Reading at start of y2

[PITA5000]

Hello,
American mum here, my older DD will be entering Y2. At our school in the states the goal was to be able to read very basic books by end of kindergarten (Y1) and DD can do that, but very reluctantly. Now that we've been out of school since end of May, and in process of moving she's had no practice. When I asked her to attempt reading some signs the other day she was unable, or unwilling to. Will most Y2 students be zipping through reading of signage etc? I'm concerned that she has lost ground and it occurred to me that I am unsure what her English peers would have achieved prior to this school year.

Thank you,

[summertimeandtheweatheris]

Reading ability at the start of year two will be a wide range. Some children will be reading chapter books & some sounding out & using their phonic knowledge to read.
Don't worry too much at this stage, often children are hesitant to do anything for their parents but this is not indicative of what they can do or will do for other adults. A great free computer programme (although the app is a small cost) is Teach your monster to read, there are three levels & your daughter may be game two, but have a read or start her on game one.
Lots of fun reading games when she does not think you are asking her to read, so cute notes to each other & whatever she is into, dolls or Lego try & get some reading with the theme she likes as a bit of a hook!
A trip to the local library or/and water stones may be fun & don't be scared of going back a stage if she chooses picture books, it is all reading.

[mrz]

As summertime says there will be a range of reading ability in any class but I would expect most children to read signage with ease.

These are the expectations for children in Y2

[mrz]

Please don't regard picture books as taking a step back they often contain more challenging language and themes than chapter books. Length isn't a good indicator of challenge.

[PlotterOfPlots]

Signs are often in capitals which can make them trickier, and it could just be reluctance.

What the majority are doing is not that important, there will be a very wide range at this age and some children can make spectacular progress in a year. It clicks at different ages for different children. More important than being able to decipher sentences, I'd think, is knowing her phonics. Arguably her strategies in reading are more important than the level she reads at - better to be using your phonics well on a basic book than reading a harder one but not knowing what different sounds to try in an unfamiliar "oo" word. Does she use phonics at the moment? If not I bet she could pick them up quickly in Y2, especially with supportive parent(s) at home.

Don't forget a lot of british children will have had a whole summer off too, and Y2 teachers are still infant teachers at the end of the day. I remember fretting about DS's writing in Y2 and his teacher just looked at me and said "but he's still so little. In a lot of other countries he'd still be out playing." He went from very reluctant writer to being able to write a good page of structured paragraphs in Y2 with her.

[PITA5000]

Thank you, your responses are encouraging.

[mrz]

The fact that signs are often written in capitals shouldn't make any difference to being able to accurately decode.
There are huge expectations at the end of Y2 - read accurately and fluently 90 words per minute

Children in England will face a number of tests including two reading tests at the end of the year. I know you haven't got a school yet but once you have a place I would suggest you make an appointment with the teacher to discuss expectations and your child's previous curriculum

[Ferguson]

If you are not yet familiar with Phonics as taught in UK, this may help to get you, and the children, started:

www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/alphablocks

[SisterViktorine]

Those are the expectations for the end of Y2 though, the OPs DD has a year to get to there.

It would be more useful to show the Y1 expectations so the OP can see where most other pupils will be as they enter Y2.

[SisterViktorine]

National curriculum for Y1- so should all have been achieved by all pupils going into Y2.

[mrz]

I think you need to look to where you are aiming at as well as what should already be secure. Neither in isolation are useful

[EndodSummerLooming]

I don't understand why she hasn't had any practice due to moving. It's a basc part of parenting to share books with children every day. If she's a reluctant reader then you should be reading to her, a bedtime story at the very least.

Do libraries still do the reading challenge over the summer? A,sticker for every book, a journal, a medal after six books etc. A place to meet new friends for both of you.

Reading is a part of life, not a chore.

[mrz]

http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/parents-carers

[mrz]

Reading is a chore if you can't read

[user789653241]

EndodSummer, why the need to be so judgy?
Move across the country is huge thing.

As for basic parenting, my parents never read me a bed time story(different culture), and I stopped reading to my ds when he was 2. Still both of us turned out ok, I think...

summer reading challenge is a good idea.

[mrz]

Even in this culture very few of my Y1 pupils have bedtime stories

[EndodSummerLooming]

Really. No offence meant. I read to my children every day from the day they were born. That's why they love books and why I loved books. That's the first step to learning to read.

Teachers support and build on the nurture of parents. Parents should be encouraged to support the work of teachers. Thus a virtuous circle forms and life is easier and more joyful for the child, the parent and the teacher.

[mrz]

Really in a typical reception or Y1 class in my area only one or two children would have a story read to them at home. Many homes have no books.

[EndodSummerLooming]

When mine were at primary I'd say only one or two children in a class weren't regularly read to and most had lots of books at home with parents swapping tips.

CofE state school. Teachers still complained about how hard done by they were though.

[SisterViktorine]

I am unsure what her English peers would have achieved prior to this school year

OP asked about what would have already been achieved.

I would think your DD will need a bit of extra help OP, but as she is a bit behind because she hasn't been taught rather than because there has been a problem picking it up, she will progress rapidly.

[mrz]

More usual for parents in some areas to report their child has TV /Sky/ DVDs /computers/PlayStation /XBox in bedroom and seem shocked at idea of books

[mrz]

And the answer to what will have been achieved is different for every single child which is why it's important to look at where a an individual child is now and where they are expected to be to meet government standards in order to support them effectively

[user789653241]

My parents never read to me but they were reading books all the time and we had loads of books. I still love reading.

My ds refused to be read by me, instead he started to read to me, or read to himself. I do support teacher and school.

[Iwantawhippet]

Reading Chest is great if you want to do some reading practice. An envelope of books of the right level addressed to your child, plus stickers and a progress chart. This isn't answering your question but my DC has been really motivated to practice over the summer.

[mrz]

I imagine a service like Reading Chest would be a problem if you have a child who hasn't been educated in the UK system - just knowing where to start.
UK synthetic phonics isn't taught in many places in the US so it might be better to wait until you have a place then work with the school to support your child.

[WhattodoSue]

There will be children who are reading fluently, but I'm sure the school will put something in place to help her catch up. I would perhaps just let her know that children start learning to read earlier in the UK and they use a different method so it is totally understandable that they can read better, but the advantage of starting a bit later is she will make fast progress and be able to catch up. I would prepare her for the difference so she doesn't feel demoralised and is okay with having to learn a slightly different way. You never know, she may enjoy it more. But I wouldn't worry, she will catch up I'm sure.