Would you talk to the teacher about this - reading related?

[TheRepublicOfDreams]

My DS has been listened to only 6 times this year. This is less than once a week on average.

The first few weeks I understand that they are settling in, so no listening until the 20th is understandable (they get sounds for the first few weeks until they are secure then move to books). when they only start on the 2nd September.

Then 3 days later (good, about what I would expect)
Then a gap of four days (still ok :) )
Then not for 10 days (ok, maybe they were moving to once a week for the more secure?)
Then five days (again going on the week theory)
A week later he was moved to books. And has not been listened to since. We have now been back at school for over a week and nothing. I know they are reading his comments in his record as we asked for two books over half term and they were provided. However, on the Tuesday after returning we had to ask for them to be changed as they hadn't been (wouldn't you just change them automatically, or at least check, given that the odds are fairly high that it has been read as we had a week off?) I again had to ask for the book to be changed after we had it for four days.

I guess reading it back it actually doesn't sound THAT bad, especially as I know that they cant listen to everyone as it would take something like 5 hours and they do need time to teach other stuff and reading isn't the be all and end all, but reading is really the only feedback we sometimes get as to how our DC are doing and I would have thought that after putting him on books in the middle of last month he at least would have read to the teacher, or even TA, at least once since then. He tries so hard, bless him, but lacks confidence and I just think it would help if the teacher told him he was doing good/ok/trying hard to help with his confidence.

I am being paranoid aren't I? But the teacher is very unapproachable so I don't want to go to her unneccesarily.

Sorry, forgot to say, although it is probably obvious!, DS is in reception.

Also want to add that I do read with him daily, so he is progressing well regardless :)

relax.

the kids will be all over the place - the day back after half term is busy for all sorts of reasons and changing books might not have been a priority. you know they are reading your comments - but sometimes there just isn't time to respond immediately.

6 times is fine. i bet as the year goes on it will be more frequent.

why not volunteer as a reading buddy for the school? listening to kids read takes up a huge amount of a teacher or TA's time, and often schools are grateful for the support of a couple of parents so that they can hear children read more often. they are usually more keen for parent help in y1 or 2 though, as most of the yr r's will be at a fairly early stage in learning. (not all - some will be whizzing through c s lewis lol)

No, I wouldn't talk to the teacher if I were you - you migh get labelled as a PITA parent.

It sounds fine, really - my dd was probably listened to individually about 6 times in the whole reception year!!! Rightly, the teacher concentrated on the kids who needed more help, but there were plenty of other opportunities for the teacher to assess dd's reading progress.

Just relax, keep reading at home and he'll be fine. :)

in Yr- no I wouldn't make a big deal out of it. You hear him read which is great, school are teaching him phonics which is great, the two work together and he should finish Year R reading.

If you would like to change the school book more often ask to do that.

If you have a reading record book do use it and write in what you have done at home.

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Yes, i agree with MadWoman - they sound like they do not have enough helpers. In DD's class there are at least 4 parents who go in and help listen to children read. I listen to half the class when i am there and this is across all abilities, not just focussed on a certain group.

Also, it takes a fair while to switch the books over to make sure they are ones they have not had before, on the right level etc.

Oh thank you all so much! You have made me feel so much better about it! I was just getting worried. Just see, he will come back tomorrow with a comment in his book, I am sure! :)

I would love to help, but they do not take parent helpers at our school. There are two TA's in the afternoon I believe, but it is a full class of 30, so I imagine they are busy!

Now that would frustrate me. Either they listen to individual reading or they let people help if they don't have time. Do you know why they don't allow parent helpers? Could you challenge this?

i know they have enough helpers in my dd's class. she is in y2 and hasnt been heard for a month now. i know that they weaker readers are listened to a couple of times a week and it seems that just because she can read well that they think she doesnt need to be listened to any more!
wouls you say something. i would be happy with once a fortnight at her age and stage. In reception it was 2 or three times a week which was great, in y1 it was about once a week and now hardly at all. Is this normal or would you say something.
Sorry to have highjacked your post.

Similar to my DS in Y2 about once a week is fine I would say. There is lots going on in school, sometimes there are visitors, events etc... and they are all busy doing stuff, preparing for Xmas... that's more fun for my DS (6) than individual reading with an adult. Teachers are very busy people and it takes a lot of time to read with children individually.

I (as you) read with him each day and they get lots of practice and progress.

And if your DS is in YR then there is no reason to worry anyway as they are all so different, some will soon read fluently and others are not ready to read at all.

Agree, relax. My DS2 has been listened to three times in total, according to his reading record. But...

his book is changed twice/three times weekly, and I read with him daily;

his teacher knows him inside out - at his parents' evening, I was amazed just how much she had picked up, in so little time;

it was exactly the same with DS1, and he finished his reading scheme books a term into Year 2, and is now reading football reports in the Guardian.

I think the time to worry, is if the school books are not at the right level. I did have a word with the teacher when DS1 seemed to be ready to jump up to the next level (he had one of those lovely development spurts when it all clicked).