year 2 boy - excellent reader, but unable to answer question on test just read

[cba]

Please help. ds1 is an excellent reader, level 13. But since starting year 2 it has become apparent that he is just reading the text and not concentrating.

The teacher put him on books of a slightly lower level to improve expression and fluency. This has worked a treat. But, if for example he reads a sentence then is asked a question he just stares at you as though he hasnt even read it.

I really have to press hard to make him realise he has to concentrate on what he is reading.

I did a little test last night by saying the names of five wrestlers and getting him to repeat them to me in the same order, no problem.

We have also started a mission game, whereby i give him instrucions and tasks to carry out in the precise order given. He is up to ten missions.

Please help, i am feeling a bit shit as I dont know what else to do and I do not want him getting a complex or getting stressed when he is only seven years old.

Thanks, sorry it is a bit long.

Perhaps he needs more interesting books , school books aren't exactly known for their excitment factor !

does he read other books at home , if so what is his concentration and understanding like with these ?

he is fine with his books at home. I have said this to the school but they say that he has to read their books.

Give him "Daft Jack and the Beanstack" and he his pissing himself laughing whilst reading it.

Feel as though I am becoming a pain in the arse at school.

I have asked in the diary "what do you suggest?" to put it back on them.

I would take him to the library or book shop and get him to choose a few books that he really likes the look of. Go through the book slowly and get him to predict what he think might happen on the next page, get him to re-read speech sections using different voices for each characters, get him to whisper where the character whispers etc.
Moving him back down a few levels is a good idea, it almost takes him back to basics in how to learn to read.
Another thing to try is find him some non-fiction books in a topic he is interested on e.g. dinosuars, volcanoes, football etc. This should aid his comprehension skills as he'll be reading about thigs that interest him.

thanks tiger, i agree putting him back a few levels has done alot of good. After reading with him tonight, it seems that initial questions he gets confused, but once I have gone over the text with him and ask him at the end his is fine.

I am just concerned that i am missing something more serious.

He is a bit of day dreamer so i am probably worring a bit too much.

cba - he sounds like my DS1 (also 7, and also in YR2). He's a very fluent reader, and often uses lovely expression too - but he still struggles with the comprehension side of it. Infact I'm certain that the reason he's still on Stage 8 of the Storyworlds books is to encourage the understanding to come through......have to say he's definitely improving - but he's quite a day dreamer - and I often have to repeat things to him at home as he's never really listening properly.

queen, has the school said anything to improve this, or, is it just one of those things that improves with age.

I get so fustrated sometimes, although i dont show it. I know he can do it but he is just being lazy and dreamy.

The school have just encourage me to read just a few pages with him and ask him questions about just little bits, and also (as has been mentioned above) to encourage him to "guess" what is going to happen next.

I often also let him read through the entire text on his own before we go through it together so that he's "primed" up a little. I'm not sure whether he's improving with age (he was 7 in September) or whether it's a combination of age and the pointers the school gave us (well all parents were given same advice at yr2 parents meeting).

He's turning out to be quite bright - but so laid back and day dreamy that I also get inwardly frustrated with him.

queen, he sounds just like my little boy. We have already read the pages he will do at school next to prime him. ds1 is also really bright and a whizz at maths but so laid back he is horizontal sometimes.

school as said just to read a few pages at a time.

"so laid back he is horizontal sometimes"

LOL I love it.

That's DS1 through and through. He's also been "slow" at picking things up - but once something clicks he tends to do it REALLY well and can be incredibly sweet and thoughtful and intelligent......but he's in his own little world half the time and the world could fall to pieces around him and he probably wouldn't even notice