Is it common to have mixed ability groups for guided reading in year 6?

[newtermnewname]

Am asking because my DD has reported that there have been a few surprises WRT guided reading groups thus far. I have offered that maybe they are mixing them up to start with and will then re-set accordingly.

But part of me thinks, hang on, when the year 5 teachers do their hand-over sessions with the year 6 teachers surely they know after having them for a year, and with SAT levels, who should be where?

Thanks.

[newtermnewname]

Self-indulgent bump...

[sugarandspiceandallthingsnice]

Never done it myself, and I taught year 5. However I would often base them on their end of year Teacher Assessments which could create a few surprises if child had made lots/little progress.

[newtermnewname]

But what about REALLY unexpected moves? Hmm.

[sugarandspiceandallthingsnice]

How unexpected? I have been known to move some down/up a couple of groups if they have not made progress/made lots.

[NottsCounting]

I don't know, but my Yr 6 DD is with different children for her guided reading this year. She was assessed as a 5b for reading last term, and is with children this year who are not reading at the same level (I know this as one of them is the son of a friend of mine and I know what he got in his report too).

I got the impressed the groups were fixed from what DD said. She wasn't very happy as she reads v quickly and is frustrated already. It must be a bit annoying for them, but no mega deal really.

[Chelseahandfull]

Shouldn't they all be reading pretty fully by year 6? I wouldn't have thought there would be much variation.

[newtermnewname]

Of course there is, Chelseahandfull! In my DD's year there are a handful of children who are free readers and those who need a lot of support. In an ideal world yes you would hope that they would all be on a more even keel, but in RL SEN and/or poor parental support will have a huge bearing on a child's reading and understanding.

[newtermnewname]

...and NC reading levels probably from 5's to 2's.

[ellesabe]

I have only ever taught reading in ability groups but I quite like the idea of mixing them up a bit. There are so many skills involved in reading, other than just decoding the words, that everyone can contribute during a group discussion regardless of 'ability'.