Oxford Reading Tree- A few questions

[angelcake99]

DS has just turned 6 and is currently on stage 2B. He has struggled with reading but is now enjoying it and wanting to move on.

He seems to be very behind with his level of reading according to what the ORT quotes for his age. His teacher is not concerned and is happy with his progress. I am being a worry wart, what can I do to help him, and is he very behind?

I have no idea what levels any of his peers are on and I never bring up reading to any of the other parents.

Sounds like you might be mixing up his NC level with his reading level.

Level 2b on the National Curriculum would not equate to level 2 ORT at all and actually would be very good for a year 1 child.

If it is level 2 ORT then yes that is a little behind 'average' maybe but well within normal and the fact he is enjoying it is more important.

Teachers always tell you they are not concerned and are happy with their progress.

Is he in Y1 or Y2? And do you mean ORT level 2?

If he is in Y2 and ORT 2 - then school will be worried.

If he is in Y1 and ORT 2, then it is still really not very good at all, but would need more info to say if it's a 'cause for concern' or not (ie kids are moved up levels at diff times. What can he actually read at home?)

Depending on what you mean and what year he is in, he may be a little behind. However, I found with both of my children that learning to read was not a gradual, incremental process. It was a plodding teeth pulling nightmare until it "clicked". There was a point with both of them when they just got it and everything was much easuer from then. If it has just clicked for your son, then whilst he may be behind now, he may vary quickly catch up.

It is worth talking to the school about where your son is in relation to his peers and, if he is now finding the books very easy, asking if he can be moved through them to a level which he finds challenging.

he is a little behind, i think according to the guide the average level for y1 term 2 is stage 4 of ORT.
but he is nor so far behind that i would be worried and as you say he has just started to get the hang of it. i would speak to his teacher and say that he is starting to find his books a little easy and you were wondreing if he is ready to move on. they shouldnt mind and they should assess his reading and see is they think he is ready.

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice. DS is in Y1 term 2. The level of book he is reading is ORT 2B, so it does seem as if he is lagging behind some what.

His reading has just 'clicked' as has his writing and spelling, so I don't want to suddenly take him out of his comfort zone, but I think I will try getting some of the reading books to practice at home more frequently.

I agree with everyone who says it clicks - I wonder why I even bothered trying with DS1. Try and try - getting no-where. And then all of a sudden whizzes through levels and is a free reader in less than 2 terms. I think we start them too early and attempt to do what they are not ready for in the UK. Much easier on kids and parents, and teachers too, to leave it a couple of years til they are ready to go. But that is another thread...

Have you thought though that the "try and try getting nowhere" but might sometimes be the pre-cursor to it suddenly "clicking". If you had left it 2 years, would your ds have suddenly started to click with reading when he did?

Op - have you thought of doing some more phonic based reading - I like songbird phonics and Read Write Inc. Also let him choose books at the library - If they are too hard, you can read most of it to him but let him read words/sentences within his capabilities.

If he isnt 'clicking' ATM with ORT, but likes the same things as my boy (eg Star wars and Batman) have a look at the DK Readers and the 'I can read' ones on Amazon- ever so cheap and a big part of my DS getting enthused.

This star wars is ace
and this is ok too I can read Batman

sageygirl is right; it clicks in its own time, and slow staerters have been known to overtake others too!! Enjoyment is key to that!

Reading is like learning to ride a bike, some do it earlier and some take longer-

another vote for DK readers - your local library should ha them

Hi again.
thanks for all of the suggestions, I am checking out all of the books on Ebay, and seems like they are all well priced. I agree polarfox, I think it has taken DS a little bit longer than most of the other children to understand reading but he really does seem to be enjoying it now, and that's half the battle won!

DS is capable of reading a higher ORT level than he is on. But I can see from his reading diary that the teacher is working on other aspects of his reading, such as using his storytelling voice, acting out the speech or looking at punctuation, which will help develop his writing too. So I trust that the teacher knows what she's doing and it's not all about charging ahead and reading the most difficult book he can manage.

I understand the point that you are making chicaquapa, and I think that is really good that the teacher is looking at other aspects, and that you can read what progress is being made.

My sons teacher is lovely but really doesn't put much information down in the reading diary, except 'read well' or 'struggled a bit'. So unfortunately I don't have the same insight into what my son is learning.

It is good to get a balanced feedback, and I feel like I want to encourage him , not push or pressurise him. Love the DK readers, I think look great DreamTeamGirl, and Highlander!

before buying new reading books have a look at reading chest because they have all sorts of reading schemes and you can borrow as many as you need. might work out cheaper.

Thanks skiphopskidaddle will take a look.