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Original poster

Should I just give up with reading schemes?

188 replies

20PoundsOfCrazyInA5PoundBag · 07/01/2018 23:24

Im struggling to find sets over level 10. He has a couple, B,C&K and alien adventure, and he's on around 13. All the rest seem not come in sets so super expensive, trust me I've been looking. Should I just give up on them now and just let him read his jr novels or is there anything important about the later levels?

OP posts:
RebelRogue · 09/01/2018 17:18

Not yet... homeschooled?

Original poster
20PoundsOfCrazyInA5PoundBag · 09/01/2018 17:34

Not yet started school

OP posts:
FlyingGoose · 09/01/2018 17:50

If he hasn't even started school you should probably relax a bit and let him read what ever he wants.

FabulouslyGlamorousFerret · 09/01/2018 17:52

That's the reasoned I queried his age. If he's not yet started school then I presume he is >4? I'd be wary of whipping through the reading bands as it will be difficult when he starts school, being 'super advanced' and waaaay ahead of all your peers (which free reading at 3 is) can be a bit of a poisoned chalice.

That's on the assumption he's too young to have started school, I may have got the wrong end of the stick though.

BertrandRussell · 09/01/2018 18:58

If he hasn't started school, stop using the reading scheme and just enjoy books together.

FusionChefGeoff · 09/01/2018 19:01

Ha ha drip feed much Grin

He's going to be SERIOUSLY bored in school - I would suggest switching over to the Gifted boards to see what they say.

But just let him choose his own books from the library - drive / public transport to a better one?

Badhairday1001 · 09/01/2018 19:15

As a teacher I would be a little bit wary about rushing ahead with reading scheme books. Lots of children learn to read fairly easily but it doesn't necessarily mean that their comprehension skills will keep up. A child who is 4 will get very little meaning from a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book even if they can read most of the words. Being a good reader is about so much more than being able to read the words. It's great that he is doing so well with his reading, but I would aim for adding depth in a fun way rather than get too caught up on reading scheme books.

Original poster
20PoundsOfCrazyInA5PoundBag · 09/01/2018 19:28

The schools all said it's fine. That they do reading groups by ability not age anyway. They will pick up from wherever he is so it means if I take him off leveled books he'll stay off them. It means if he misses something because I took him off too soon thats all on me. His age isn't relivant, kids develop at different rates. Whether he's 3 or 30 it's still going to be the same.

OP posts:
FabulouslyGlamorousFerret · 09/01/2018 19:39

I don't think you're doing him any favours, but, I'm just a random on the t'interweb so I'm sure going with the advice from your son's teachers is for the best.

BertrandRussell · 09/01/2018 20:08

Fair enough-you're sure you're right. You're not, of course. But don't let that stop you! It's very exciting having a child that's zooming ahead in something.

Badhairday1001 · 09/01/2018 20:14

I honestly wouldn't worry about it and just have fun with reading, the school will make sure when he starts that he is at an appropriate level and makes progress. Age is relevant though, he needs to read books that he understands the content of not just the words. If you want to stretch him do it by asking him to make predictions and infer meaning.

seriouslystumped · 09/01/2018 20:20

Does he understand what he's reading? I used to listen to children read at my DC's school and I'll always remember the father of a girl in reception kicking off with the teacher bc her reading level was so beyond her peers and he thought she should be parachuted into Y2. Ask her a single question about what she had read and she couldn't answer. Poor thing, I really felt sorry for her.

SparkleFizz · 09/01/2018 20:33

They will pick up from wherever he is so it means if I take him off leveled books he'll stay off them. It means if he misses something because I took him off too soon thats all on me.

Surely they’d check his reading themselves first, when setting his reading level, rather than just taking a parents word about their child being on Level whatever?

PocketCoffeeEspresso · 09/01/2018 20:40

Grey/silver level applies to books like the diary of a wimpy kid series, also captain underpants series

totally off topic, but my son loves Captain underpants - he's read them all so many times, and his little brother (who can't read) has diligently sat there and leafed through them. If you don't have the whole set, I heartily recommend them.

But yes, to the subject, why do you need banded books when your son is clearly on/over the cusp of free-reading?

RebelRogue · 09/01/2018 20:42

They won't just take your word for it. They will asses, based on fluency(pace,expression, how he reads),comprehension(summarising,inference,vocabulary) and assign him a level, be it a book band or free reader.

PocketCoffeeEspresso · 09/01/2018 20:43

Caught up after typing - well, the thing is, I think that I like Biff, Chip and Kipper more than my son these days, because we had a few at home, and he's changed schools, and sometimes gets a book he's already read, but I really like anyway...

I did hear that there's a Biff, Chip and kipper all grown up and still having adventures series that now I've remembered I'll have to hunt out....

Have fun with your child - they'll all get to band 10 eventually, there's no need to push, just provide what your child needs at the speed they enjoy it.

Mrscog · 09/01/2018 20:47

Imif he’s not yet at school I don’t really see the point in worrying. I’d just find books he enjoys and read them with him. Does he understand the books? Can he read with expression? Does he understand the punctuation marks? All of that should be discussed before ploughing in ahead. You’ve done enough, just get stuck in with reading for pleasure - and maybe focus on a different area for a while- music/drama clubs? Swimming?

Original poster
20PoundsOfCrazyInA5PoundBag · 10/01/2018 04:07

The school will look at the books he's reading and put him in a group based on that. If they really think it's wrong then they'll change him. He isn't zooming ahead, he reads on average 20 books a level but the earlier ones 2 or 3 times more, only moving on when he's ready.

I'm not pushing anything, hes the one that sits there on the loo, in the pram, on the train, in the cupboard, wherever, reading because for him it's fun. He loves the adventure kinds with a bit of danger and he's always eager to know what happens in the next book. So I can say with a fair amount of certainty he understands and he knows how to look up words he doesn't know.

Yeah when he was 2 I had to teach him quite a bit after I realised he could decode CVC words on his own and started seeing words like that and saying t-hat, but only what he wanted to when he wanted to. The only time I help or teach him now is when I listen to his half an hour of reading allowed before bed. And that's only checking his understanding of certain words or pronouncaction.

All of this still doesn't change whether the later (14+) levels are worth it or unnecessary to his reading development.

OP posts:
parietal · 10/01/2018 04:11

the later levels are not worth it.

they might be useful for an older child who was struggling & needs extra practise. but in your case, don't bother with them.

Chrys2017 · 10/01/2018 04:19

OP Well done on teaching your son to read before he starts school! He will have so many advantages from this that will positively affect his whole life, apart from the pleasure it is obviously giving him right now. If only more parents would do this, the literacy rates might not be so dismal. As your son is zooming ahead in reading, have you thought about introducing him to some early number sense games and activities too (that will give him a similar advantage when it comes to maths)?

Original poster
20PoundsOfCrazyInA5PoundBag · 10/01/2018 10:22

@parietal thank you!

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Original poster
20PoundsOfCrazyInA5PoundBag · 10/01/2018 10:38

@Chrys2017 thank you. I don't really know what kids are supposed to learn in maths or how to teach it. I mean he can count and do simple addition and subtraction but that just what he's picked up

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Ginmummy1 · 10/01/2018 10:57

Search for info on the 17 early learning goals. They'll be measured on these at the end of Reception. Reading is just one of them. This will tell you what's expected in maths, but it's worth seeing how he compares in the other areas as well.

Chrys2017 · 10/01/2018 11:33

@20PoundsOfCrazyInA5PoundBag I will get some information on early number sense together for you, hopefully today but if not, tomorrow.

BertrandRussell · 10/01/2018 11:51

And don't forget the really important work a child should be doing. Which is play. Indoor, outdoor, physical, serious, silly, imaginative, messy, creative play

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