Rant Alert: Reading to teacher standing beside her desk?

[Cadmum]

When I suggested to DS1 (dyslexic but a strong reader) that he come and sit down beside me to read his book he informed me that he always has to stand beside his teacher to read to her.

This is just one of the many things that confuse me about what is going on in his classroom. Has anyone else ever heard of the teacher having the children stand and hold their book to read? The really odd part is that she has specialised training in helping overcome dyslexia. How can she expect the children to read to her when their books are flapping about and they are on their feet? How is this likely to encourage a love of reading?

Is it worth me asking her about it?

I'm sure this is what we did at school. I get DS to sit next to me, but he is wiggling about and half stood up most of the time. Is the book not rested on the desk?

I would ask. SOunds very strange.

It's what we did at school as well. No idea whether it's still usual practice or not.

Definitely ask.

According to ds1, he holds the book. 10 months ago this would have been impossible for him but now it is just challenging. (He reads chapter books with no pictures so often 'looses his place' when he reads to his teacher.)

I definitely remember standing next to the teacher to read aloud. The book was on the desk though. That was about 20 years ago though...

In itself, it didn't encourage a love of reading. Seemed more like a way for the treacher to hear several children read without having to move around the classroom...

is the teacher close to retirement age? very old fashioned. teachers dont sit at desks these days, but when i first started training, i did see this a few times.

noonar: I sure wish that she had retired last year. Does that count? She does really lack inspiration and seems beyond caring about her students but she still draws pay so comes in to work most days...

We did that at infant school, but the book rested on the teacher's desk. As I a little and the desk was big, I found it reasonably comfortable. It didnt hurt me at all. I was about six at the time

I suppose a lot depends on the age of your son and his height.

BTW I was not saying that just because we did as children that it was necessarily a good thing. Definitely worth questioning if it causes trouble for your DS.

Some teachers will hear children read at their desk, not just the old-fashioned ones. No real disadvantage to it at least she is listening to him read! Will need to discuss if your ds is uncomfortable or bothered by it though. Love of reading can be fostered in other ways through literacy lessons, storytime, assemblies etc so if that isn't happening then again, discuss with her.

In dd's class they pull up a child's chair and sit next to the teacher.

I remember standing next to the teacher to read. Our headmaster had a little pull out shelf in his desk to rest the book on!

i suppose my main objection to it is that it doesnt have quite the right 'feel', Ali. it doesnt seem like a set up that will give the sense of sharing a book for fun. if snuggling up on the bed with a good book is the ideal, then this is about as far away from that ideal as you can get, imo.

Thank you so much for your replies.

I have never read to a teacher whilst standing up. When I woul listen to children read at ds's school in Central London we had a quiet corner and comfy chairs. The children saw it as a bit of a treat to come and sit down for a moment out of the busy classroom.

I think that noonar's latest post sums up my feelings but I should admit that if this was the only 'old-fashionned' thing in ds's classroom that I might not be so full of despair.

We always used to stand too, but I'm pretty sure they don't at my children's school. They read in groups though, so they sit together at a table.

A desk? We haven't had desks for donkeys years - at any school I've taught in! And yes, we do all sit on chairs, or on beans bags in the book corner.

I remember reading to the teacher stood up too.

DD's teacher does have a desk but, from what DD has said, that isn't where she or the FT teaching assistant hear them read. This it is done with them both sat on chairs together in a quiet area.