Average book band at this point in year 1?

[forburylion]

I wonder if anybody could tell me what book band (ORT) is average at this point in year 1?

DD has just been moved up to turquoise, which I thought was quite good, but then I've read a few threads on here that suggest children reading at a much higher level. I know that they may not be representative though!

I know ultimately it doesn't matter - she's progressing and enjoying reading which is the main thing - but you can't really canvas this in real life and it would just be good to know how she's doing. Especially interested to hear from any teachers.

[user789653241]

According to this, turquoise is level for yr2(6-7), so your dd is doing great.

www.readingchest.co.uk/book-bands

[SillySongsWithLarry]

There is such a huge range at this age. DD is year one and one of the oldest in the year on yellow band. I'm not concerned. They all get there in their own time.

[lostscot]

Most of ours are red or yellow. A couple are on white/gold but they are very much in the minority.

[Reddress123]

My son is about to be 6 and just moved to on blue band. It's all to do with building his comprehension according to his teacher as he can read to a higher level at home.

[RatOnnaStick]

DS was on blue at the end of last term, moved back to yellow this term which I agree with, he's forgotten loads over the summer. His best mate is happily on red and another boy I know reads chapter books by himself. It's all completely normal.

[Muddlingalongalone]

My dd is on turquoise (seems to have skipped orange completely for some reason)
She reads them easily but when she brought purple home when ta gave it to her by accident it was much harder so seems to be at the right level.
I get the impression she's one of the best in her year at reading & she is in a phonics group with 1 other girl from her class & then a mix of yr2 & yr3's which I assume is a good sign.
I'm working on the principle that as long as she keeps progressing & enjoys it she's doing fine & I'm sure there are other things that she's not so good at!

[thisagain]

My son is on turquoise too and I wondered this. From the charts I've seen it looks good but I've no idea how other children read apart from my son said one boy was a really good reader and on chapter books, so I'm not entirely sure.

[idontlikealdi]

Mine are on yellow and red I have no idea where they rank.

[mummyofLivvy]

No Turquoise in our school.
Majority seem to be red and yellow from my circle of mummy friends.
DD got exceeding for reading at end of year 1 and had only just moved to yellow.

[SprogletsMum]

Dd is on yellow. I reckon she's getting ready to move up a level possibly after half term, I'd rather stay on the lower levels longer. The harder books are loooooong and boring.

[catkind]

Different schools use the bands differently. The middle groups are around blue at our school I think, but that's quite challenging for them. I can't remember what number turquoise is but would be top group.

[catkind]

MN is def not typical, or rather people who post on reading threads tend not to be typical. It's self-selecting.

[louisejxxx]

Ds was probably on orange at this point..he finished year 1 on stage 10 (not sure on what colour that is, but biff, kipper et al had finally made a disappearance).

Mumsnet seems to be full of genius-children so don't let the responses to this thread be representative of an average class room!

[AndNowItsSeven]

My dd still reads biff and chip , she us in year one. I don't think that has colours?

[kilmuir]

How long is a piece of string

[ShanghaiDiva]

I have been a parent reader at an international school for over 7 years and there can be a huge range of reading levels in year one. My school certainly has a lot of children who do not have English as a first language, but looking at native speakers the highest level I have seen coming into year one is green and they have left year one on purple.
This year I am reading with two year one classes and everyone is on pink and red at the moment.
Turquoise is great and your daughter is doing very well :)

[Notso]

I honestly don't have a clue about book bands. They bring books home, read them, I sign the book.
At some point the older two came home announcing they were 'free readers'.
As long as they are happy to read, trying different ways to say unfamiliar words and increasing vocabulary so understanding what they are reading I am happy.

[AllTheShoes]

She finished YR on orange and hasn't been moved since then (I was told they would all be re-assessed, but am not sure whether it's actually happened). But she's reading chapter books happily at home, so I'm not sure it's actually the correct level.

[Hulababy]

Massive range at this age. There will be children still on pink and not really reading at all, and others looking towards white/lime and can read almost anything.

Don't worry about MN children - reading threads over the years, I think many MN children are way, way above average! Certainly compared to real life, and schools I know.

Key is that your DD enjoys reading, and loves books.

[GetTheGoodLookingGuy]

Y1 TA here. We have half a dozen or so on Red, two on Blue, one on Turquoise, one on Gold. Rest are Yellow, but there's such a variation within the yellow books - some are barely beyond the Red books, with sounds like qu, j, x, ch, sh, and words like me and be, whereas others have ow, igh, oo, ee, etc sounds.

So yes, most on Yellow of some sort, and Turquoise is really good for the start of Y1.

[mouldycheesefan]

The target for minimum by end of year is orange.
Turquoise is fine. There will be some on yellow and blue, slow learners, and some flying ahead who are in gold and white. May even be some free readers. The main thing is does he enjoy books? It's not a competition, to develop a love of ring is a lifelong gift.

[forburylion]

Thanks all. Seems she's doing ok then!
It's just a bit disheartening when you read about all these free readers starting reception and you start to wonder whether she's not that able after all. But yes I suspect not particularly representative!