16 replies to this topic

[jeanney]

i have a mixed early years /reception class and am having alot of hassle over individual reading. my head believes i should be hearing every child read every day. is this general practise . what do others do?

[Steve]

Hi Jeanney -
Just wanted to welcome you to the forum - thanks for your first post! :D

I'm not going to respond to your query, because I'm not qualified to do so. Hopefully Susan, amongst others, will find her way here because I'm sure she will have something to say on this subject!

Welcome again!

Steve.

[Lorna]

Hi

I teach in a reception class and hear my children read twice a week.... although I have to say its not always me who hears them... parent helpers and my classroom assistant also hear the children read. I try and make sure that I have heard them myself at least 1 in 3 times they read.

Hope that helps

Lorna :)

[mundia]

Welcome jeannie.
I think it depends on your individulal circumstances. I would never dream of hearing readers every day, you would never get anythng else done, and how awful for the children if they dont enjoy it or find it difficult. We tend to group read which takes the focus off individual children, only hearing individuals occasionally. Part of this is because we think it is the best use of the time and part because we have 30 children and only part time support, and no parent helpers. In addition, our children are still at the 'which way up do we hold the book stage so reading every day is a bit of a nonsense. That's not to say we dont have 'ERIC' time as we do, every day in fact, but that is more about sharing how books work and creating an interest than it is about how many words they can read.

[H]

Hi

I have a reception class of 27. Myself or my CA share guided reading books with each of my groups (5) once a week and then i here the children individually once a week when i change reading books - Ginn 360 and give new words etc. in thier word envelopes - when i have students / parent's in they will here ch. read but only after i have heard their words etc.
I wouldn't have time to hear them read every day - IT IS almost impossible i feel.

Sarah

[EmilyD]

I am so impressed that you can even think about hearing your children read everyday. I teach as part of a team with 2 teachers and 2 nursery nurses with 60 children in 1 room and we hear guided reading every week and individuals on an ad hoc basis. I would love to hear them all every week but find squeezing everything in a nightmare as it is. Home reading is changed twice a week and I have an additional guided reading slot with my extended reading group each week and a parent hears that group read 1-1. I also have a session playing key word games with my lowest attaining group per week.

I did hear about 1 school who put 3 classes together at the end of the day and someone read them all a story whilst the other members of staff listened to readers, but to me that seemed to be short changing the 90 children for the last 40 mins of the day when no one is at their best.

If you find the answer let me know.

[Susan]

Welcome Emily, I see this is your first post.

I have been following this with interest as I have just decided that I need to revamp all of my practises in my reception classroom, partly to address individual reading and partly to address the indoor/outdoor balance.
We also do not do enough in the K&U field, especially in DT but it just all seems to be such a massive juggle. However, reading being the important skill that it is, I am going to increase the teaching time that I give to it and do some individual reading next half term.
I had been concentrating on guided reading for teaching and monitoring reading and teaching book skills through big books etc but have just bought some new individual readers, "Rigby Rockets" and am going to use them in a more purposeful way. I hope!!!
Will let you know how I get on.

Susan

[Dianne]

Do you know what's really great about reading the posts in this place - people recognise & are happy to admit that sometimes they may need to change things, or that it's OK to do things in different ways! Thank god!!!!!! I'm sure tha't why I always come home & have a look at what people have been saying - it get's me enthusiastic enough about the whole thing to go away & think about tomorrow.

Sorry if this is just a silly message, I know it's all been said already, but I was just suddenly full of the feeling & had to write it!

Love Dianne xxx :D

[Helen]

Thanks so much Dianne for making that post :D It was exactly the reason we set up this forum :) We have so much to share with others and also so much to learn!

[jeanney]

thanx for all the supportive suggestions. hope i havent made anyone feel guilty, that wasnt my intention. i managed to get time to talk to the head today and negotiated twicw a week + guided reading and a promise that we will do more if we can.

[Susan]

Having a sounding board is so useful, Diane & very, very necessary in the changing world in which we work.
I certainly value the the more widespread community that is here and from which we can all gain.
its been my life line more than once in recent months!

Susan

[JacquieL]

Between my teaching assistant and myself we hear children read three times each week. How we hear them depends on what they need. With some it may be talking about a book they have chosen and with those who are beginning to recognise words it will be from our scheme. We begin with Storyworlds which shares reading between the adult and the child. We read in book bands rather than sticking to one scheme.
If you really think about it your children are reading every day. There are the books you share either the big book or your storytime book. you will be talking together about these. Learning about authors, illustrators, sequencing the story, talking about what has happened may happen etc. This is all part of leaning to read isn't it ? They will be 'reading' in their play - labels etc. I'm sure you get the gist.
Reading is going on all the time and for children to understand what they are doing and it needs to be set in context. hope this helps.

[Susan]

Well said JacquieL.
You're not being bogged down from top down pressures and can still see the wood from the trees!!! :D

Susan