Do you help with reading in school? Do you find it difficult sometimes?

[emkana]

I do feel about it but sometimes I really struggle with it when a child is being ever so slow, or still doesn't recognize a word that's only come up a million times...

I do feel for them as well and try to help them of course and would never show irritation but...

No, not really
But perhaps that is due to these not being MY children, so I just gently coax them along.
With my own children I am a quacking, simmering, impatient mess...

I go into ds's school (junior school) twice a week to do Toe by Toe which is a reading scheme for children with dyslexia or for whom reading is a challenge.
And I really enjoy it!

I often find that with children who are reluctant to read it helps to take them where they cannot be distracted by others. They are often trying to see what they are missing out on. I also find it helps to make sure reading books are changed often as if not the children tend to see the picture and remember the words, especially in the early stages of reading.

I take my Toe by Toe'ers into the library which during lessons is only used by TA's with small groups, so nice and quiet.
And one group of Y3's I take into their cloak room, which is even more quiet but does smell of cheesy feet in winter and chlorine laden wet swimming gear in summer.

I listen to readers, amongst other things, often on a Friday at DD's school. I listen to Y1-3 readers of varing ability from those finding reader still difficult to those who are fee readers.

Yes, it can be frustrating with those who can't remember the same word from obne page to the next. But TBh those are the nes i like helping/support most. Maybe I am glutton for punishment!

I always listen to the readers in a quiet place, usually so it is just me and the child present, so hey aren't distracted.

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Yes I was wondering whether it would be cheeky to offer to help next year but to say instead of reading I would like to something else that needs doing.

I work as a TA and I'm not sure how to help some children!

I help with reading but also with science for years one and two: they need help getting things out and doing activities with the children. Your school might like help with science, too, emkana. Or with art: all those paintpots and brushes!

Sometimes I just sharpen all the pencils for them.

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Do they have a garden area which might need tidying up? Our school always needs help with pruning/weeding, etc/

No, I loved doing it but don't have time at the moment. My DC learnt quickly, so it was illuminating to see how others don't pick it up so easily.

i get frustrated teaching dd1 to read, so i dont volenteer at school, as i findit hard work and know i would be frustrated. plus i am too competative and know i would get upset if younger children where ahead of dd1.

i think if it frustrates you then maybe offer to do soemthing else.

Emkana, am sure they will be able to offer you other jobs. At our school there are parents doing a range of voluntary jobs from gardening including pond clearing, to filing, laminating, playing role play with the children to tidying the library.
Hope you find something

I help out with reading at my DCs school. The children I listen to read are 5 and 6 years old. They vary in their ability so I have a nice selection.

Some of the children that really struggle are quite difficult to listen to read. Its so hard not to butt in and tell them the word so I tend to literally bite my lip incase the word pops out!

It is so lovely to hear them making progress though. I enjoy listening to them, most days anyway.

It's the one thing I won't help with in schools anymore. As a natural reader I just can't fathom how someone can't read, so I can't see how to help them learn. It's just not my thing, hence I bow down and worship infant teachers! I volunteer to walk them to outings and stuff that doesn't need any teaching skills!

I found that using different activities helps, such as encouraging them to use jolly phonics, looking at the pictures, telling the story in their own words, pointing out a particular word through the book etc etc.

emkana I love hearing readers myself.

But if you don't then there must be plenty of other jobs. I have a pal who is very visual and often helps by putting up displays - which teachers don't always have time to do either.

I think. Sometimes it helps to stop yourself being in reader mode for a bit.

A capable reader wants to know what next and go on and get through it and all sorts. And for a child who has difficulty reading that isn't going to happen as quickly as you instinctively want it too.

So stop reading and turn off reader mode and stop caring about the book.

Instead focus on learning cues and skills. The book is a prop and from that you can learn things about word recognition, context deciphering, picture clues and phonetic awareness.

Just a thought (a late friday night thought )