Not sure I am in the right place...

[EustaciaVye]

DD2 is in reception and she is classed as level 2C for reading. School have been good and encouraged her to write about the stories she reads etc.
She seems to have a particular love of poetry.

Some of the books she reads seem to have content which is pretty mature for a 5 year old. This can make reading a little tricky as she wants a full explanation of why things happen before proceeding to the next bit. It is like she has to tick the comprehension box in her head before she can read further.

Any suggestions on how to help her realise that whilst comprehension is important, you dont have to understand every detail to understand the whole picture.

Thanks

Maybe ask her how much she does understand and if she knows enough to get the general picture just tell her to move on because she understands it now?

Is this something you've noticed at home or has it been mentioned by teachers at school?

Personally I wouldn't worry much if DD is reading and developing well, when children are younger and learning to read, they are encouraged to comprehend more of the story than is written on the page (for example, learning more of the story from the pictures in books, thinking how characters feel, anticipating future events, etc).

I'm sure there wouldn't be any rush to finish a book or page, and by asking questions and thinking outside the text she'll be learning more and developing critical thinking skills which seems a really positive skill.

I'm curious to know what books she's reading - are they books you read together at home or which have been provided by school?

She is only really like this at home with me if we are reading together. She is a model child at school. I refer to books the school send home as she takes her 'reading' very seriously and often wont let me help as she feels she must do it properly for her teachers.

Books we have at home are less of a problem.

Do you think maybe she has a little anxiety about it? That she wants to check her comprehension is 'right'? Just wondered as you say she takes it very seriously, feels she must do in 'properly' (independently??) for her teachers, but is more relaxed in her approach to home books (rather than school books).

We've had very similar problems with reading books from school (DD was assessed at a 2b in the middle of Reception), and I don't think it's uncommon, a lot of books that are suitable in terms of reading level just aren't appropriate for a five year old. If she had the right books, her desire to get it right (which my DD also has too!) would be much less of an issue.

Once we mentioned this to the school, they did try and sort it out, but it isn't an easy one to solve. I've been into the school library to sift through and find suitable reading books for her, which worked for a while, and we also - with the school's agreement - read our own books at home instead and write about them. I've also had recommended on here the Treetops ORT series, which are designed for younger readers with good comprehension, so it might be worth asking about those too, although I haven't seen them as our school doesn't own any.

Thanks.

I am sure it is a bit of anxiety for her.

I've seen the Treetops books at school. Generally the Y2s get them. I think it will be a bit easier when she moves out of Early Years and into KS1