Reading stage - reception

[dairymilk27]

Hi, my daughter is in reception and I'm starting to be very concerned about her reading progress. She is on stage 1+ of Oxford treading tree.

I'm not keen on asking around the other mums so
was wondering what stage other reception children are at.

Thanks

[whereismagic]

I think it would get more responses on Education or Primary education boards. DS is in reception and is on red books. He didn't know letters when he started. I am not concerned as his school cranks up reading in year 1.

[alexw]

Did reception ORT level 3

[tomatodizzymum]

Mine is in the equivilent of reception. He can sound out some letters and read some basic three letter words but we haven't moved on to reading books yet.

My other son was at the same stage when he was in Reception (in England) with no other language being taught. I didn't push him and he never wanted to read much, he stayed on red books until the middle of Year 1. By Year 2 everything changed and he had a level 4 for reading in his Year 2 Sats. Now he's 12 and reads so much for pleasure I never have to chase up his reading or even worry about it. So my experience is, don't push reading. They will pick it up and fly with it when they're ready to.

[odyssey2001]

ORT isn't great for early reading - too many high frequency and non decodable words. This may be why she is being held back.

Do they have any phonic reading schemes (such as Songbirds or Floppy phonics)? They are really what is needed in Reception.

[Ferguson]

Is she also starting to learn to form letters, and do some 'emergent writing'? And there should be learning through play in a 'home corner', shop, or similar. Also construction, painting and crafts, PE and games, some form of music; is she getting a share of things like that?

If you want to know how to support her at home, this is the best place to start:

An inexpensive and easy to use book, that can encourage children with reading, spelling and writing, and really help them to understand Phonics, is reviewed in the MN Book Reviews section. Just search ‘Phonics’.

[PookBob]

DS is in reception and is bringing home green band books. He has no problem reading the words, but struggles with the stamina to read a whole story. He is on phase 5 phonics which his teacher advised me is ahead of target for reception.

On the flip side, he can't write, and he won't write.

[LMLytton]

Dd was on orange and then turquoise in reception.

DS will start in Sept without a scooby. He can pick out about 3 letters and cannot write his name or hold a pen properly.

So, a lot of variation in my small non scientific sample.

[dairymilk27]

Thanks everyone. I'm trying to encourage her without pushing!! Will keep going and hopefully she'll start to pick up!!

[Ferguson]

I think she is fine, and doesn't yet need to 'pick up'!

But you didn't answer my queries . . .

[afink]

Reception teacher here: By the time children finish reception, the national average book band for them to be reading is yellow. (It goes pink, red, yellow, blue, green, orange and so on)

[afink]

However, some teachers push kids through the levels faster or slower than others, so if your child is reading higher than yellow, it doesn't necessarily mean they are a genius - it could be that their teacher likes to push the children through the levels quickly (and vice versa).

Things to check: can she read the high frequency words (google for these) and can she sound out regular words (then, cat, big, lick etc) and work out what they say? If so, I would say she's fine.

[tobysmum77]

I would ask her teacher for an appointment to talk about it. Then you will know if there's anything you can support with.

[vez123]

Hi OP, my son is on the same level. He will be 5 in a week. Around Christmas he was on red but for a few months he always brought home the pink ones. He still does a lot of sounding out but knows quite a few words by sight. He writes - not amazingly - and counts until 20 ish. He gets lots of extra help at school apparently. His teacher seems constantly concerned about him. I don't know what to think. At what point do they move them up a level? When he had the red books I couldn't see much of a difference to the pink ones.
I am not from this country and think it's insane to pressurise young children to read like this.

[dairymilk27]

Afink - thanks for the info, that's very helpful!

I'm going to have a chat to her teacher as well. Thanks

[TeWiSavesTheDay]

I think it's quite common for children to spend a long time on red, DD had just started yellow (next one up) by the end of the summer term and I think that was quite usual for her class.