why hasn't my DS been moved up a book band

[crayolala]

hoping that maybe some teachers could shed some light on this

My DS has just started in year 1. Last year he did really well in his reading and finished reception on MAGENTA band. He got "excelling" at reading in his end of year report. I was led to believe that MAGENTA band was the highest you could go up to in reception.

Anyway 2 other parents have now told me that their children have been moved onto MAGNOLIA band. DS is still bringing home MAGENTA books and honestly I think they are too easy for him. I can't understand why if other children have been moved up he hasn't been also as he was excelling in reception. He knows all his letters and can read lots of words.

I defiantly will be having a word with his teacher but just wondering if this is normal. Would it be ok for me to ask to see a MAGNOLIA book as I am sure he is ready to read them too.

[Ginmummy1]

What's the reading scheme? I don't recognise magenta or magnolia book bands.

[MrsPear]

It is not just reading but comprehension. My son is still in short books so we read one night then discuss the next and so on.

[MrsPear]

In oops meant on

[Tottyandmarchpane1]

Agree re the comprehension - my DD is very good at reading and picked it up very quickly. She can rattle her way through a book BUT takes ages to move through the bands because her comprehension isn't as quick.

[ScarfForAGiraffe]

My year 3 child has been reading chapter books for 2 years (year 1 was the year of rainbow fairies!! ) and now has short books with pictures.... I dont want to be "that parent" but she's miffed!

[LittleDittyAbout]

Lol

[Bragadocia]

Has DS actually been read with? They may only read with each child once in a blue moon, so he may not have been assessed yet this year.

DS was in Y1 last year, and would go up a few bands at once, as the teacher only read with him once every couple of months. As asking for him to be moved up the bands had no impact (he'd finished all the books on his band) we just decided to take the approach that we'd deal with his reading ourselves, and school was pretty much ancillary to it. The teacher and TA said they simply didn't have time to read with the children.

It's wasn't just me BTW - lots of parents had the same experience. This Y2 teacher he has now has read with him several times already, so a very different attitude.

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

Just say to the school that he is finding it too easy and can he be reassessed. We gave up on book bands anyway - for a child who reads well I feel it is more important that they enjoy and understand the material. For one who struggles it is more important that they enjoy and understand the material. I have three across that spectrum and for all three once they got to a certain point where they were bored with the material I cheerily told the teacher that we didn't need any more books sent home but if they wanted to keep them on them at school then that was fine. We have loads of books and a great library. I don't care which level other dc are on, we just do our own thing as long as they enjoy reading that is the main thing.

[ROSY2016]

I don't understand why the teacher and TA don't have time to read with them or have no time to assess them. Then when they going to asses the above average child to next level. those books are not challenging and they don't asses them on time and put the blame on parent as a pushy parents. my dd has good comprehension from teachers comments and good phonics knowledge, she will show a word from a book and answer all the questions correctly? she was able to do more challenging levels than where is now she is. but they won't do it.

[catkind]

He probably doesn't understand a word he's reading and is just barking at print. Suggest crawling back under your rock mere mortal and not questioning the word of The Teacher.
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[Feenie]

Once again, according to the curriculum, children must be given reading books which closely match their phonic ability. Comprehension must be taught alongside. Lack of comprehension is no.longer a reason to hold a child back.

[Meadows76]

Why do so many people obsess about reading bands? Unless that one book is literally the only thing your child reads in a week them you seriously have nothing to worry about. His reading band now is not likely to be indicative of the outcome of his degree

[Feenie]

We gave up on book bands anyway - for a child who reads well I feel it is more important that they enjoy and understand the material

Absolutely - once the book bands have done their job, children should be reading anything and everything and choosing to read any books they enjoy.

[BackwardElephants]

Why are you shouting COLOURS? Reading bands are not the be all and end all. Do they love eating? Are they progressing at home? That's what is important. The teachers might be focussing something specific.

[BackwardElephants]

Reading, not eating!

[catkind]

OP, I think perhaps you had better try him on SKY BLUE PINK band, it might be a better fit

[crayolala]

Thanks for the replies. He does understand what he reads so I don't think comprehension is the issue here.

There isn't a SKY BLUE PINK band. I think the one after MAGNOLIA is MAUVE.

[QuackDuckQuack]

Sorry, but too implausible - you wouldn't have magenta, magnolia and mauve. They'd be colours children had heard of and without the similar magnet and mauve.

[crayolala]

I don't think there's a MAGNET level. Of course the children know the colours!

[lougle]

What series of books is he bringing home? Most levelled book series' will have the level of the book printed on the back. Most coloured book bands equate to a level. It isn't the usual book band scheme though because they don't use magnolia.

[MephistoMarley]

Crayolala correct me if I'm wrong but this is the third identical thread you've posted under different names over the past week?

[crayolala]

There seems to be a mixture of what he brings home. Today it's Colin's big cat but sometimes it's the Oxford reading tree and gin. The school put the different colour stickers on eg MAGNOLIA

[crayolala]

No I haven't posted this before

[JoyceDivision]

are you sure he's not bring home PAINT CHARTS?