Sorry, another reading one... how to stop DD from guessing

[Pozzled]

DD1 is in reception. Her reading has really taken off recently - her school don't use bookbands but she's somewhere around green level. The problem is that she is starting to guess unfamiliar words from the context rather than sounding out. Whenever she makes a mistake, I get her to use her phonics, but how can I get her to do this automatically? More phonics practice? Reading words out of context? Harder books so that she has to 'sound out' more often?

(Don't suggest I ask her teacher- the school would be quite happy for her to use mixed methods. I'm not.)

you obviously have experience of bored disruptive isolated pupils?

how are they going to learn a rich vocabulary if you never expose them to it?

I have a child who is pre verbal but he enjoys the patterns and sounds of text

they might enjoy "fantastical" more than "house" why limit a child

We do Talking Partners in Reception and it's really successful in boosting vocabulary and grammar.

We know from lots of sources (pupil voice, pupil interviews, parental surveys, etc) that our children are far from bored.

Yes clattypatty I'm very serious ... why should a child be restricted to hearing " The big cat sat on the mat" ... why can't they listen to quality texts ... why can't they just enjoy the rhythm and pattern as part of their day?

I am pretty sure any advice offered would have attracted the same response.

One child manages to say 'toilet' and that is his only English after two years in school.

If this is really true, I would imagine this child has more problems than EAL to cope with. That would be very unusual indeed for a child in a new language environment.

Yes, you can enjoy the sound even if you don't understand as mrz says. Rather like reading to very young children. I've been surprised that my 4 year old likes listening to all sorts of things, and she did when she was 2 too .

I told/read stories and sang songs to my children when they were tiny babies ... before they knew any words before they understood the meaning of my words ...were they bored?

I haven't seen any direct questions

Then your head needs to research language development clattypatty

Some sounds in English aren't found in other languages so often EAL children need to develop awareness of the sounds of English.

clattypatty
I agree - they have to be able to communicate first using everyday language!
Have you heard of talk boost?
www.ican.org.uk/talkboost

Talking of strange sounds, we're going to Wales, were I was brought up, in a couple of weeks time and it's great to watch my whole family all learning to pronounce the place name Llanychaer.

I was also brought up in Wales - South Wales.

No one is disputing they have to be able to communicate ipadquiety but that doesn't exclude listening to stories that contain more advanced vocabulary