Y2 son has never read with his teacher

[JennyDreadful]

Hi there, I don't know if I'm making something out of nothing but my 6 year old in Y2 tells me he has never read with his class teacher. He has read once with his TA and once with a volunteer reader but in his nearly 6 weeks in Y2 not once with his teacher. I've had to ask for his reading book to be changed more than once for being too easy for him and I am losing confidence that his teacher is taking much of an interest in him or trying to further his development. Should I expect his teacher to be reading with him on occasion or am I fussing about nothing? Thank you for any insight!

I'm a TA in a Y2 class. The teacher in our class doesn't sit and read with the children (he'd love to but there simply isn't time!), but every lesson sees children reading out the questions from the sheet, taking turns to read paragraphs in guided reading, reading their work out to the class etc. So, even though your son's teacher may not be 'reading' with him, he/she will likeky have a good idea of his reading ability.

Does he read in a group?

Also, we get lots of parents commenting that the reading books are too easy for their child. I don't know about your son's school, but our reading book levels are set by how the children do in their phonics checks. So, a child might be on orange books because they could do all the relevant sounds, but didn't know enough of the next set to move up. They'll probably still know some of the sounds for the next band, but won't be secure enough to fluently read the whole set (if that makes sense). We do a phonics check every four weeks, so there's quite a bit of movement. Sometimes a child will skip a whole band if they make quick progress. One lad in our class has done that this week as he's suddenly got the hang of split digraphs!

By too easy, do you mean he has been moved back in book bands? I have got a child in Y3. The children get assessed in a cycle so I won’t be too worried about the book they were given. You can ask what is the schedule for assessment? Be constructive and not accusatory.

DC1 was a slower reader and only moved to free readers in the summer term. She was no longer reassessed once she was at the last level. DC2 was a very fast reader and got to free reader in autumn term in Y2. She was held back in Y1 because they ran out of the higher band books in the class. Then she was put back in Y2 but they moved her back up quickly.

I wouldn’t worry about the exact book band your child is on. I have a child on both ends. If he is bored, get some books in the library and read those. DC2 was reading chapter book for us when she’s on the last few book bands. She never complained the books were too easy. She’s very happy to read them.

You son hasn’t read his home reading book with a teacher. That doesn’t mean she hasn’t heard him read every single day. In Year 2 they will be doing guided reading at least once a week and daily phonics. Make sure you’re reading with him and that he has full comprehension of the book. The new Government expectation is that children only read the level of book of the phonic level they are on and don’t race ahead. Quality not quantity.

Thanks so much for all your comments, so helpful and fair. I hadn't really considered how my son would be contributing in class and reading with his teacher in this way which is a great way to look at it. In Y1 he was confidently reading chapter books but so far in Y2 has had earlier reader books including some he read in Y1 but since I flagged with his teacher he has been given chapter books again. I think this is what caused my concern that she didn't appear to have a feel for his level. Thanks again, I feel better about this now.

Don’t forget the books that school give aren’t the only ones he has to read. Read those but supplement with any kind of books your heart desires! The government seem very keen for children to only read at the phonic level they are being taught. Read those, fill in the record and then do as you please.

Just think, if a class teacher spent even 10 minutes a week reading with each child in the class, that would be 5 hours non stop! There just isn't the time in most schools to do this.

@JennyDreadful
I totally agree that all sorts of books should be available to him. Via you. He clearly now has more appropriate books from school. However I would ask how the teacher assessed reading at parents’ evening. If you had to ask for a more challenging book, why didn’t the teacher know his assessment data from y1 and give appropriate books? That’s the worry in my view.