Phase 5 letters and sounds - which book band?

[AllFurCoat]

I know there's no definitive answer, but which book band roughly would you expect a child to be on if doing phase 5 letters and sounds work?

DDs in yR, she's currently working on the alternate sounds for phonemes. I read with her most nights and from what I've seen/heard, she's progressing well. We don't get reading books home from school, but comments in her reading record are always along the lines of "read fluently/with good expression/read accurately".

She's not read 1:1 for weeks, but has been doing guided reading and they're reading level 2 books (ort). I'm not majorly fussed over it tbh, as I know she reads more challenging books with me and reading schemes really aren't the be all and end all, but in my mind, I would have thought doing the phase 5 stuff would have meant reading at a higher level than level 2? Although I'm obviously not a teacher and they've probably got a reason behind it!

[ddmommy]

My guess, they are reading level 2 books because majority of the children are still on that level. Sounds like your daughter is at least several levels above it - on level 2, they are still getting "th", "sh", "ch", "ee", "oo" down.

If I were you, I'd just continue doing what you are doing. Read with her, and let her progress. With kids, at some point the reading just clicks and they take off. It happens at different times for different children. If your school does reading in groups, then it's hard to cater to the more advanced ones.

So, as long as she gets interesting books at home that she likes to read and that stretch her little by little, you'll have a fluent reader in no time...

[catkind]

Stage 4 maybe? DS is at a similar stage I'd say and decoding stage 3 ORT fairly easily, but he's not ready for stage 4 in terms of fluency and comprehension. You can read some ORT books online for free at Oxford Owls, and Oxford have a load of guides online to their different series.

I was getting confused about all these different sounds and levels and went in for a chat with the teacher recently, it was really helpful. If a bit funny, I think she thought I was going to complain he wasn't on a high enough level, when it was actually more I wasn't sure if he wasn't on too high a level! She was very happy to explain what they were doing in class and what their plans were tho. Would recommend it.

[AllFurCoat]

Thanks, I think it has definitely "clicked" with her now. I'm guessing guided reading is more about comprehension than the actual reading? At parents evening last term, I was told she was at the top end of the class and they were going to start introducing her to harder texts, which from what I've seen hasn't happened yet! I do trust the school and the teachers though, after all, it's their job! It's just hard to get your head around as a parent I suppose though.

At home we read things like traditional tales and happy families, which she loves and there's obviously some words she can't read, but she mainly reads without having to sound out. I guess that's why reading level 2 books is baffling me a little!

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

I'd be more bothered about the fact that you don't get a reading book at home to be honest. That's pretty unusual. It's very helpful for children to practise one on one with a parent.

[columngollum]

There is no direct link between reading ability and book bands. It's up to each school. (In some schools the relationship between the two is bizarre or absent.)

[AllFurCoat]

I know it's unusual, although they've done it this way for years and the results are above average in year 6. Tbh I assumed it was more because of the parents, there's a lot of highly competitive parents and it's probably more of a hinderance than anything else! They're encouraged to read every night and I think the vast majority do, and I can see how having a free choice of books to read at home is better for them than having to sit and read biff, chip and bloody kipper every night

[kilmuir]

We have books home and rarely do Biff and Chip make an appearence.
Do the school provide the books ? What about those children who have limited access to suitable books at home?

[columngollum]

I don't understand your point, kilmuir. We can't do anything about the children who have limited access to books at home. We can only read with our own children.

[mrz]

Blue, green orange bands fall into phase 5

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

I think Kilmuir's point is that if the school send the books home daily / several times a week most parents will try and do some reading with their child even if they are not big readers themselves or have few children's books. If the school don't do this and rely on the parents accessing books then that put those children whose parent don't buy kids books or go to the library at even more of a disadvantage than they already. As parents we generally help our children but as a school they should be helping all children even those whose parents don't do as much.

[columngollum]

If your point is correct, ghoul, it might mitigate against parents choosing to opt out of the reading scheme (on the grounds that it's useless). Because doing that would unintentionally make a social point about both the children and their parents. (And in a way, say nothing about reading!)

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

I think most parents wouldn't dream of "opting out" of the reading scheme. Our school send home a nice range of books from various schemes and none of the parents I've spoken have a problem with this. Nor do they stop reading the books with their children. Obviously more engaged parents will also read not scheme books to their children and access them their own reading material when they are older. Opting out because scheme is useless is frankly an unusual position and does reflect badly on the parent in my view.

[catkind]

Even as keen readers I'd say having books home from school does help us to read with DS more. He doesn't like reading the same thing twice and our local library has limited options at the right sort of level.

[simpson]

Ghoul - really?!!

DD hated reading scheme books with a passion (when that was what she was getting from school). So we stopped reading them. I don't think it reflected badly on me as a parent (quite frankly her teacher was happy she was reading full stop).

The reading books were dull/boring and I have read loads of threads on here about parents in the same position.

Luckily DD's teacher has seen the light and now provides books (non scheme) that float DD's boat and is also happy for me to supplement her reading.

[columngollum]

I can understand the criticism of the parent "who opts out of the scheme"

but

it seems to be predicated upon the statement our school send home a nice range of books from various schemes.

Our school does not send home a nice range of books from various schemes. Can we have books from your school, please?

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

Simpson / Column - sorry I didn't mean to criticise you personally. I think it must be exceptionally hard if your child is reading well before they start school. You are right that having a nice mix of books is key in all this and I can understand that it can be problematic when that doesn't happens.

My original point was more concerned about the situation where a child does not have access to books at home and is being sent home with by the school either.

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

Sorry I meant not being sent them by the school either.

[LittleMissGreen]

I think it's incredibly sad that school's have books that are so dull and boring children don't want to read them. I've learnt some fascinating information from some of the non-fiction books the DSs bring home.

[simpson]

DD has brought a handful of non fiction books home since starting school & the majority of them were jolly phonics ones which are pants

My DC school is slowly improving WRT reading books and are slowly starting to add non scheme books to their school books ie Topsy &Tim (yr1), The Gruffalo (yr2) and some blue/green/red bananas books.

[AllFurCoat]

I don't see how opting out of the reading schemes would reflect badly either? I guess it's because it looks like the parents aren't backing up the school? I'm of the opinion that at this age, they should be reading for pleasure and as parents we should instil a hopefully lifelong love of reading. If they find the scheme books boring, I don't think they should be made to read them as it could put them off forever, at 4/5/6 they've got many years ahead of them to learn that sometimes you have to read things you don't like! Likewise, if they don't want to read some nights, I won't force them, I want reading to be a pleasure, not a chore!

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

My view is that opting out of the reading scheme feels like you are trying to undermine the teachers efforts to get your child reading. Now at the same time the school should be making sure that the children are being taught using latest methods, have regular access to good and appropriate books of the correct level.

I would definitely spend more energy on engaging with the teacher to make sure that the books sent home are appropriate than opting out of the scheme which is a rather negative stance.

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

Supplementing with other books is different from opting out.

[simpson]

IMO opting out from the school reading scheme is actively choosing not to do it ( for whatever reason) but then selecting other books instead (from at home/library etc).

If a parent doesn't bother with the school books nor provide other books they are just being lazy rather than choosing to opt out.

[columngollum]

There's only so much energy that one can spend on engaging with the teacher.