Reading level in year 2

[Minki]

DS1 is 6 (born at the end of March) and in year 2 and on ORT Level 8. His reading is improving all the time and I was pleased with progress until I found out that there are loads of kids in his class reading Harry Potter! I read to him, and get him to read to me, every day and he is progressing quickly but Harry Potter still seems a world away! What level should he be at? His teacher has no concerns.

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He looks as though he's right where he should be.

6 year olds reading Harry Potter??? I have to wonder how much of it they're really understanding. My girls are all devoted readers and top their English classes, but the eldest didn't read Harry Potter until she was nearly 8, and the second is eight and a half and hasn't shown any interest yet. I wouldn't even consider books of that level for our 6 year old.

Don't stress over it. If he's making progress and enjoying the reading he is doing, that's a really good start. Be guided by his teacher.

Agree with Rillibee. Doubt many of them are really enjoying Potter, which surely is counter productive. Try Worst Witch?

I've got a boy in year 4 and one in year 2, my eldest (9) is a book worm, always reading and doing well and he's only just starting to read Harry potter. My year 2 boy is on level 9 I think and doing well but not really reading independently for enjoyment yet

My DD1 is 6, 7 in Feb, and loves books and reading. But Harry Potter, eh no. She's managed some of the younger Dahl books but we would read Harry Potter to her at this age and help her understand it. I've found that there can be quite a bit of this kind of chat in the playground about what kids are reading. I take a lot of it with a large pinch of salt. Just encourage your DC to enjoy whatever they are reading.

There's only one child in our Year 2 (90 odd pupils) that's reading Harry Potter or anything like and they are very advanced. The school is rated as above average for reading levels too so it sounds to me like your son is exactly where he should be. I wouldn't pay any attention to what people are saying in the playground :)

Surely the problem with them reading Harry Potter at this age is they will want to carry on and the later books get quite dark. I don't think I would want my kids to start on the series until old enough to cope with the later books.

There will be a big range of reading levels by y2 but it sounds like your DS is progressing well and certainly won't be bottom of the class?

My dd1 is 7yo and in yr2.

She is one level away from being a free reader.

She couldn't manage Harry Potter.

At the moment, she has Horrid Henry
as her school reading book and is she is reading 'Sophie' by DKS as her own book at home. I am currently reading Maltilda to her.

Harry Potter can wait. As long as the teacher is happy, I wouldn't be worried.

I read Lord of the Rings in Y6. It was a slog, and I enjoyed it so much moved when I re-read it at 15. Potter can wait.

I am a primary school teacher and a mum of eight year old twin boys. I would not advise benchmarking your own child's reading ability on the books that you are told his / her peers are reading. My boys both have a reading age well above 11 but neither have chosen to read the HP books. They both choose very different reading material. The most important thing you can do for your child is read to him / daily and instil a love of books of his or her choice - the rest will follow on when he /she is ready. Talk about the stories and the choices and actions of the characters. Children learn to read at very different rates and it sounds as though you are doing just the right things at home.