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Original poster

If your child's school uses RWI, can I ask you a question...

81 replies

Bookbags · 10/02/2025 20:32

If your children's school use Read Write Inc can I ask if they had to read every book in each colour level in order or did they skip books to move up levels?

We're slowly losing the will to live progressing through the levels and I'm worried if we have to read every book in each colour stage, I believe there is 10 for each stage then my child will just stop trying.

OP posts:
neerg · 10/02/2025 20:33

No, they don't have to read every level.

RIPVPROG · 10/02/2025 20:33

Why is the progress so slow? DS had had to do them all he gets two at a time and sometimes 3 changes of those in a week. Are they streamed for RWI or is it whole class?

Teaxberspet · 10/02/2025 20:33

No we read a few from each colour, definitely not all of them. Plus the book bag books which go along side them.

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RIPVPROG · 10/02/2025 20:34

Which colour are they on and how old are they/year group?

Original poster
Bookbags · 10/02/2025 20:35

We're getting one book a week and by day three he just isn't interested because he knows it and isn't actually reading it, just reciting it. So far we've followed the list and it's going to take months if we keep going the way wtte going with a new book each week.

OP posts:
Depressedbarbie · 10/02/2025 20:36

They should be assessed each half term and put in a group based on that. If they are ready to move on, then they don't need to do all the books in the band

metellaestinatrio · 10/02/2025 20:40

They definitely skip books at my kids’ school. Also - don’t bother reading it every night! Just read it twice max, if DC is reading it fluently and can answer the comprehension questions you’re done. Make up the other entries in the stupid reading record and let DC read some other books to you.

Not sure how old your child is but when DC1 was in Reception I got him to read his toddler sibling’s Spot books to me. Obvs he was not as bright as most MN children who are on War and Peace in the original Russian by the second term of Reception…

RIPVPROG · 10/02/2025 20:41

Bookbags · 10/02/2025 20:35

We're getting one book a week and by day three he just isn't interested because he knows it and isn't actually reading it, just reciting it. So far we've followed the list and it's going to take months if we keep going the way wtte going with a new book each week.

That sounds dire.
DS is in quite a big school, 4 form intake, they are assessed every half term and there are 12 groups for RWI so they get small group focused tuition to their level. He has also jumped a level after a few weeks once or twice, in between assessments.
DNs school does one book a week whole class approach, her reading is nowhere near the level of his.

RIPVPROG · 10/02/2025 20:42

metellaestinatrio · 10/02/2025 20:40

They definitely skip books at my kids’ school. Also - don’t bother reading it every night! Just read it twice max, if DC is reading it fluently and can answer the comprehension questions you’re done. Make up the other entries in the stupid reading record and let DC read some other books to you.

Not sure how old your child is but when DC1 was in Reception I got him to read his toddler sibling’s Spot books to me. Obvs he was not as bright as most MN children who are on War and Peace in the original Russian by the second term of Reception…

We've been told the minimum before moving to the next book is once in school, twice at home, so we do read every night, but the books change frequently.

Original poster
Bookbags · 10/02/2025 20:44

We read all kinds of other books but school have obviously told the children they have to read it each night and because he's only in Reception he obviously wants to 'follow the rules' so we do read it.

Glad to see most schools slip books and we can hopefully ask for clarity that this is the case at the next parents evening. I'm hoping they skip books too and they apparently assess each half term.

OP posts:
MumonabikeE5 · 10/02/2025 20:45

We read them once at home. My kid is in yr1 and reading grey level. So it seems to work fine for us. Even if she found it harder and probably needed to do more practice school says only do as much as the kid is happy to do, they do it plenty in school and more important that they enjoy books- even if it’s listening to you reading stories rather than practicing phonics at home. (Of which I did none, because im too dyslexic to help)

Original poster
Bookbags · 10/02/2025 20:47

RIPVPROG · 10/02/2025 20:41

That sounds dire.
DS is in quite a big school, 4 form intake, they are assessed every half term and there are 12 groups for RWI so they get small group focused tuition to their level. He has also jumped a level after a few weeks once or twice, in between assessments.
DNs school does one book a week whole class approach, her reading is nowhere near the level of his.

Show quote history

I know he said they do go to groups for phonics but no idea how many groups there are I can't imagine there's many. I do worry they are taking a whole group approach though and if some in his group aren't at that level they won't move those who are ahead so he will be stuck doing one book at a time in the hope the others catch up. Hopefully that makes sense?

OP posts:
mindutopia · 10/02/2025 20:55

We definitely seem to have to read ALL the books. They come home in sequential order (there are two sets, the big portrait ones and the smaller landscape ones). And they seem to hang around until we’ve read them each several times. It takes forever.

Ds is definitely in the lower group even though he can read the books but I can’t get through them fast enough. He’s in Y2. We have 2 books sent home to read every day, plus spelling, plus maths, plus topical homework, plus SATS practice every week. Honestly, I have cancer and Dh and I can just about get everyone fed, bathed, monitor secondary age one’s homework (who has about the same amount or less!). I can’t do an hour of homework a night with my 6 year old! So it isn’t done every day.

Original poster
Bookbags · 10/02/2025 21:00

That's very understandable mindutopia given your current circumstances. Hopefully things improve for you soon. Although I'm going to be honest the fact yours come home in sequential order fills me with dread! Ours have thus far been in sequential order although we haven't had anything except for the small landscape ones to date.

OP posts:
Inabitofbother · 10/02/2025 21:08

My son is now in y1 and he started reception unable to read any letters at all. His school split the two classes into 4 big phonics groups (TA and teacher take one group each).

We got a new one of the little RWI books each week, and we definitely skipped some books (at least at home) but we did cover all the new phonic sounds in videos as well each week.

My ds hates reading stories so we top up with non fiction and comics and he helps read the easy bits.

Reception was a little slow at times but my ds learned the skills really thoroughly. Now in y1 he gets two books per week, one is easy and is for him to practise expression and fluency. The other is a stretch book for him to learn new sounds and words.

i really would not worry- just set the easy rwi book aside and read some thing else

Original poster
Bookbags · 10/02/2025 21:13

i really would not worry- just set the easy rwi book aside and read some thing else

Honestly not stressing at all we can read plenty of books but just wanting to check if its something I can ask them. Also because it's obviously already frustrating him as I can see him already starting to lose enthusiasm and I think part of that is because the books don't present any challenge.

OP posts:
RadStag · 10/02/2025 21:15

My 5yo is doing RWI. The books are BORING BORING BORING. DD wont read them, she's already read them 3 times before they come home. She recites them if she does read them.

We just use songbird phonics at the level sent home.

katmarie · 10/02/2025 21:15

Both my dc have done rwi. They've both skipped books, and had the same book repeated as well. Dd skipped most of the first set (the ones with just single words in) once they assessed her reading ability, and she's on the green book set now I think, in reception. Ds is in year 2 and has pretty much finished with the set books now, and we definitely haven't had all of the last set. I think it honestly depends as much on how many copies the school has as much as anything else. I imagine they go missing often too.

RadStag · 10/02/2025 21:15

Bookbags · 10/02/2025 21:13

i really would not worry- just set the easy rwi book aside and read some thing else

Honestly not stressing at all we can read plenty of books but just wanting to check if its something I can ask them. Also because it's obviously already frustrating him as I can see him already starting to lose enthusiasm and I think part of that is because the books don't present any challenge.

The point of the scheme is that the books they read at home are easy for them.

RadStag · 10/02/2025 21:17

Bookbags · 10/02/2025 20:47

I know he said they do go to groups for phonics but no idea how many groups there are I can't imagine there's many. I do worry they are taking a whole group approach though and if some in his group aren't at that level they won't move those who are ahead so he will be stuck doing one book at a time in the hope the others catch up. Hopefully that makes sense?

Show quote history

They'll assess every six weeks and move/shuffle groups around.

Original poster
Bookbags · 10/02/2025 21:18

RadStag · 10/02/2025 21:15

The point of the scheme is that the books they read at home are easy for them.

Show quote history

I appreciate that and understand it's good that he knows the words so he gets pleasure from reading me the book but there's easy and then there's books that he could read before starting school easy.

I'm sure I'm coming across as a pushy parent but that's not the case I just feel for him already losing enthusiasm for reading and wanted to know if we had to endure every book in each stage.

OP posts:
Turnoffthelight · 10/02/2025 21:22

My daughter is in year one and on the RWI scheme. She has to read each book 3 times and then gets a new one. They have split the class into different groups depending on ability and she seems to be flying through the colours.

ClassicStripe · 10/02/2025 21:23

I’m smiling at everyone saying RWI is boring. Imagine having to teach the same ten books over and over again. I think I could recite them off by heart as this point.
The earlier colour bands should be changed 3 days a week. Later colour bands (maybe orange onwards) should be changed 3 days a week.

Original poster
Bookbags · 10/02/2025 21:27

ClassicStripe · 10/02/2025 21:23

I’m smiling at everyone saying RWI is boring. Imagine having to teach the same ten books over and over again. I think I could recite them off by heart as this point.
The earlier colour bands should be changed 3 days a week. Later colour bands (maybe orange onwards) should be changed 3 days a week.

Oh you poor thing. I couldn't imagine teaching them they are so dry. At least biff chip and kipper had nice pictures. 😆

Will ask if they have plans to change them more frequently when we sit down with his teacher shortly for parents evening. One new book a week does seem excessive every 3 days would be much better.

I may also nosey as to how many groups they split them into.

OP posts:
RadStag · 10/02/2025 21:29

Bookbags · 10/02/2025 21:18

I appreciate that and understand it's good that he knows the words so he gets pleasure from reading me the book but there's easy and then there's books that he could read before starting school easy.

I'm sure I'm coming across as a pushy parent but that's not the case I just feel for him already losing enthusiasm for reading and wanted to know if we had to endure every book in each stage.

Edited
Show quote history

Oh, I feel your pain. DD was reading High on a Hill this week. And compared to The Wrong Kind of Knight it's so boring. It's the "igh" "ie" "i-e" sounds books.

Here's an example from High in the Hill:

Goblins creep into the mill at night. They hang up lamps that are light and bright. The goblins play tricks. They sing, yell and jump. They pick up big sacks and drop them ... Bump!

The Wrong Kind of Knight:
One night, there was a knock at the door. "I need you to fight a dragon!" Cried King Kareem. "But I'm the wrong kind of knight!" said Naseem "I don't like to fight.".

She wants to read Songbirds books.