Going backwards in reading?

[isthatporridgeinyourhair]

DS1 (6+3) has just come to the end of Year 1. He is currently on ORT level 5. He had a reading spurt just before the end of the summer term according to his teacher. I wanted to encourage him to continue to read over the summer holiday and bought the remainder of level 5 so that we could read together over the summer. The first week my cunning plan seemed to work - he devoured the books to the extent he read 19 in the first 2 weeks of the holidays. His choice, not mine - I hasten to add!

This week however words that he appeared to find easy 2 weeks ago he is suddenly "blocking" on. For example "then" "where" "this" "what" etc - all the linking words. Obviously this is affecting his confidence on his reading now and I'm worried.

Have I been a twit? What can I do to help him?

There have been many, many threads about how to help young beginner readers.
Im not au fait with the ORT books, but whenever I get any child who misreads many words I have to check that he or she knows letter/sound correrspondences and can blend and segment ie decode, and if not teach him or her with materials designed to do this ie a synthetic phonics programme.
Check out the Reading Reform Foundation for the best advice on sorting out a poor reader.

If he's starting to get worried maybe take the pressure off until he feels confident again.

Read loads of books with him, so he is seeing you reading and joining in - so taking it and turns. Enjoy loads of book talk about characters, situations etc. If he wants to read the books you've bought great, if something else then that's fine too. If he gets stuck on a word teach him not just to sound out but to also read around the word to figure it out (what word would fit here based on the context of the sentence/text).

Maybe do some separate activities on sight words, in particular the ones he's getting stuck on. You can find the KS1 words (sparklebox have them on flowers and rockets or you could find them on a less controversial website ? try communication4all) and make cards for him to practice (maybe time him to make it a game ? always make it a challenge and fun with treats and prizes).

Hope this is helpful x

Frankly I would put the ORT books away and let him choose books he wants to read from the library. Often children who easily read words last week/yesterday and claim they can't read them today are just switched off.

ClaireyFairy, I am . You think that the website of a convicted paedophile is just 'controversial'?

I have just joined Reading Chest today. Dd jsut finished Reception and seems to have forgotten loads - as expected.

She really enjoyed reading her school books. Have chosen to receive a level that should be easily withing her capability tostart with and will build up if need be.

I find it hard to spot appropriate library books for her to read that will give her confidence.

Search on Mumsnet, I found a code that gave me £1 off per month.

Put the books away. Go outside and play. And when you come in, read to him. THEN READ TO HIM SOME MORE!

Just think. Is there anyone in your circle of friends who does not have some sort of learning difficulty who can't read? Thought not!

It's the holidays. He's read 19 books in the last 2 weeks. Relax & enjoy the time you have together (if you are lucky enough to not be working). Play, explore...and come home and read him a story (then, he may be ready to read again, or share a story with you).

I say this as the mother of a boy who had a reading age about 6 years ahead of his chronological age (even though summer born, SEN etc. etc.) The time passes so quickly, before you know it he'll be off to uni, just relax and enjoy the time you have together- their childhood goes so quickly.

Being able to read ahead of your peers is no great achievement, they mostly all catch up within a couple of years - maintaining a child's love of books is much more important in the long term, I'd back off a little you're approach is in danger of putting him off - 19 books in two weeks sounds like overload to me - you need to balance his activities a little more.

Why don't you read to him over the summer and then have some fun - outside!

Thanks for the advice all - will do!