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Original poster

Clueless Mama - Reading.

33 replies

MultipleMama · 07/09/2013 16:14

DH informed me today that the teacher thinks we aren't simulating DS1's reading enough at home. Not from lack of reading but the level/band of reading.

DS1 only started Y1 on Wednesday so I'm surprised the teacher mentioned something already. He is also my first DC at school so I am absolutely clueless by what she means. She sent DS home with a few purple band books (one was called the ungrateful tiger) and 1 gold one.

Is this good/bad? I know he can read some of my fantasy books - well parts of it. She I'm slightly concerned that the teacher said something.

What do the bands mean in terms of levels. I think the school goes on the ORT systems but I'm clueless on that too and google confuses me. Can anyone educate me a littkd on what levels/bands mean in terms of my child's reading?

Any help would be great!

OP posts:
itsnothingoriginal · 07/09/2013 20:12

My dd also started yr 1 on purple/gold which is ORT band 8/9. Do you know what was meant by the teacher expressing concern that he wasn't being stimulated enough by reading at home?

It might be worth getting more information from the teacher about it. We were advised at the same age/stage that although dd' s reading was good we needed to work on inference and reading comprehension. A lot of that understanding comes with maturity but we did work on comprehension with her at home.

The Reading Chest website is helpful in understanding levels/bands etc if you haven't already found it!

Original poster
MultipleMama · 07/09/2013 20:39

Her words were, "he's reading for the sake of reading most of the time. Sometimes he understands, other times he's not bothered."

She said we need to let him pick out books for his band ones he's interested in - she was concerned that the books we have at home are above or below his level and are counter productive but didn't explore more than that to DH.

Going to have DH pull her up on Monday to explain more.

Thank for the reply. I'll check out the site.

OP posts:
lougle · 07/09/2013 21:47

It's quite common for a child to really crack decoding of text, but it's much harder to take in the plot, the characterisations, the contexts, the subtle messages, etc.

I think the teacher is saying that your DS is 'reading' really well, but reading is so much more than decoding text accurately.

If the books are way below his level, the story may be very easy for him to understand, so he's not having to work at anything. If they are way above his level, they may be out of his reach in terms of comprehension, leaving him no choice but to plough on with decoding. If you get books which are at his level, then he needs to not only decode the text, but comprehend the story, including expression, tone, plot, characterisation, etc.

For instance, DD2 would read the story and her voice would stay the same regardless of the punctuation. She hadn't comprehended the excitement that Biff felt, etc. A bit of practice looking at punctuation and the story before and after the punctuation helped her to see that it was there for a reason.

simpson · 07/09/2013 22:19

Well, school reading scheme books can be as dull as dish water so maybe that's why he is not keen.

I would take him to the library and let him choose his own books.

You can also check out the Oxford owl website for free ebooks.

numbum · 07/09/2013 22:27

My pfb DS was reading gold level at the stary of y1. I, stupidly, thought this was amazing and I didnt need to listen to him read. He didnt read to us because he didnt want to and I assumed free reading (which he was by October half term) meant he could read perfectly. He"s now in y4 and I'm waiting for his teacher to realise that, while his decoding, expression and intonation is fantastic, his comprehension is awful

DD was reading and comprending chapter books on entering reception and I can see a massive difference between her and DS at that age.

numbum · 07/09/2013 22:31

Just realised this is in G&T rather than primary education.

You really arent clueless

simpson · 07/09/2013 22:32

At this stage I would try him on Horrid Henry, Flat Stanley, The Seriously Silly Stories (Little Red Riding Wolf etc), Happy Families books (Mr Creep the Crook etc) and see how he gets on with them.

My DD has just started yr1 and has been free reading since March of reception but I do still listen to her (and her yr4 brother) aloud most days.

simpson · 07/09/2013 22:33

LOL numbum, me too! X Post Grin

numbum · 07/09/2013 22:43

Ah I still have the Rainbow Fairy books to post to you Simpson! DD decided she wanted to read them just after I said I'd post them...but she's given up on them again now and moved on.

Trying to get DS to read a chapter book is like pulling teeth. He's very knowledgeable thanks to non fiction books but he just doesn't think he needs to read fiction. Drives me insane! The only books he'll read are choose your own adventure type books but I can't find any he hasn't read at the moment

simpson · 07/09/2013 23:08

Oh thanks, I had totally forgotten about them!!

DD has discovered the Ramona books so that is keeping her happy.

DS (yr4) is not one for reading to himself, so I totally get your pulling teeth comment unfortunately Grin

Original poster
MultipleMama · 07/09/2013 23:19

Thanks everyone! I just realised this is G&T too...

Will check out the books. Thanks for the tips :)

OP posts:
Galena · 08/09/2013 14:37

Can I hijack the thread please? DD is just starting Reception and reads well. She is at the Blue Bananas, Early Readers, Animal Crackers stage at the moment. I don't want to go onto Roald Dahl yet because I don't think she'd cope yet. She loves us reading Rainbow Fairies books at bedtime, but I don't think she's got the stamina to read them herself yet.

Any suggestions for books she might enjoy reading?

itsnothingoriginal · 08/09/2013 16:15

Numbum - has he tried Diary of a Wimpy Kid? DS discovered these last year and loves them. Not very high brow but hey, enjoying reading is what counts I think!

Galena - has your dd read the Happy Families series? We also love the Usbourne Young reader books as dd could manage these herself but also good intro to classics.

We are really struggling finding new books for dd who is 6 and free reading - she came home with a David Walliams book from school this week - great story but too many complex themes!

simpson · 08/09/2013 16:50

Galena - if your DD can cope with Rainbow Fairy books, then she could cope with the easier RD books such as The Magic Finger, Esio Trot etc or maybe you could read them together.

I would also check out Flat Stanley, Amelia Jane, Seriously Silly Stories, My Naughty Little Sister.

Itsnothingoriginal - Wimpy kid books are the only books my DS will read to himself quite happily.

numbum · 08/09/2013 16:56

I've tried so many suggestions including Wimpy Kid itsnothingoriginal but he just isn't interested! I'm stumped

simpson · 08/09/2013 17:09

Numbum - I have resorted to bribery Blush and a healthy dose of competitiveness from his younger sister.

He will get either 1, 2 or 3 stars when he has read a book to himself depending on length (must be a book he has not read before) and when he gets a certain amount of stars he will get a treat.

DD is doing the same thing.

Not sure if its going to work yet as today is only day 2.

numbum · 08/09/2013 18:53

I've told him he needs to choose a book and he WILL be reading to DH or I every day for 10 minutes. He seems ok about that at the moment but we'll see at bedtime if he's up for it

(Sorry for thread hijack!)

itsnothingoriginal · 08/09/2013 21:12

Just another try... how about the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz? These are the only fiction books without pictures of any kind that DS had read cover to cover with no encouragement!

souperb · 08/09/2013 21:50

Jack Stalwart books? They appealed to my non-fiction preferring DS because they have enough facts wriggled in to appease him and he is mad about maps. Each book is set in a different country.

Periwinkle007 · 09/09/2013 21:17

try something like the Lighthouse Keeper books. Quite simple storylines so easy to follow, fun, nice pictures, longer than normal picture books. They come in early reader style format now too. 8/9 at the start of year 1 is good, ahead of average but not exceptional. I agree that he can probably decode very well and reads fluently but that the books are probably boring him to tears so he isn't actually paying attention to what he is reading hence not following the stories. Large Family and Little Bear stories are quite good at that reading level.

Galena - I would try 'The Kitten with No Name' Vivian French, Happy Mouseday - Dick King Smith, some of the Corgi Pups books. Laura's star (there are some early reader style ones now too), Winnie the Witch chapter books.

Original poster
MultipleMama · 09/09/2013 22:53

Hijack away! :)

Anyone recommend books for my DS (purple/gold). He loves animals, science, art and fantasy. Any pop up books? He'd love those.

OP posts:
Original poster
MultipleMama · 09/09/2013 23:03

Speaking of books; DS still loves the New Way farm books that I bought him as a baby. Think I bought about 20 at different levels haha.(they were my favourite from school too!)

OP posts:
Periwinkle007 · 10/09/2013 11:17

Multiplemama there is a Peter Pan pop up book which is probably around book band 10 so I am sure he could give that a good go.

Original poster
MultipleMama · 10/09/2013 14:39

Peri Oh! I'll look into that :) thanks.

OP posts:
Galena · 10/09/2013 14:50

What about the Usborne 'See Inside' range? DD has the castle one and there are lots and lots of flaps as well as lots of small bits of reading - she coped ok with it, but I don't know what level it's at. There's a range of them...