Reception reading / ORT question

[Helenagrace]

My DS is just five and in a mixed year one / reception class. He seems bright and is reading really well.

Just before Christmas he jumped from stage two to stage four ORT books. I didn't mind then as I thought he was bored with the stage 2 books anyway. Now he's jumped from stage four books to stage seven books. He's reading them fine so half of me isn't worried but the other half is slightly concerned that if it's a progressive system won't he have missed out something by not reading stages five and six?

It's difficult for me to approach his teacher as she's an NQT and I'm Vice-Chair of Governors so I don't want it to look like I'm not happy with the way she's teaching him. She's lovely and he's really happy in class.

Just wondered if any MN folk could tell me if the ORT books are meant to be read in order or not?

Thanks in anticipation

Hi Not progressive - my daughter started on stage 3 then 4 and then 5 then 7,8 and now in yr 1 she's reading 8 and 9.

In my school, we do tend to like the children to read the books in order, not because they'll miss out on anything vital otherwise, but more because there are some interesting stories that they just won't get to read if they make a huge jump in reading stage. Although some books reference earlier ones, that's quite rare, and it won't actually matter if your son hasn't read the earlier book, he'll still understand the current one.

That said though, I'd be slightly surprised by a reception aged child reading stage 7 ORT. I teach year 2, and there are only 11 children in the class who are reading at stage 7 or above.

Not set in stone to be read in order and just talk to his teacher for goodness sake, her being NQT and you vice-chair has nothing to do with it; it's not difficult, you are allowed to ask a normal questions! Do they have homework diaries, has anything been written by you or her in it?

No, he will miss nothing. My DS went straight in at stage 13, then went on to free reading. DD (a much more average reader) skipped several stages here and there. She didn't miss anything.

Okay, I take it back about DD. She's in Y2 and is a free reader. So are most of her classmates. They must all be above average then.

LOL, Blacktype, I'd never heard of a Y2 being a free reader before coming on Mumsnet!

Helen, my DS1 has done a similar thing with large jumps and is just finishing Level 7. I'm just grateful that we haven't had to go through them all!

Although knowing our luck, DS2 will slog through the lot when he gets to it in two years' time.

Count your blessings I say! But Yes, I agree, talk to your teacher too, but it sounds to me like she's really switched on to your DS.

Thanks everyone for the reassurance.

I don't have an issue with asking his teacher anything it's just that she has seemed nervous when talking to me in the past and I didn't want her to think I wasn't happy with her teaching. Hence I thought I'd ask you wise lot instead!

My DD is dyslexic so I've no idea of "normal" progression through the ORT stages. There are three children reading at stage 7 in his class. He's also doing year one maths homework and spellings so I guess he is quite bright.

I'll go and read how Biff, Chip and Kipper cope with "The Motorway" now then!

I'm confused. Who is 'dyslexic; is it your son, or another of your children?

Sorry I wasn't very clear. I also have a dd who is older and dyslexic - hence she went through the ORT stages more slowly.

DS isn't dyslexic, as far as I know.

DD is in reception and has recently been moved through ort books a bit: She is happily reading stage 6 and some stage 7 books as well as other ones (they have book bands so variety of schemes),

she did want to read some stage 5 books where they meet the magic key so her teacher found them for her :)

There is a boy who is probably Reading level 8 at least - he has only been there since January but did learn to read before starting school.

Gash I feel terrible now! I was proud of my son for reading level 3, but clearly he is behind!

OP - I dont think they refer back to each other so skipping should be fine. you could always borrow them from the library if you really wanted him to read them?

pinkgirly - doesn't doing books in order hold children back? 23/28 children in my class are ORT7+, with 14 of them being ORT12++. And I don't think that's really abnormal - maybe a bit better this year, but comparable with past 4 years.

Much worse to make them read all the books. Dd has made several jumps, I've raised with teacher when she's been flying through books and needing more challenge and they've noticed too. They should be reading books where, as a rule of thumb, they read 90% of words accurately. And children often make flying leaps in reading. Pointless then to get them to read underchallenging scheme books.

ThereisNoSpoon - don't worry! What I have found is that kids catch up/ even out over time with reading. You will find that some of the high level readers could read before starting school and others don't start to learn until they start school. Be proud of your son and try not to compare too much. In a year or so you probably won't know the difference between the kids who learnt before school and those who started later.

It sounds like your teacher is trying to match reading ability and books. better thn rigidly making them read every book in the scheme when they are capable of much more or continuing to plough through the scheme when they would benefit from extra books at the same level.

Stoats what year is that?

Y2

Pinkgirlh thread - surely levels are terribly personal to the child? My receptioner is on level 11 ORT and v happy with it, but last son didn't clear beyond about level 8 thought the year - just horses for courses.

Michaelah- of course they are, I'm not sure where you get that I'd suggest anything else from my post?