I don't WANT a parent helper to write comments about dd1's reading in her reading book!

[pilote]

Is she a teacher? NO! Am I being totally unreasonable to ask her teacher who this person is and what her qualifications are? The TA already does most of the reading and handwriting practice with dd1, what is her bloody teacher doing all day fgs.

"I was a parent helper last year - reading with reception/yr 1 isn't rocket science though."

No it isn't rocket science, but doing it properly and in such a way that encourages the child rather than deters them or knocks self-esteem is not as simple as falling off a log either

Then speak to the teacher.

At my sons' school, the head sanctions which parents can help, not that he has that many banging on the door to help out, and has a policy where possible of not having the parent in the same class as their child(ren). Most if not all go on a classroom assistant's course and those who haven't been on it have helped out for many years, have vast experience and work well with the teachers.

Is it usual practice for parent helpers not to be helping in their own child's class then?

In my dc's school mums do help out/listen to reading in their own children's classes. Only the teacher or the TA's seem to write a comment in the reading diary though, but I am sure they must use feedback from the helpers. That would make sense.

It doesn't worry me at all btw, and I am very grateful to the lovely mum helper (dd likes her very much) who listens to my dd read. I think they have quite a rapport listening to dd chat about Mrs MumHelper, but I suppose it could - in theory - make other parents uncomfortable if a critical comment was entered in a childs diary by another mum if you are sensitive to these things.

At this stage it's all about practice and gaining confidence. I find with my own dc, much as I love reading with them, it takes up quite a bit of time. Teachers do need some back-up.

And with that I must slink off to complete my CRB form. One of those jobs I keep meaning to get round to

TinyGang - at our school you are allowed to help in your own child's class but I prefer not to - for a start I have three children in different year groups so it wouldn't be fair on two of them, but I also feel I can be more effective if I am not listening with half an ear for what my own child is doing.

parents are allowed to help in their children's classes at our school too, although it is made clear that if it becomes an issue, ie the child becomes destracted/upset in any way by this then this will not continue.

I help out in my ds' classs and he is fine, and I don't even always get to work with his group etc and he's fine with that. If he started getting upset at me leaving etc then I would stop the arrangement myself.

I help with a school reading programme for an hour a week.

1. CRB checked.

2. Shadowed a TA to see how she did it.

3. Attended a workshop that explained the techniques to use.

4. Written guidelines.

Am quite worried about the CRB checking. Doesn't everyone who works with children (alone or not) have to be CRB checked?

No Scary - not if they are under constant supervision

But they wouldn't be under constant supervision if the teacher is occupied with the rest of the class.

Sorry to digress!

They wouldn't be alone with the child, would they?

It's partly why I haven't got too involved so far.

Dd is quite territorial about me and when I do stuff at school (ie help on a trip) it tends to throw her a bit and she gets upset if I'm not doing everything with just her.

I could help in the other class, but I have ds in that one (dt's). He would be ok with it but dd would be unhappy.

As long as they are not physically alone with the child it is Ofsted approved

Not read all of the thread, but have to say Pilote - I am about to give up 3 mornings of my week to help at dd and ds's school. I will be helping with reading, to ensure children get a chance to practice out loud. I have been asked to sign their records, so that the parents know their child has been listened to. Twice a week I will do this in Reception class. For 3 hours each day. Once a week I will help with reading at the Junior School, where I will specifically work with dyslexic children. The school have trained me on the workbook I will be doing with these children. So that is another 3 hours. So I am giving up - for the good of the school - 9 hours of my time.

Only to have it thrown back into my face by a woman like you.

Thank you!

(and then people wonder why there are never enough volunteers )

That is 9 hours A WEEK!

And I am not 'some random helper woman' which implies the school have picked a stranger of the street. I am a parent, PTA member, class rep, and have been CRB checked.

Sorry, but you made me

I'm just astounded at what I'm reading and cannot believe pilote that you are on the same planet.

Yes two teachers + a TA is great but in my school with the ratio if we were to have 10 parents offer to come in and listen to reading we would have every one of them in and be extremely grateful for it.

Reading on a one to one basis is one of the greatest things a child can be offered and whether it be a parent helper/teacher/TA is totally irrelevant. You are very ungrateful

I am a parent helper.

I listen to the children read .I go in twice a week.

I do a different reading scheme to the one that goes home in the bookbags.

I comment in a folder for the teacher's use only.

The teacher or TA listens to them once a week and I listen to each child once a week.

If there were more helpers they could read to someone more often.

The teacher is extremely busy teaching the whole class the entire time I am there 9am -12.

You sound a very insecure parent.This helper is not judging your dd,just helping and making useful comments.

I think it is excellent and laudible that parents are willing to give of their time and help in class. Would like to generally distance myself from pilote's remarks...but I am concerned that all parent helpers should be properly 'equipped' and prepared to do the job and personally don't think that parent helpers should help in the same class as their children.

Those of us with children who have emergent literacy skills (aka as 'bottom of the class') have reasonable sensitivities about this sort of thing

Tis funny - I am volunteering to help at my dd's school after half term with a new literacy project they are starting. However I know it includes training, and I shall be asking not to help out with Yr 1

The commenst in the reading book are there for the adults to read , if you have an insecurity about your childs reading and her self esteem and confidence then I think that has come from you not the parent helper.

Only read the OP, and I sort of understand the bit about the parent helper writing in the book.

But that is because my children are dyslexic, and this information rarely got filtered through to the parent helpers.

Therefore my children had some rather unhelpful experiences, eg: being told that they weren't trying hard enough, or that everyone else in the class had finished that particular book ages ago etc.

But for a child without any specific learning difficulties, or those that have and are properly supported, I would think that any help a volunteer parent could give would be appreciated.

I used to go in and listen to children read, and would be saddened to think that their parents thought ill of me for doing so.

Was that to me CaptainUnderpants or to the OP...? either way it is perfectly legitimate for a caring and concerned parent to have sensitivities about their child's reading (and a good parent helper would appreciate this )

WRT the reading I will be doing in the reception class - I will be getting a morning's training on how to comment in the diary (I am not allowed to comment on ability, merely state what we read and whether the child enjoyed the book), and it goes without saying that there is a huge amount of discretion involved and I will not be blabbing in the playground about child X who cannot read at all!!
So I cannot understand pilote's concerns, unless it is that her dd is too precious to be read with by anyone other that the teacher

the comment was to OP. what I meant was that the child would not be seeing the comment written in the book , it is for the adults info.

handle - my ds is a low-achiever, so I know what you mean. I always loved the fact that so many helpers read with him, it meant they were helping him achieve more

It is quite intesreting this thread as I have done the odd visist to my kids school to lsiten to them reading and

1. I am not CRB checked
2. I go to the class my children are in
3. I have no formal training
4. I was in the library 'aloone' with the children - other teachers in the vicinity, but not always visable
5. I have written comments like 'great reading, and is still working out words they don't know' well done etc. Personally I have never commented negativey but could understand someone writing 'needed support spelling out difficult words' if I felt that was reasonable and the child appeared to be strugglig - better to be honest and have them reading books at thier ability to encourage rather than discourage to too difficult things.

What is funny about the CRBs etc is that my DH has worked loads of times in that school and has not been CRB'd for that job (he has for other youth work) and now he has been elceted parent govenor they want CRBs, Birth certificate, marriage certificate etc etc!!

BTW to the OP I understand your issues, BUT I think you should talk to the teacher and not be so negative, obviously the comments have hit a raw nerve