Are you supposed to read a reception dc's reading book to them first, read it together, or them read it to you?

[thegrammerpolicesic]

So far I've had ds just read them to me 'unseen' beforehand and it's been fine but his latest book was a little trickier and I wondered if I should have read it to him first.

Looking at some ORT parent guide it suggested I should have but I'm not sure as then he'd probably just remember the words and not learn to decode/ read them himself.

He is just starting ORT 3 and the last book in 2 seemed harder for him, whereas until now they'd been slightly too easy if anything (based on the 95% concept people have mentioned on here).

I've always just let DD1 read it to me, and helped her sound out words she got stuck on. My mum is a retired primary school teacher and hasn't corrected me for doing it this way so far!

I have only ever had them read to me

You look at the written part and he tries to read it ,sounding out difficult words if you like before you read you can discuss the accompanying picture to give them a 'hint' about the story-with ORT if you are doing magic key sometimes theres a pair of glasses hidden in the storypicture so you can look for that - ohh see floppy is sad - why would floppy feel sad?? etc etc ....and then the story 'comes' to them with practice.

Talk about the books lots before you start reading it, get your child ot retell the story using the pictures. This is then a great opportunity to pick out any of those tricky words they might come across eg in ORT story Kippers Party it's got some tricky words like ketchup or sugar, when looking at that page talk about the picture and pick out the tricky word in preparation for when your child reads it through

Thanks guys. Yes the ORT do tend to have some tricky words which are not on the lists he's learnt. I guess that's the point though!

We always talk about the front cover, title, read the little blurb on the back. We then 'walk' mthrough the book, looking at pictures and talking about the tricky words. Rigby Star books have a list of 'key words' that feature throughout the story and so we talk about these first. From there on in it's a case of using phonics (initial, medial, final sounds) and pictures clues to read the book. I'm a Y1 teacher and this also works well at home with DC.

Take a look at websites like sparklebox- you can download some great free high frequency word and phonic resources to use at home!

My dd is a bit older and in year 1 and her reading books are often very long so we will share the reading. We will alternate who reads each chapter.

We do this because we all get a bit bored of a reading book hanging around all week but I don't think it's reasonable to expect a five year old to read a 50 page book in an evening.

In reception, once we'd got up to about book band purple, I would often read the book through first because it gave her a chance to get a feel for the story.

I always felt that - though a good reader for her age - she shouldn't have to read for longer than a poorer reader of the same age.

Her teachers always thought this was a good approach for a good but young reader.

Oh, and we never bothered sounding out...I always gave her the word so enable the story to flow.

We quite often do that too Builde, but with us I read one page, he reads the next. It's a bit overwhelming for them when there are so many words.. !

As a mum (DD is now Y3) and as a Y1 TA I always let the children read the books to me. I then will encouage them to sound out new words, or to use picture clues and initial sounds when appropriate.

Once they get to longer books, don't try and do it all in one night. Just read part of the book, put a book mark in and pick it up again the next day.

In reception and Y1 - 10 minutes a night is plenty long enough for a school reading book. For some 5 minutes may be enough. If they want to do more - let them read their own books and magazines.

DD is now in Y3 and reading completely fluently, etc. But even then the teacher says that school reading (despite being own choice books) should be 20 mins a night; and rest your own books.

When DD was first learning and moving onto the longer books we would share chapter books, taking it in turns to read a page each. I only did this with home books though, never school books.

With reference to Sparklebox - this is now barred from many LEAs. Please google the reasons why (or do a MN searc) before you decide to use it.

Hula not sure if you know but it is out in the open now. Mr Sparklebox aka Daniel King/kinge has been convicted and currently awaiting sentence.

I thought it was, but wasn't sure. We haveen't had it at schol fo a good while now.

Yes, has been widely reported and lots of links on TES.

Had to be kept quiet so as not to interfere with the case/trial.

Thought so. Least it is more open now so people ca be properly aware.

Just had a look on the TES and read all about the Sparklebox issue!! I wondered why it had been banned at school! Shocking!!!