Would it be normal for dd's written english to be a higher level than her read english?

[KatyMac]

I thought it was normally the other way round

But it was 4b in written and 3a in read

It just seemed a bit odd

[janeite]

It's absolutely normal. The Reading level will test comprehension/understanding of why writers have used certain words etc, not just the decoding.

[KatyMac]

Oh - that makes it even odder - she is an excellent reader

She just finished Yr5 and is reading Swallows and Amazons, Harry Potter, Dr Who, Tom's Midnight Garden, The Magician's House

She didn't understand the Boy who wore Striped Pyjama's - but I think that's reasonable

[mrz]

Usually reading is higher than writing.

[KatyMac]

I thought that

Her reading both to herself (she comes and asks meaning & pronunciations, and occasionally questions sentence structure & meaning)

Her writing is at a much lower level

I have questioned it - but don't expect an answer until next term

[popsycal]

ime it is usually but not always tge other way round

if she can read the books you mention, I would suggest her reading level is possibily higher than 3a. Were the levels from a test? QCA5 by any chance.....?

[Charmander]

Usually reading is higher than writing- even for adults - i can read war and peace but i could not have written it.

[KatyMac]

Yes Popsycal - I will admit that Harry Potter is at the upper edge of her reading

She want to read the 'Dark Materials' but I'm not sure she is ready for it

She is loving the Roman Mysteries and the Lady Grace books and is gaining a real understanding of the periods in time - I guess Agatha Christie is a bit old for her - but she seems to love mysteries

[janeite]

As a secondary English teacher it is my experience that pupils' writing scores are often higher than their reading scores. This is because the SATs papers make them analyse the language and its effect on the reader; they don't just test if they have understood the plot.

I have our Year 9 results here and all bar five of them have scored higher for writing than they have for reading.

[mrz]

If you check out KS2 & KS2 results far more children achieve higher levels in reading than do in writing
KS1 26% achieved level 3 in reading in 2007 only 13% in writing
KS2 48% achieved level 5 in reading in 2007
only 19% in writing

[popsycal]

katymac - then take it with a pinch of salt
The reading test was rather surreal and it is possible that they were 'trained' to write in the particular style (was the same test as the last 2 previous years)
hth

[popsycal]

janeite - as a y5 and 6 teacher, it is almost always the other way round

[janeite]

I don't know the percentages at KS3 but in my own school writing is invariably higher than reading. Must be the way we "learn 'em"!!!

[janeite]

Okay - have found some figures:

% of KS3 pupils reaching level five and above:

2004 R=65%, W = 72%
2005 R = 68% W = 76%
2006 R = 66% W = 76%
2007 R = 71% W = 73%

Interesting that it differs between the Key Stages.

Mrz - do you have the percentages for L4 in KS2?

[janeite]

Bumping this as I'd be really interested to hear reasons why there may be such a difference between the key stages.

Looking at the KS1 figures, reading is higher but only by a couple of percentage points; at KS2 L4 Reading is significantly higher; at KS3 writing is higher.

As Katy says in her OP, it's a bit "odd"!

[kid]

My DD scored higher in her writing than her reading. In my opinion she is a good reader, she just doesn't understand what she is reading half the time!

[roisin]

Katymac - in SATs Reading Tests many children lose the marks on "infer and deduce" questions. It really is a skill to master, and many children can't do it unless they have been taught a) to spot the questions then b) to answer them. And many schools don't specifically teach this skill until yr6.

[ChristineTigwell]

I am an assessment coordinator for a junior school in Portsmouth area. It is common for ch'n to score higher in reading than writing but remember that this is completely up to how your child deals with tests and the test itself. You are better off asking for the Teacher's Assessment level instead of test level as she may have just scored highly above/below in one of the tests.

[KatyMac]

So...do I let her read the philip Pulman books or not?

Sorry guys you know you are talking about reading & not understanding...well I did

Roisin - DD is moving down a group in English and the teacher was very worried I would be upset - I wasn't but I did undrstand the bit about nott being taught the questions

Thanks everyone

[mumandteacher]

Go with what she likes to read. Remember that levels mean nothing to children only government and schools.

[roisin]

I didn't want ds1 to read Philip Pullman, because I thought he would get so much more out of them when he was older. But in the end he just read them anyway (when he was 9 or 10). He enjoyed them, but I hope he will read them again when he is older.

[janeite]

I agree with Roisin that children will get more out of the Pullmans when a bit older: Dd1 read them when in Yr 7 and by then was a bit more aware of some of the theological stuff in them.

There is a series beginning with "Song Quest" by (I think) Katherine Roberts that she may enjoy: song quest

[CT1]

We use Philip Pullman books in Year 5 at our school. There are loads of teaching activities on net to support these books

[marbeth]

Hi
Would be interested to know from some of year 5/6 teachers wether they would be concerned if child had significantly lower level in writing. Ds got level 3C (writing) his reading was 4A.

Thank you

[marbeth]

Forgot to add year 5