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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

Reception reading level - normal???

19 replies

BoiledOwl · 01/05/2015 19:21

Hello, this is a very quick reality check needed - if anyone else is on Dandelion launchers, my daughter is 5 end of June and will start Y1 in September. She's currently on yellow (The Hill, just finished Rex Yells). Is this about right/average?

OP posts:

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mrz · 01/05/2015 20:45

It really depends on the school. When they started teaching phonics. Which programme they use for teaching phonics. How they introduce the sounds. How long they spend on each sound/group of sounds. When they introduce books. How they introduce books ....

mrz · 01/05/2015 20:47

It really depends on the school. When they started teaching phonics. Which programme they use for teaching phonics. How they introduce the sounds. How long they spend on each sound/group of sounds. When they introduce books. How they introduce books ....

mrz · 01/05/2015 20:47

It really depends on the school. When they started teaching phonics. Which programme they use for teaching phonics. How they introduce the sounds. How long they spend on each sound/group of sounds. When they introduce books. How they introduce books ....

MMmomKK · 01/05/2015 21:21

It also differs a lot in a class. In DD2's YR class some kids are reading on ORT 1-2 level (i.e. books with simple words - cat, mat, etc.). Many would be around ORT 3-4, and a couple of kids are quite advanced - on ORT 8-10.

I think these Dandelion Launchers you are talking about are around ORT 2-3, so you daughter is doing well!

As far as I remember, National Curriculum expectation for YR is ORT3.

Imperialleather2 · 01/05/2015 22:31

My sons school uses dandelion launchers although they classified rex yells as red so the level down from yellow. That just goes to show how subjective It is.

mrz · 02/05/2015 03:03

Because Dandelion are phonics books they don't fit the old book banding system which is is based on mixed method teaching and not how children should be taught under the new curriculum

louisejxxx · 02/05/2015 07:18

Assuming that yellow stage coordinates with the national book bands, then my ds is also on yellow (ORT stage 3). I think the norm in the past for end of reception would be pink, red or yellow..but with the new curriculum perhaps red, yellow, blue may be more appropriate.

mrz · 02/05/2015 07:20

They don't!

louisejxxx · 02/05/2015 07:32

Ah okay, ignore my post then OP

mrz · 02/05/2015 07:35

Dandelion books match the Sounds Write teaching progression so unit 1 is peach, unit 2 green, unit 3 lilac, unit 4 red/orange, unit 5 dark green, unit 6 dark blue, unit 7 yellow, unit 8 light blue, unit 9 red, unit 10 brown, unit 11 mustard/gold, unit 12 purple, unit 13 dark green, unit 14 brown, unit 15 navy blue, unit 16 green/blue, unit 17 purple, unit 18 green, unit 19 brown,unit 20 blue followed by L1 gold, L2 green, L3 purple, L4 red and split vowels black

A totally different system!

Sirzy · 02/05/2015 07:40

DS has just done dandelion launchers to unit 7 then moved over to level 1 on the "traditional" books if that makes sense!

The launchers seems to be a very different scheme to most others.

mrz · 02/05/2015 07:54

The Dandelion launchers match to the Dandelion readers but have simpler text.

Lordylordy · 02/05/2015 22:23

Hi Mrz do you use Dandelion Readers if so what would you think is the expected range of their levels to finish reception on ie Unit 10 or higher? My dd is getting unit 7 or 8 books. I am under the impression from her teacher she is a little behind the majority of her class as she was having phonics sessions with a smaller group. Thanks.

mrz · 03/05/2015 07:15

We aim for most children to have completed unit 20 beginning L1

BoiledOwl · 03/05/2015 07:52

So, is level 7d (yellow books, eg Rex Yells) for just after Easter term, as we are, for a Reception year child good, average, bad?

OP posts:

mrz · 03/05/2015 08:09

As I said I can't make that kind of judgement because I don't know what phonics programme to school uses, when they begin teaching phonics and how many sounds they teach per week.

We use Sounds~Write and the Dandelion books are written to accompany that programme. So we teach Unit 1 and the children practise decoding skills by reading Unit 1 books ...
We also begin on the first day in reception ...

mrz · 03/05/2015 17:33

Which ??

SevenEleven · 03/05/2015 17:39

To be honest, why are you worrying about it? She's only in reception! Just make sure she enjoys reading and that you share lots of books at home. Reading levels are just a guide.

TeddTess · 04/05/2015 15:01

please don't get hung up on levels
as a parent with DD1 in yr6 and DD2 in yr4 where they were in reception/yr1 has no bearing on where they are in the juniors. the kids who were way ahead in reception/yr1 in their class are not the same kids who are heading for level 6s. slow and steady really does win the race.

there are massive developmental differences age 4,5,6,
some kids have had more formal preschooling
a few months older can make a massive difference in the first few years (think of it as % of their life)
some kids don't like reading, others love it
just get them reading happily and regularly, read to them regularly and they will fly.

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