Reading with a newly "independent reader"

[Smithagain]

DD1 has just been moved from reading scheme books onto "independent reading". She's in Year 2.

I'm finding it a bigger jump than I thought. I'm sure she's ready for it - she's been devouring books at home and her comprehension seems pretty good. Her teacher spent quite a bit of time listening to her before moving her up. But I'm struggling a bit with how best to read with her at home, when the books are so much longer.

So if your child is an independent reader, how much do you do with them? How often do they read aloud? Or do they read by themselves and then talk about what they've read? Or what? Her teacher says she need not read aloud every night - as long as she does sometimes - but I'm just wondering what other people actually do.

Have you tried your local library? Ours is very good and has a whole section that are graded for reading.

A chapter each night/time. (Or the equivalent).

I tend to let mine read to themselves with their own books from home/library but then bring home a book from school which we read over a period of a few days/a week or so.

I try and read with DD (not just talk about the book) at least 3 times a week as sometimes the reading can get ahead of the understanding so best to actually hear them read so you can see if they are reading properly and understanding it and using expression/grammar etc.

Sounds like different schools have different systems. She is still bringing home books from school, to be read and have comments put in her reading record. But they are much longer, chapter books, rather than reading scheme books which she was polishing off in one or two evenings, even at the higher levels.

A chapter a night sounds like a managable pace.

Hi Smithagain,

I would listen to her read every other night if time is tight or every night if not. I think at this age even if they are free reading they still need to practice reading aloud so you can check their expression and intonation is coming along OK.

I think reading aloud is a different skill altogether which still needs to be practiced regularly. Does that make sense?

I agree a chapter a night is good

Yes, that makes sense. I think we are settling into a pattern now.

I ensure mine reads to me 2/3 times a week, the rest of the time he reads to himself - so I don't follow the story. Quite often I will read him a couple of chapters at bedtime and he will then read to himself after I leave him.
TBH at the moment we aren't really bothering with the school books, he is just picking whatever he fancies at the library. His teacher has previously said that we shouldn't feel we have to stick with school books and to just write whatever he is reading in his school record.

I hardly ever listen to mine read once they start reading lots on their own .

But they do end up reading stuff to and with me, if a passage is funny and they want to share, or like just now DD (also Y2) was reading (& singing) Christmas songs out of a piano book. Or DS says a word and I correct his pronunciation -- he's read it and picked up the meaning, but not heard it said, yet. Or DD reads a story to DS2, and we all get to listen to that, etc.

Also, DS recommends some of the books he's read to me, so then we end up talking about the plot, how good it was, etc.

Once in a while they go kind of babyish and demand a bedtime story.

Sorry Smithagain - I can't help!

My children are not Independent readers - one prefers the Guardian the other The Times!!!!!!!

In all seriousness - I actually have one dd who is two so I don't know exactly what I will do yet - but have taught lots of year two children and this is what I hope I will do...

If I were you I would listen to her read her school book here and there throughout the week (your home school agreement will probably tell you how much to do this) and have another book both of you are reading together as often as you both feel comfortable - maybe for her good night story.

Be quite free with it. Maybe you could read some of it to her then she read some to you. She could read the narration, you the dialogue and swap over - this is very funny as it involves using voices! She could read all of the pages you read that night to you or you could read a page each. Do different things depending on mood, levels of tiredness, the difficulty of the text and your and her eagerness to read.

My friend who is also a teacher started buying (or borrowing from the library) two copies of the book she was reading with her son when he got to be about 8 or 9 because then both of them could sometimes read bits independently then discuss their opinions of the finer details of such things as plot and character development over breakfast!

I wouldn't read one chapter every time you read. Reading needs to be more organic and human - you and your daughter needs to feel more in control.

I love Daniel Pennac's book about children's reading... he lists a set of 10 rights of the reader...
(www.amazon.co.uk/Rights-Reader-Daniel-Pennac/dp/1406300918/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228499787 &sr=8-1)

1. The right not to read.
2. The right to skip.
3. The right not to finish a book.
4. The right to read it again.
5. The right to read anything.
6. The right to mistake a book for real life.
7. The right to read anywhere.
8. The right to dip in.
9. The right to read out loud.

10. The right to be quiet and not discuss the book with anyone.

(Daniel Pennac, 1992)

I believe - Even if you are reading with someone else you still have these rights!!!

Hope this is of some help! Let us know how you get on!!!

HA HA HA HA - sorry for such a long post - I had no idea until I touched "post" how much I had written!!!!!!!!!!

I would still recommend listening to independent readers a couple of times a week, at least for the next few weeks. At DD's school independnt readers still read allowed to their class teacher once or twice a week in Y3-4 depending on capability; I don't know about higher up the school.

No one is moved onto being an "indepepndent reader" in Y2. The school have lots of more complex reading books which the teacher can still use to guide the reading development and comprehnsion, at least until the final term. DDespite this the teacher suggests the more able read to themselves instead of reading aloud a couple of times a week, but still to read aloud a fair bit too.

Hula - I think that's what's happening in effect. They are calling it independent reading, but in reality it just means "not a reading scheme book".

teafortwo - don't be about the long post. It was very useful. I love the ten rights and the different ways of reading together. I think having two books on the go at a time - a school one and a home one - would be good, too.

Tea for two - I'm going to use that link for the adult literacy class I'm involved in.
It sums up everything I try to get across about reading not being a stress and a chore.
Ta.

Litchick I am already in awe of you for being a published writer... you are also involved in adult literacy.... seriously, lady - I salute you!!!! Congratulations on your fab career!!!