when did your child stop reading aloud?

[CloudBee]

DS's teacher this year says the children can read aloud or independently at home. Right as the year kicked off she was only sending home readers for kids who struggling, with the expectation that THOSE are read aloud at home. (A blasted email stating such.) DS is ahead so nothing has come home for him. I'm actually not sure if readers will come home for those who are ahead? I need to ask, but it's been a crazy few weeks.

Up until this week I've always had DS read aloud to me. But with the exception of graphic novels and comics, he's reading chapter books now and prefers to read those to himself. He's really pushed back when I've asked him to read to me while I cook dinner. That's been our tradition for ages. Sometimes he still reads to me when I drive. I don't want to turn reading into something he feels is a chore, so I've let him read independently on the couch. Right now he's going through the entire Dog Man series. We read it together last year, and now he's starting from the beginning on his own. He's rotating in Stink, Bad Kitty, Hilo, and Captain Awesome, to name a few. 

He'll come to me when he needs help pronouncing and defining words he can't manage on his own. So that's good.

I assume reading aloud helps with public speaking, and will keep him comfortable reading aloud in the classroom? Should we alternate nights? Read to yourself one night, and allowed to me the next?

He's 6 and in 1st grade, and just transitioned into having his nose in a book on his own accord alllll the time.

[cabbagecabbage]

My daughter is 7 and has just made the transition to reading silently for the most part. I still read aloud with her sometimes, switching off pages.

[CloudBee]

Oct 14, 2019 13:00:17 GMT -5 cabbagecabbage said:

My daughter is 7 and has just made the transition to reading silently for the most part. I still read aloud with her sometimes, switching off pages.

This makes me realize I should have also mentioned: DH and I each read 1-2 chapters of a book to DS at bedtime. So we're reading to him nightly, and don't plan on stopping for a long while. We're reading different books to him. DH is currently reading something by Roald Dahl, and I'm reading Galaxy Zack. I bet we could have him alternate pages some nights and he would be ok with that. The main issue with Roald Dahl is that we tend to sensor it a lot, the print is tiny, and I bet it would be quite a challenge for him now!

[hocus2]

In general I wouldn't push reading a loud unless your teacher is asking you do. You can ask him to do small short stretches but it isn't uncommon not to want to do it and I don't think it has that much impact on speaking. I would check his comprehension from time to time with a "book club" type conversation.

I speak just fine and I hate reading a loud. I've gotten proficient at it because I'd done it for almost 10 years but I still don't like it and particularly don't like it with chapter books.

[redheadk]

DD will occasionally read something to me that she thinks is really funny (typically from one of the Mac B books).

Other than that, I just have her read me the first few pages of a book and explain what happened if I think it may be above her level or ask her to read a few paragraphs to me if I feel like she's reading too quickly because there are too many difficult words, etc.

She's 7 but it's been this way for a while. She went from reading Bob books to chapter books in the span of a month last fall. It was crazy!

[CloudBee]

Oct 14, 2019 13:08:50 GMT -5 hocus2 said:

In general I wouldn't push reading a loud unless your teacher is asking you do. You can ask him to do small short stretches but it isn't uncommon not to want to do it and I don't think it has that much impact on speaking. I would check his comprehension from time to time with a "book club" type conversation.

I speak just fine and I hate reading a loud. I've gotten proficient at it because I'd done it for almost 10 years but I still don't like it and particularly don't like it with chapter books.

I love the book club reference. DH has been doing this at dinnertime. I think DS going off on his own to read actual has the two of them talking about books MORE. When your child is reading aloud, it often ends when the book is closed. But if you aren't reading with the, there's a curiosity to know what's kept them on the couch with their nose in that book for so long.

Great idea. I think on the way to school I'll ask him about what he's been reading, too. 

[CloudBee]

Oct 14, 2019 13:08:59 GMT -5 redheadk said:

She's 7 but it's been this way for a while. She went from reading Bob books to chapter books in the span of a month last fall. It was crazy!

DS has been doing Super Rabbit Boy, Kung Pow Chicken, and Dog Man for a while. But he was very monotone when reading, until recently. I had him go through the very last series of Bob Books over the summer (after skipping most of the series), which had a focus on more complicated words. He hated me for it, but it helped him SO MUCH. Enough that he wanted to wiz through the series a second time to show off how well he could read them.

It really does happen overnight.

He's also really into encyclopedias for kids, fact books, and those Nat Geo books based on themes with crazy facts. (Weird But True?) The Science Comics line is also cool, but a little advanced. He's slow with that, but will look them over during breakfast.

[CloudBee]

What are your rules for reading after bedtime? I think we need to start letting him read later than his bedtime, as he's still, quiet, and resting. And seems to fall asleep very quickly if he's been reading first.

Did you push bedtime a bit when you had a kid who liked to read to themselves at bedtime?

[expectantsteelerfan]

I think at that age, we'd read at bedtime, and they would pick the book and I'd read one page, then I'd have them read one page, and then they'd read on their own silently until light's out. DD is in 2nd and an advanced reader, so I didn't have her read aloud all year (although dh usually does bedtime, not sure what he did). I still read at least one page aloud to both my kids when I put them to bed though (ds actually usually asks me to read more most nights and I can never say no).

[abs]

DD stopped somewhere in 1st/2nd grade. She’s in 3rd now but struggling a bit with higher level comprehension so we’ve started reading out loud again. She loves alternating pages with me! She still just reads to herself at night.

[mrsGreeko]

I stopped having them read aloud to me when the teachers stopped sending specific books home for read aloud and that was also when they usually stopped wanting to read aloud to me anymore. My oldest was either in 1st or 2nd. My middle was probably in 2nd and my youngest will still read some to me aloud, but not much, he’s in 2nd.

We continued to read to them daily until they didn’t want it anymore (my oldest stopped wanting me to read to her when she was either 11 or 12). My younger two are 10 and 7 and still want me to read to them.

They all read on their own daily and often. Even if my 2nd grader is mostly only looking at the pictures when he’s reading to himself he’s still absorbing something from that and learning literacy skills IMO. And those are then supplemented with hearing me and DH read to them.

[CloudBee]

When did teachers stop sending home readers? A specific reading level (specific to each child in the class?), or at a certain grade in school? 1st, 2nd, etc.?

[CrazyLucky]

DS is 9 and reads to himself. DD is 7 and does both. I like to have her read to me, and she doesn't mind. I love to hear her expression.

[mrsGreeko]

Oct 14, 2019 13:14:46 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

What are your rules for reading after bedtime? I think we need to start letting him read later than his bedtime, as he's still, quiet, and resting. And seems to fall asleep very quickly if he's been reading first.

Did you push bedtime a bit when you had a kid who liked to read to themselves at bedtime?

After we read stories with them they usually read to themselves if they want and we’ve never set a specific rule about. They read till they get tired and then turn their light off and go to sleep. It’s never been an issue and it’s not a battle I’m willing to fight. My kids all also need that time to slow their mind or whatever for falling asleep. Sometimes they just turn their light off right away and go to sleep, other times they keep it on to read for a long time.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Oct 14, 2019 13:14:46 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

What are your rules for reading after bedtime? I think we need to start letting him read later than his bedtime, as he's still, quiet, and resting. And seems to fall asleep very quickly if he's been reading first.

Did you push bedtime a bit when you had a kid who liked to read to themselves at bedtime?

We have 'bedtime' and 'light's out time.' Bedtime is the time they go shower, put on pj's, brush their teeth, and get in bed.  Light's out time is the time they have to be done reading for the night.  Bedtime is pretty constant (although can be pushed back for activities and special occasions), and lights out time changes based on lots of variables, such as what their past few days have been like, how tired they seem, and what time we get home from activities.  

For my son, we need to go in at light's out time and physically take his book out of his room, or else he will find a way to stay up late and keep reading (hides flash lights, even uses just his clock radio to try to light up the page to read by).  DD is more of a rule-follower, and if we tell her 'lights out at 7:30' we make a good effort to remind her at 7:30 by calling out lights out, but if we don't, when she happens to notice it's past 7:30 she will turn the lights out and go to sleep on her own (usually within 5/10 minutes of the time she was supposed to).

[mrsGreeko]

Oct 14, 2019 13:20:03 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

When did teachers stop sending home readers? A specific reading level (specific to each child in the class?), or at a certain grade in school? 1st, 2nd, etc.?

Our school differentiates by class for reading so it is by level, but the whole class is at whatever level so it’s also by class if that makes sense. For my oldest I think she only had readers in kindy, my other 2 had them in 1st as well because they weren’t quite as ahead as the oldest was.

[186momx]

DD switched over to reading in her head towards the end of 1st. Once the required read a louds stop coming home I let her stop reading things out loud to me. Usually when she is laughing I will ask what is so funny and she will tell me. I've read a few of the books she has read so we can do a book club type discussion. She is in 3rd and starting OBOB this week; which is a game show style book quiz that our state does. 16 books per age range and then they ask all sorts of Jeopardy style questions.

[abs]

Oct 14, 2019 13:20:03 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

When did teachers stop sending home readers? A specific reading level (specific to each child in the class?), or at a certain grade in school? 1st, 2nd, etc.?

DD only had readers sent home through Kindergarten. After that it was always read what you want. We were definitely encouraged to read together through 1st grade.

As far as reading rules at night we also have bedtime and lights out time. Bed time is at 8/8:15 lights out at 8:30 or 8:45. She definitely sleeps better if she reads first.

[chedifuen]

I wouldn't make him read aloud if he doesn't want to. I have made it a point to never make reading a battle, it should be something that is a pleasure. I don't think either of my kids read aloud much after kindergarten. I also don't think most schools have kids read aloud in class anymore. I've never seen that in any of the classes I've been in and my kids are in 7th and 4th grade.

I wouldn't expect readers after kindergarten. After that, the student is likely selecting their own material based on level and interest.

[hocus2]

Oct 14, 2019 13:20:03 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

When did teachers stop sending home readers? A specific reading level (specific to each child in the class?), or at a certain grade in school? 1st, 2nd, etc.?

  my 5th grader still brings home just right books. They are chapter books at her level and they expect her to read 2-3 a week. She reads to herself. 

[dochas]

My son's 2nd grade teacher asked that he read aloud. They brought home a reader daily and I did have him read that aloud. His 3rd grade teacher hasn't asked for that, so I'm not asking him to anymore.

My son loves to read, but he didn't love reading aloud. I agree with everyone that there shouldn't be anything that ever makes reading a chore!

[gastro]

My third grader reads to himself. I still read to him at night if I can get the younger kids down before his bedtime. You know I don’t really remember him making the transition? Must have been sometime during first grade? I feel like I was reading aloud until he became proficient enough to read to himself.

[isabel]

I wouldn't push it. I remember reading aloud sections of books during class through 5th grade and even in more advanced grades when discussing themes and what not. He'll get plenty of practice reading aloud.

[Shreddingbetty]

DD started reading voluntarily on her own between first and second grade but I don’t remember if she was reading out loud up until then.
They still read out loud at school now in 4th grade but that is mostly just an exercise and they don’t do it all the time. They make them do it so they can practice reading like a narrator and not just monotonous reading. I assume this will help them with public speaking as well.
She reads to me out loud but only in French. We started this when I taught her how to read at the beginning of 1st grade. Usually about 20-30 minutes at bedtime . She actually likes it (occasionally she wants to skip but that is rare), we cozy up on her bed while she reads to me. I do think it is a good thing because she likes to read really fast especially when she likes the story. She skips words, makes up words that aren’t there and occasionally skip a whole line. It forces her to slow down a bit. I imagine when she reads on her own she does it fast too. Anyway, for us it is still enjoyable because it is part of our bedtime routine (and it delays her going to sleep lol), I also still read to her and then she read herself. Needless to say our bedtime routine is long but I like it and hope she will continue to as well. Maybe you can make it part of bedtime routine instead?

[docholly]

My oldest (8) is a really excellent reader, so I have just followed his lead on things. I stopped reading aloud to him this year for the most part, but we will occasionally read more difficult poetry together and piece it apart for practice.

His teachers stopped sending home readers after K.

He will read aloud to me if he finds something particularly interesting.
My younger son is six and he gets the readers from the teacher and I still read aloud from chapter books. I will continue this for as long as he wants/as long as the teachers are sending home books. He is working on speed and inflection.

As long as my kids are reading and doing well, I just follow their lead because I want them to continue to enjoy it.

[aspentosh]

DD is 7.5 and mostly prefers to read aloud to us, though she will read to herself in bed and sometimes in the morning before the bus. Her homework includes 15 minutes of reading to us so she has to do that M-Th, but we continue it on the weekends because she enjoys reading.

We still read to her every night and that will not change for a loooooong time.

[aspentosh]

Oct 14, 2019 13:14:46 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

What are your rules for reading after bedtime? I think we need to start letting him read later than his bedtime, as he's still, quiet, and resting. And seems to fall asleep very quickly if he's been reading first.

Did you push bedtime a bit when you had a kid who liked to read to themselves at bedtime?

She has a flashlight and I do not limit her reading after lights out. Like you said, she is quiet and resting.

That being said, we put her down at 7pm still and she is out by 8pm 99.9% of the time so it's not like she's staying up until midnight. 

And for the leveled readers, her library has a section of mostly developmentally appropriate books for her grade (2nd) that they suggest at first. She's come home with some that are way below her "level" and some that are way above so it's definitely not enforced.

In 1st grade she was sent home a leveled book to align with her DRA level that she was to read every night. I didn't like that because it was so repetitive. Now in 2nd she gets to pick any book she wants for nightly reading homework.

[niq]

V reads to himself almost all the time. He turned 6 in August and is in 1st grade. We read longer, more complicated stuff together at bedtime, and usually I ask him to read one paragraph and then I read the rest of the page.

For his reading on his own, sometimes I check in with him, but at this point we can have conversations like "who was your favorite character?", "do you remember any good jokes?" etc.

The Freckle reading comp stuff is short -- like 3 paragraphs -- but seems really dense for a 1st grader. He can read it to himself and then answer the reading comp questions most of the time.

[Shreddingbetty]

Oct 14, 2019 13:14:46 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

What are your rules for reading after bedtime? I think we need to start letting him read later than his bedtime, as he's still, quiet, and resting. And seems to fall asleep very quickly if he's been reading first.

Did you push bedtime a bit when you had a kid who liked to read to themselves at bedtime?

My kid is 9 and in 4th grade. We start bedtime around 715-730 these days by her reading to me for about 30 minutes, then she changes and brushes her teeth and then I read to her. Usually she is in bed lights out around 830-845.then she reads herself for about 30-40 minutes with a flashlight. I guess I have been pretty lenient with the actual going to sleep part because she is reading. And often times even when she is done reading at 915 she has a hard time falling asleep so she listens to audiobooks or meditation. Most days she falls asleep between 930-10. I wish it was a little earlier but I can’t force her to go to sleep. She has to get up at 7 and I have to wake her up most mornings. On the weekends she wakes up between 730-8 and goes to bed same time normally. 

[snowflurry]

My daughter is almost 10 and in the 4th grade. She still reads out loud. All the time. She can read silently but she chooses to read to the dog or the cat or her dolls or anyone else who may be around.