I want to set up a reading reward scheme in Yr 2 - any ideas ?

[Iwanttoseethesea]

Hi, I'm at TA in a year 2 class and I'm looking to set up a good reading reward scheme for the kids when they read at home. We tried one last year where the kids had stickers on a chart for how many times they read at home , then the child with the most got a dip in the teachers box of treats ( pencils, rubbers etc) .

The only problem was the same boy won every week and always got the treat so the scheme kind of withered away.

I'm looking for a fun way to reward reading at home - help!

TIA

Thank you so much for your replies, I am really not sure how to respond to the comment as I have never in 20 years of being a parent had a situation like this. We are new to the area and new to this tiny little village school. I want to make his last year at primary a positive one and don't want to cause problems but at the same time I want to stick up for ds where I belive it is deserved.

I did not explicitly say I hold anyone back

I wont be changing my practice, the children in my class are on the right books.

And I am still waiting for the link anyway.

And stop acting like a prick

If anyone could help me with a reply in his book to the teacher that would be great, if problems still arise after that then I may need more help (and will start my own thread)

NoFuchs, that's really rubbish, specially as they didn't bother to tell you what was expected before they penalised your DS, and then drip-fed the instruction too.

I think you need to speak to the teacher if only to clarify what they are actually expecting. For example if your DS made a note of what he's read and you sign it. Would that meet their requirements? Or you ask him what his favourite facts were so you have something to comment on.

I don't think a bit of reading aloud hurts mind you, though every day sounds a bit dictatorial at that age. If you can, how about reading a play (HP? Shakespeare?) with him to give the reading aloud more purpose?

I'm kind of on the fence with the comprehension one.

"Comprehension" ticklists encompassing various reading skills - must be able to use inference and spot an adverb at 50 feet - can easily be worked on at the next level up.

Actual comprehension as in understanding the book, reading a story rather than a list of disconnected words - I think it would be very unmotivating for kids to be reading a book where they're not getting a story out of it.

Once they've basically cracked decoding, interest level and stamina play more of a part I'd think.

Yes, you did say you would refuse to move a child on:

I get so many parents tell me that I need to move their children up levels because they can 'read them', when all they are doing is decoding and not understanding what they are reading.

You need a link to the national curriculum for English? Wow. Okay.

www.google.co.uk/search?ei=FVgBWM6sCoiLgAbGsa-YAQ&q=national+curriculum+english&oq=national+curriculum+english&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.1.0.0l5.1642.4060.0.5304.8.8.0.4.4.0.830.3540.2-1j3j2j1j1.8.0....0...1c.1j4.64.mobile-gws-serp..1.7.1801...41j0i131k1j0i67k1.UPXMH_kYdD0

You can personally attack me all you like, but the curriculum is clear - your advice is wrong and those parents are right. Maybe that's why you have problems engaging them?

TeacherBob, you said you are new to MN. Just for your info, Feenie is another one of most trusted and respected MN teacher for long time.

NoFuchs, at my ds's school, it's children's responsibility to write in reading records book since YR2. Parents only need to initial it. Asking yr6 children's parents to write in instead of the child, and punishing child for it, are they not even trying to promote independence at all?

NoFuchs- do you have a younger child so your ds could take over bedtime stories? Or is there a book that you might both enjoy that you can take turns reading to each other? Ds and I used to do this when he felt he was too old for bedtime stories but still wanted one.

Otherwise I would probably be a bit creative with the reading record, to be honest

I think reading aloud can be very beneficial regardless of the age and stage so worth considering but agree punishment is absolute madness.
Would he read a paragraph or so to you so you?

I would write "read to page and discussed what he read" and sign

Feenie, I have that. I am still searching where it says 'rush children through the levels' when they aren't ready. Page number maybe?
And I did not say I hold children back, I used a general, (poor) example of parents wanting to rush children through levels when they are not ready. I didnt even mention what it is like in my class at any time.
I read with all my children, I know their levels. I also used examples in maths.
As for engaging with parents, I don't have any problems engaging with my parents. I am well known in my schools for being very good at that and have even led training on it.

Irvine, she/he may be respected, but there is nothing respectful about using such language as 'if you can be bothered to look at the national curriculum', especially when it was 10pm on a Friday night and I am still planning, because I know it will take up most of my weekend assessing, updating records, marking and creating resources, all based around a curriculum we use each and every day. Comments like that aren't being respectful in the slightest

And what was respectful about your post?

"Feenie I cant tell if you are a disillusioned teacher, an arrogant parent or just a bit of a twat tbh"

"I read with all my children,"

How often, out of interest?

No it wasn't mrz but I have had enough of her having little jibes when I post, when I am doing my best to explain myself.

Bert once a week with me and once a week with my TA is what I expect, but often only with me as TA has so much other things to do

So what is the rest of your class doing in the day and a half you're spending listening to each child reading?

I wouldn't describe questioning practice as "jibes"

We have guided reading sessions in which children read with me whilst others do a carousel of activities.
I read with children who don't read at home, generally during my lunch break. They are 5 so love coming in to read.
And we have intervention groups to target specific reading skills.

mrz, I would, in the way it is done. You are both fairly similar. You just basically say 'you are wrong' without any justification. I can post a long reply and get a one sentence reply that will say 'you are wrong' without saying why. I wouldn't accept it from children, they have to explain reasons.

I think you are both very experienced teachers, I know the type :p

The justification is in a statutory document called the National Curriculum.
Page 9 of the English curriculum states that reading books should be consistent with the child's phonic knowledge and skills and that vocabulary development and understanding through text they listen to and discuss.

As a year 1 teacher I'd hope you are also familiar with this

And this

Yes I know all that. And I read the bit you pasted.

Still not seeing where it says to rush children through the levels before they are ready.

Perhaps you need to work on reading what people have actually written

And just to put phonics and decoding into perspective in MY class...

Last year we were predicted to pass less than 50% of the class to pass the phonic check. We achieved 88% in my class (and less than 50% in the other class). I had my class for only 12 weeks.

This year, new school, we are predicted to pass 16.6% based on the level they have come to me.

I have revised those figures to a minimum of 76% and a max of 88% to be in line with national average. I will probably hit about 85%.

Phonics is not an issue.

(and yes, I know Ofsted would slate me for saying 12% wont pass but I have some very complex needs in my class, and they simply wont pass, even with 1:1 phonics all round. I do what is best for the child, not what Ofsted expect)

Ah yes - respect.

I cant tell if you are a disillusioned teacher, an arrogant parent or just a bit of a twat tbh

And I am still waiting for the link anyway.

And stop acting like a prick

I didn't ever say was better to rush children through levels, TeacherBob. I did point out where, by your own admission, you fail to adhere to the national curriculum, despite what your parents are telling you. If you perceive that repeated direction toward a statutory document as 'snide', then I'm afraid that is very much your own problem.

And thank you, Irvine, you're very kind