longer to learn don't see themselves as stupid or the bright kids' achievements as unattainable.

Mind you, there was one girl at school who made such a spectacularly dense comment I still think of her fondly. CofE middle school, RE lesson, she calls across 'Edam, where was Jesus born again?'! Doh...

Edam, when I was at secondary school a group of us went, as another girl's birthday treat, to see Jesus Christ Superstar. I was in the loo when I overheard two of my classmates talking:
Girl 1: 'it's great isn't it!'
Girl 2: 'Yeah, but I know what happens in the end'
Girl 1 (anxiously): 'Oh, don't tell me!'

Oh, that's hysterical.

Mind you, I have a horrible feeling that Girl 1 went on to have a hugely lucrative career in advertising!

lol at aloha's story!

edam - I usde to make GCSE Rel Studies papers and some Year 11s don't know where Jesus was born...

But we had been through CofE first school, were in CofE middle school, had Vicar Virtue (true!) once a week and Assembly every day. You think she'd know about Bethlehem especially as her best friend always got to play Mary in the nativity play (blonde hair, blue eyes, soooo unfair). [green]

oops, meant !

In the secondary school wher ei taught until the summer we had a reading club where kids with a low reading age could come in the morning and read with a sixth former. In a way I know your son is in primary but it's a similar scheme and will help him as others have said