Year 2 on blue book band

[rosyposycosy]

My DC has just gone in to year 2 and is on blue book band which is 2 or 3 bands below 'expected' for year 2.

We have done a big refresh of his bookshelf. We always do a book at bedtime but are now also including time for him to read aloud to me each evening too.

How quickly would you expect to see improvements and any other tips on how to support?

I don't want it to affect his wider learning if he is not confident in reading.

Has he had an eye test recently? Eye tests for children are free and you can take them to a high street optician.

I think that it's hard to say how quickly your see results as ime it's one of those skills that they suddenly understand like walking.

Reading to him and with him will help his vocabulary, comprehension and is nice bonding time if they are a cuddly sort of child

Keep reading to him and show a love of reading yourself. Take him to the library or bookshop to get him excited about what he will be able to read.

When you are reading to him, explain words and sometimes ask for a prediction but don't make it too "teachy". Just fun.

Keep him looking out for sounds he recognises in packaging or on your travels.

Following as DD is still in yellow and just started y2. Teacher in y1 wasn't concerned but I was going to ask her new teacher about it in a couple of weeks when she's done a few reading sessions with her.

Which reading scheme?
For Oxford reading tree blue is very low for y2. For Read Write Ink blue its the higher end of normal.

2 or 3 bands below expected is normal to start the year because they should make 3 levels progress (1 per term) progress. Obviously depending on scheme, some go quicker.

It's not just about reading the words. You need to ask them questions, like; What happened?, why did it happen?, what do you think might happen next?. If there is speech, can they add some expression. How fluent are they. Lastly, do they immediately start decoding a word that they don't recognise?
Reading for 10mins a day with questions on the text, which you can make fun is one of the most important things you can do with a child. Good readers become great spellers!

He is the Oxford one I think, so light blue whereas turquoise is showing as the average level year 2 should begin.

He has had an eye test and no issues there.

Comprehension is fairly good and he does enjoy talking about the book and the storyline, characters etc so that's good.

Teacher hasn't expressed much concern but I don't want to leave him floating along underneath where he needs to be when he could be helped with a bit more support and intervention.
So far the read aloud sessions at home are going well and he's really enjoying doing this before bed.