I know! Another thread about reading levels etc.
I've got a parent/teacher meeting next week and I am just thinking through what I want to talk about. DS is in Year 1 and is 6.
I just want to preface this by saying that my first questions to the teacher and my primary concerns are about his emotional and social happiness/development. But I know what I want to ask on that front so I'm not focusing on that here!
He seems to me to be a bright boy (I guess we all say that!) and in reception he was in a special group (certainly in the first term anyway, I never asked again) doing extra so they didn't get bored. I did think that that might be - for the most part - because he was one of the oldest in the year (October b'day) - it was mostly (but not totally) older kids. He got mostly 9s in his end of reception report (apart from a couple of 8s for maths and 2 x 7s for reading)
Anyway, I don't think his reading progressed massively in reception. We've been enjoying reading lots to him to him rather than having him read to us until recently (which is not a bad thing - he really loves it). We've really ramped up having him read to us in the last few months, and I can see that he's developing. He's on Yellow band reading at school (though he reads higher at home) - in fact he has only just moved up to that level 2 weeks ago - he was on Red until 1/2 term (and only moved up following "gentle" "nudging" of the teacher by me). From what I've read on here, that's quite low for Year 1. Is that right? I think that there are a least a few in his class still on pink/red but I know that one group, for example, have just moved up to purple. I KNOW that it's not a competition but I'm curious whether yellow band is below what is expected at this age.
I'm seeing the teacher next week, and will obviously ask her all these questions but I guess I'm looking for ideas on what else I should be asking - eg how do they assess? How often do they monitor and move up a level if applicable. Where is he in the class (level wise). As I say, I know it's not a competition and that kids develop at a different pace - and so it doesn't matter WHERE he is - except that I'm curious as we are considering putting him forward for selective independent schools at the end of Year 2 and I'm conscious of picking the right place for him ability wise as well as emotionally/socially. His current (state) infants school finishes at the end of Yr 2 so we have to think about what is right for him next.
The teacher rather randomly said to me the other day - apropos of nothing - "X is a bright button, I'm looking forward to talking to you next week". And she said similar to DP also unprompted. I guess she bases this on a lot more than just his reading level, but, as I say, I would have thought that yellow would be classed as below average at this stage.
I'm not really sure what I'm asking - just for any thoughts as to what I should be asking her next week. One thing that has just occured to me - is it worth asking for predicted levels for the end of the year (or even the end of KS1?)?
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Primary education
Year 1 - query re ability/levels
10 replies
wicks71 · 15/11/2012 14:34
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