Ques for teachers please: What benefit is there for DS in Yr 1 to read alone to himself in class?

[Numberfour]

I pick up a reception child on Fridays and go past DS's Yr 1 class when I do so (I am a childminder). Last Friday I saw DS sitting quietly in class reading a book to himself.

I am not being critical of his teacher because I am new to this, DS being my one and only. I just wondered what was the point of reading to himself if he did not know some words. He is on Oxford Reading Orange band books, that makes any sense, so his reading is okay and he does not subvocalise when he reads. But why let him read to himself in class?

Why not? Both my dc have read books to themselves every day since starting school. Only occasionally do they read to an adult at school.

I was wondering because there is no way of noting how he is doing or if he is actually reading or if he can read the words. He does this at home but that's different, imo.

I can understand that they would only occasionally read to an adult at school.

I'd see nothing wrong with it either tbh.

I am not saying that there is anything wrong with it - not at all.

Maybe I just cannot remember doing this myself at school.

Thanks, Pixie - that makes sense: learning how to follow a narrative. I agree that reading silently is a superb skill to develop. He does not sub vocalise which is great. I am very happy about that. Neither does he use his finger to follow each word so he really is doing well.

So I guess it is just a case of practising over and over, something I keep on telling him is important

Children in y1 and y2 at our school are encouraged to choose and read (or look at) a book, to keep them quiet/busy if they finish a piece of work ahead of the rest of the class. It is only for a few minutes.

It could well be a case of DS having finished his work, pip, because he is quite an able child and is coping well at school.

Thanks - it is making sense to me now.

I find this question quite bizarre.

I thought the general consesus was that reading was a good thing we try to encourage as much as possible.

So why would you not expect your child (who at Orange band is reading fairly well) to be reading silently to himself?

Just because he is not asked if he understood it or not does not mean he didn't understand.....

I would help he is reading silently by himself to develop reading skills, fluency, independence, concentration, and enjoyment of reading.

And I would hope you would also be encouraging him to do silent reading at him (if not at orange band - very soon after)....

Yes, of course reading is a good thing. I love reading and come from a reading family so one of the pleasures in life I would love for my Ds to develop is a love of reading.

He reads to himself at home, we read together etc etc etc . So, I may not have explained myself correctly if you thought that reading was not something I encouraged, Indigo. To the contrary, in fact.

Your saying that reading to himself is to "develop reading skills, fluency, independence, concentration and enjoyment of reading" is the kind of answer I was looking for. Of course: I can now see that if he can read quietly to himself then those skills are developing well and will stand him in very good stead for his school career and for whatever he chooses to do further.

I don't know much about the science of teaching and learning or the psychology thereof. I don't know why a child would be left to read by himself but having asked this question and had some great answers, it now makes sense to me.

DH and I are delighted at DS' reading skills and interest. Particularly as DH struggles with literacy whereas I am currently studying for an MA in Early Years Education. (I have an interest in Education but I don't know everything about it yet hence the question!)

Thanks so much for all the replies to what must have seen like an odd question!

Apologies for any typos: I am standing and typing on a tiny and annyoing notebook.