How often do you listen to your 'able' child read?

[theotherboleyngirl]

DS is Yr2, very able across the board and was a free-reader at the end of Yr1. His Yr 2 teacher put the three free readers in the class back on to white band which I'm perfectly happy with, although he does find them very easy to read we can always get something from them in terms of new vocab or comprehension or discussion of characters etc and it forces him to read books outside of his preferred genre etc.

The info home about listening to your child read is blanket for the class - every day for at least 15 minutes. I have 2 yr old DT's and to be honest I'm struggling to give him that undivided listening time (I'm partially deaf so I can't hear him unless it's me sat next to him with no toddlers playing nearby!) on top of other homework, clubs, cooking dinner, bathing kids etc. I'm wondering if it really is necessary to still listen to him every day? Could I get away with 4 times a week? And would this actually affect his progress/ability at all? I'd rather a few times a week if I can get 1:1 time with DS it wasn't always automatically given over to having to do one thing, reading, to make sure we fit it in - I'd like to be able to play with him, or draw, or chat too!

As a side note, DS has taken to reading the dictionary 'for fun' so I don't think I overly need to worry about expanding his vocab... and he probably reads to himself for approx 1.5 hours a day just 'because' anyway...

Just wondering how often others listen to their child and therefore whether I can drop it down a bit...

[vesela]

Any good tips for getting DD (5.5) to read to me? She's been reading by herself for about the last month or so, and does so most days, but is reluctant to read more than a couple of sentences on odd occasions to me. At first she used to like "reading me a story," but not any more.

I explain why I need to listen to her, but although she's usually amenable to explanations, I think with reading she feels a bit exposed - that I'm going to keep picking her up on stuff. She's happy that she "can read," but doesn't like to feel exposed.

I once read to her from a book I have - "oh look, it says here that even when children can read by themselves, you should listen to your child read three times a week so that..." - and that cut some ice, so I may try that approach again.

[Quip]

I'm feeling bad now: on a good week ds1 brings home 2 books so we read once or twice. He's ahead for his age but won't read for pleasure so school books are all the reading he gets. He also has to fit in 2 instrument practices every night so we are short on time. He loves being read to so I'm hoping sooner or later he'll start reading for himself.

[stopthinkingsomuch]

I hear you op. I've got 3 kids and wondering if we might be able to share a book between yr2 (ok reader) and yr4 (reluctant but can) as then yr 4 will listen to the great questions Ds asks. Will help both of them. I bet it would beat any darn reading scheme and be a bonding bedtime moment etc.

[morethanpotatoprints]

My dd is 8 would be year 4 and she reads for about 2 hours a day (in bursts) also spends 30 mins reading to me or dh with comprehension questions (about 45 mins in total).

[choccyp1g]

Perhaps you could get him to read to the twins, thus giving you a bit of peace as well.

[mrz]

theliteracytree.co.uk/downloads/Parents%27%20Reading%20Bookmark.pdf

There is a misprint (it should say texts not tests on the right)

[sleeplessinsuburbia]

I would ask dc questions about the book they are reading independently and read to the dc a couple if times a week to model as sometimes food readers are lazy readers.

[BrittaPerry]

We don't really do 'reading time' iyswim, but we do hear her read a few times a day. I ask her to read recipes, instructions etc out to me while we do a thing, she reads story books to her baby sister, we look up information and so on. We also chat about the books she is reading by herself, and take turns reading chapters out loud to each other, but it is all very informal.

[Prarieflower]

Many thanks Fuzzy and Mrz .Why oh why such suggestions aren't stuck in the front of my dc's reading log I'll never know.Have asked sooooo many times!!!!

[theotherboleyngirl]

wow, thanks for all the help and tips - been out all day and just got back. DH is never home in time to listen to DS during the week but he normally manages to fit in listening to him once at the weekend. We do try and discuss things a lot - that's easier in many ways than actually listening to him read (because of my hearing). I will continue to try and make it as often as possible but maybe for slightly shorter periods - I think I got fixated on the 'at least 15 minutes' bit so if it would be better that it's 10 minutes frequently then I will aim for that (that's one episode of Peppa Pig so potentially more do-able with DT's distracted!).

[Tgger]

Can you hear him after the Dts have gone to bed?

[Fuzzymum1]

Suggested questions to support comprehension.

before reading:
*look at the title, cover and illustration. What do you think will happen in this book? what makes you think that?
*What characters do you think will be in this book?
*Do you think there will be a problem in the story? Why?
*What do you already know about the topic of this book?
*Do you think it will be like any other book you've read?

During reading
*What has happened in the story so far? Can you tell me using sequence words, ie first, then, next after, finally?
*What do you think will happen next?
*How do you think the story will end?
*Why do you think the character did..........?
*What would you have done if you were that character?
*How would you have felt if you were that character?
*Think about your predictions before you read the story, do you still think the story will go that way? Why or why not? How do you think it will go now?

After reading
*Why is the title a good title for the story? If you had to give it a different title what would it be?
*Were your predictions correct? Did you change your mind while you read? If so what made you change your mind?
*If there was a problem, was it solved? How did the character try to solve it?
*Why do you think the author wrote this book?
*Is there a moral to the story?
*What was your favourite part? Why?
*If you could change one part which part would it be?
*If you could ask the author a question what would you ask?
*Can you retell the story in sequence order?
*Is there a character in the sotry that makes you think of someone you know? If so who are they like and why do you think that?

[Fuzzymum1]

Pairieflower i have a list of suggested questions etc, i will dig it out and post it here.

[pointythings]

I agree with mrz that talking about what you are reading is what matters with able readers - my DDs are 9 and 11 and don't read to me every night - but I most certainly do read to them every night, and we talk about what we have read.

[PigeonPie]

I listen to DS1 (Yr 2) read every evening after bath. He is very able (last book James and the Giant Peach), but I still listen to it all because there are often words which he won't quite know how to pronounce or what they mean and it's good to discuss these things. It's also good to be able to share a book.

Either I or DH will listen to DS2 (Yr R) read earlier - usually after supper as he's too tired to do it after bath. Works for us and means that we get some quiet time together.

[lljkk]

it depends on the child. At some point it just felt like it was slowing them down to have them read to me so we dropped the habit. I can't say how old they were.

[MissBeehivingUnderTheMistletoe]

I have a 15 minute drive with DS to school every day so I listen to him read during that and we discuss. DS likes doing the "voices" of the characters.

[AChickenCalledKorma]

I still hear my 7yo free reader every (school) night. But sometimes she reads a whole chunk of her book for herself and then we talk about it. She might then read me a page or so, but I don't sit and listen for anything like 15mins. Her teacher recommended this approach.

[expatbrat]

My DS is an advanced reader. I still get him to read out loud even if it's a couple of paragraphs. It's about putting emphasis on certain words while reading and adding inflection, holding the listeners attention and making it exciting. All very valuable when they are older and need to talk or make speeches to a crowd/class.
I love listening to him read and am eternally grateful to the TA that taught him to read like this.

[mrz]

Even if it's only a single page read aloud it's worth the effort

[FamiliesShareGerms]

I could have written this OP word for word, so grateful for the advice received so far! DS prefers reading to himself than out loud to us, and with DD as well to juggle, we've slipped into not listening to him more than once or twice a week. Must do better!

[Elibean]

dd1 is now in Y4, and has been a fluent (if occasionally reluctant) reader since Y1, but I still hear her read - probably 3-4 times per week, and the rest of the time she reads to herself and I try to chat about what she's read etc.

She's very good at sounding out new vocab without having a clue what it means - and is prone to blagging it - so reading with her is an opportunity to explain actual meanings!

[LadyLapsang]

I agree with the teacher - every day, but it doesn't have to be you. Won't your DH / DP hear her read either before or after work on some days or when she goes on playdates the other parent may be happy to hear her read; friends & relatives could also help out.

[HolyAutumnGoldBatman]

Once a week, if that

She seems to be doing ok though.

[mrz]

I would try to spend 10 mins reading every night rather than spend longer twice a week. Newer reading schemes often have questions at the back.
For older more able readers I would encourage them to "infer" rather than just factual recall ...why do you think ? What might ? How do you think X feels now? Why do you think the author said ...? Why has the author put those words in capitals/bold/wiggly ....? type question and just spend a minute or two swapping ideas.