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oxford reading tree levels?

43 replies

lymiemum · 30/01/2014 21:59

At age 6, yr 2, June born, ds is reading at level 4. Roughly what level should he be at? What were your little ones at?
Thanks.

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columngollum · 30/01/2014 22:02

The running cliche goes something like this: girls are typically a little ahead of the boys at this point. Beyond that it depends on school, scheme, teacher, child, you name it.

Is he having any particular problems? How often are you reading with him? Does he enjoy reading?

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SpinCycle · 30/01/2014 22:04

There really isn't any 'should' to reading levels. It clicks at different times for different children.

Reading Chest give a good overview of the reading bands, and approximate ages. Looking on there, as a summer-born your DS is definitely holding his own Smile

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lymiemum · 30/01/2014 22:06

He was a very late talker, which I think has massively slowed his reading. We read 4 school nights and once a week. I'm just apparently surrounded by super reading children and their parents at our school!!

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SpinCycle · 30/01/2014 22:11

Take what others say with a large pinch of salt regarding reading levels. Competing vicariously through children and their reading levels is a very popular, but very dangerous sport Wink

Seriously, though - some parents definitely overestimate the ability of their own children. It may be that you have some very advanced readers in your son's class, or you may have some parents prone to exaggeration. So long as you and he are happy reading, and he is making good progress, ignore, ignore, ignore!!!

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columngollum · 30/01/2014 22:12

Er, yes, the schoolgate mums thing. That does happen! Can't really offer any help on the issue of other mums. But, clearly, they're not the focus! If you guys were slow getting into full-stride, you're certainly well on the way past the beginning of reading story books, as opposed to reading practise reading books for the sake of reading the books. The next step is to seek out early reading books from the library and second hand shops. It's not hard to find "entry level real story" books which are much better than the school scheme reading books and are pitched at the same level reader.

You're well on the way.

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ballroomblitz · 30/01/2014 22:19

Grin ds is 6, the same year and one of the oldest in the class and he's level three yellow, was pink at the start of the school year. We are all a book loving family and he enjoys stories being read to him so that's the main thing in my mind atm. The rest will follow. Haven't a clue what the other kids are in his class as it's never crossed my mind to ask.

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ballroomblitz · 30/01/2014 22:23

Oh and he was a very late talker too and was still seeing SLT until a couple of months ago so possibly may have something to do with that?

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nonicknameseemsavailable · 30/01/2014 22:26

I would personally say that level 4 is behind for Yr2, even a young yr2. I thought about level 6/7/8ish was more what would be expected for an 'average' child of 6.5. however to get an average you have to have some children above that level and some below.

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ballroomblitz · 30/01/2014 22:35

Looking at the oxford reading bands would it not be stage 4-6 for year two? Our year twos (P2s) are age 5-6 but know your years can be slightly different from here in Northern Ireland.

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nonicknameseemsavailable · 30/01/2014 22:37

Yr2 in England is age 6-7 ballroomblitz

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nonicknameseemsavailable · 30/01/2014 22:40
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columngollum · 30/01/2014 22:43

nonickname, it might be a little way back at the moment, but if you go to the library and the shops I mentioned and get entry level books which are way better than the school reading scheme books, with level four proficiency you can pick up speed damn quickly.

You won't pick it up on a diet of school scheme books (that's not what they're for ). But using the same set of skills you can really motor if you want to.

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Iggity · 30/01/2014 22:44

P2s equal Yr 1s

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ballroomblitz · 30/01/2014 22:44

Ahh... I thought that sounded wrong when I read your post nonickname . That's right our first year we call P1, yours is reception year. Sorry, always confuddles me as I'd never heard of this until last year. Bows out Grin

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nonicknameseemsavailable · 30/01/2014 22:47

I never indicated it wasn't possible to catch up I was just giving an honest answer that level 4 is a bit behind for a 6.5 year old.

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mydaftlass · 30/01/2014 22:59

My dd is y2, age 6 and on level 6. She started on level 4 and went up a couple of levels in a month. She's plateaued again now but school are doing extra phonics with her and I can see it making a difference. If she were on level 4 still I would be asking what they are doing to support him.

I haven't found the library useful for her as the early readers there are too challenging and intimidating for my unconfident reader. Obviously you may have a better choice or a child who is happier to try anything. DD likes the comfort of an obviously graded reader.

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mydaftlass · 30/01/2014 23:00

*support her

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CocktailQueen · 30/01/2014 23:04

Hiya
Sorry - but level 4 here would be on the bottom table in ds's (Year 2) class. (I go in to hear readers every week.) DS is on the top reading table and is on level ORT 12.
Does your ds have a specific problem with reading? Or has it just not clicked for him yet?

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caffeinated · 30/01/2014 23:07

I would be concerned.

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columngollum · 30/01/2014 23:10

I don't think adding my children are on ORT level 444 is really going to help here.

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insearchoftheFlumFlumTree · 30/01/2014 23:13

Bear in mind that teachers take very different approaches to pushing children through reading levels. Some will be keen to see students progress quickly through the levels; in some cases this may be to the detriment of fluency, reading with expression, reading for meaning etc. At the other end of the spectrum a teacher may keep a child on the same reading level until they are entirely secure, fluent and able to read with expression. Some of this, if the teacher is good, may be down to the individual child's learning style - many children will benefit and gain confidence from reading books which they are comfortable with (others will get bored and need a challenge, and working out the best approach for each child, and accomodating this in a classroom, is a challenge in itself). This makes it impossible to compare between schools (or even between teachers). A child in one school on ORT level 8 is not necessarily an inherently "better" reader than a same-aged child in another school on level 4.

If your child is enjoying reading and is progressing then I would try not to get hung up on levels, hard as it is.

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HarveySchlumpfenburger · 30/01/2014 23:54

While that is true insearchoftheFlumFlumTree, whichever end of the spectrum the teacher's policy for changing reading books falls level 4 would be regarded as being slightly behind at this point in year 2. It would put him roughly around a 1b for reading which would mean he needs to make quite a significant amount of progress to reach expected levels by the end of the year.

If it was me, I would want to know what extra help the school are giving him.

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Ragusa · 31/01/2014 00:04

Cocktailqueen, how marvellous for you Hmm

OP, the best thing yo do might be to chat to his teacherand get her opinion. Is the school doing phonics?

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LePetitPrince · 31/01/2014 00:04

I have experienced two schools with different approaches. School 1: speed through levels, a "free reader" by mid year 2; school 2, same child, back to ORT levels and progression through jackdaws and other levels. I actually rate the second school as more thorough.
What I am trying to say is to trust your instinct and if you have a good relationship with the teacher, have a frank conversation with him/her.

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simpson · 31/01/2014 08:28

I read with yr2s and agree that stage 4 is slightly behind (mid yr1 level maybe?) however there are kids who I read with who are still on red level and really struggling. Blue (4) suggests good progress just slightly slower than others.

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