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Primary education

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Original poster

What and how many books per week for a 4-5 yo?

48 replies

thecaptaincrocfamily · 06/12/2010 22:46

What do they read?
How often do they change the book?
What level is which?

I am clueless!! Reception is a mystery to me!

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Original poster
thecaptaincrocfamily · 06/12/2010 22:47

Xmas Smile Xmas Grin Xmas Smile Xmas Grin just practicing! trala la la la la la la la!!!!

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Original poster
thecaptaincrocfamily · 06/12/2010 22:50

We have the exciting 'BIG and Little' Xmas Smile

OP posts:
orangepoo · 06/12/2010 22:54

Oxford reading tree books - either no words on the pages or just a few simple ones. No idea how the levels work, think my DS is on level 1 or 1+ but I am not really sure as there are stickers and pen marks over the level numbers.

A few words on their own - simple ones that can be blended c-a-t or j-a-m etc.

Our books are changed 2x or 3x per week.

PoppetUK · 06/12/2010 22:55

My DS has just turned 5. I think he is getting 1 book per week or perhaps 2. I'm not sure how it works. To be honest he's more than ready for more books so we just read with him at home.

He's been given early Oxford Reading Tree books.

magicmummy1 · 06/12/2010 22:56

It seems to vary enormously from school to school. At our school, they changed books once a week in reception but I have read on here that lots of schools change them daily.

Personally, I preferred the once-a-week approach, as it gave us plenty of time to explore more exciting reading material from the library! Grin

As for what they read, I imagine that varies from school to school as well. We had a mixture of books, and not one single scheme.

Original poster
thecaptaincrocfamily · 06/12/2010 23:06

I can't wait until she can read and brings home a book with a good plot story! Xmas Grin Although I suspect by then I won't be needed to read to! Xmas Smile

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magicmummy1 · 06/12/2010 23:15

Oh, I'd encourage her to keep reading aloud even when she's quite proficient - I think it's good for them, and helps to develop all sorts of skills that they wouldn't develop if they were reading silently. Likewise, even though my dd can read virtually anything now, I haven't stopped reading aloud to her either. It's nice to share stories and enjoy them together! :)

Original poster
thecaptaincrocfamily · 06/12/2010 23:19

I know magic that was me being flippant Grin

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magicmummy1 · 06/12/2010 23:27

Ah, I'll shut up then! Grin

lara84 · 07/12/2010 13:45

have a 4yr old in Reception and 5yr old in yr1.
We get Rigby star books, my 4yr old has "phase 2" books which are very basic "sid sits" etc and gets them changed once a week. She reads more challenging books at home but nothing all that exciting!!
My 5yr old gets to change his book when ever he likes, but tends to only bring home one a week, again Rigby star "turquoise level" again nothing very exciting so chooses more intersting books at home.
yawn school books are so boring!

redskyatnight · 07/12/2010 18:55

4 year old DD in Reception. They can change their reading books as frequently as they like. DD is a girly swot very keen, so she picks 2 a day (they are very simple short books which we rattle through in a couple of minutes).

zapostrophe · 07/12/2010 21:26

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Eveiebaby · 07/12/2010 22:04

DD in reception has Oxford Reading Tree books. Usually changed 1 - 2 times a week. I think if the TA has been through the book with her and she can read all the words then the book gets changed. Initially she bought home books with no words and now it tends to be 1 or 1+ books - I think it would depend on the reading ability of the child as to what level book they receive.
DD also visits the school library once a week and can choose a book to take home for the week.

ZephirineDrouhin · 07/12/2010 22:18

Am quite startled (and a little envious) hearing about reading books being changed every day. Dd has had her latest one for two weeks (ORT Floppy Phonics) despite having read it to me quite competently on the first night. However, the school did warn us that the frequency of book changing would depend on how many parents could volunteer to come into school each week to hear children read, as the teachers/TAs don't have time to do it. Tricky when you're working though. We are well ahead with the whole getting mothers to do all the work for nothing Big Society idea here.

crystal07 · 07/12/2010 22:25

My dd gets 3 books a week from reading schemes such as ort, ginn etc. They tend to have 5 or 6 words on each page. she also has word tin which gets changed every 2/3 weeks depending on what she can read and teachers time.

ZephirineDrouhin · 07/12/2010 22:35

This is all a bit of an eye-opener to me. To those who have books changed twice a week or more: how many are in the class, how many TAs are there, and do you have a lot of parent helpers coming in every day?

DreamTeamGirl · 07/12/2010 23:38

DS' class had 1 teacher, 1 FT TA and 1 PT TA for 30 kids and books were changed weekly most weeks

mummymilky · 08/12/2010 09:12

DD1 is 4 and in Reception. She was bringing home a new book every day, but this has reduced to two or three a week as the books have got harder! She's on Rigby Stars phase 5. Tiny class so they're heard every day, which is fantastic.

swanker · 08/12/2010 09:18

DD is in Reception, she reads to teacher or TA every day (whole class does), and brings home 2 books a night.

She is free reading now at home, but school insist she must do the reading scheme (currently ORT lv 5)Hmm

dinkystinky · 08/12/2010 09:21

oxford tree reading books once a week
library book once a week
book packs every fortnight

mejon · 08/12/2010 10:44

None yet. Don't know if I should be worried about this or not? DD started Reception in September having turned 4 in August. Her closest friend at school started after Easter and has only been taking reading books home this last 1/2 term so I'm guessing we might get some sometime after Christmas. She knows all her alphabet which she certainly didn't before starting school so must be learning something! We're in Wales if this makes any difference.

bluedolphin1 · 08/12/2010 18:08

Ds brings home reading scheme books. about . (Red level 2) Changed 3 times a week Yet twice he has been given same book. Finding them a little easy.

icancancan · 08/12/2010 18:20

ds nearly 5 book changed every day - on storyworlds yellow (not sure what ORT level that is). also subscribe to the Reading Chest and visit the library most weeks. He finds reading/blending quite laborious.

heppy23 · 08/12/2010 19:53

Our son is 5 and is in year one. I've recently had a meeting with the headteacher as I wasn't happy with his progress.
He was on red books and has just moved to yellow.
I'm frustrated because there seems to be no system for changing the books over. If you want the book changed you put it (with his reading record book) in a basket. Then those children are given the chance to change their books twice that day.
This means that sometimes he comes home with the same book (because he likes it and no-one makes him change it) and sometimes he comes home with no book (because he put his book in the basket and they were all too busy rehearsing for the christmas show!). I sent him back in to go and choose a book.
I'm thinking of joining reading chest to make sure he gets a good flow of books.

bluedolphin1 · 08/12/2010 20:53

We may have our books changed 3 times a week but I am not sure how often they hear children read. In year 1 I think it was probably termly!