A quick question about reading stages

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

DD1 is in Year 1.

She's not a reluctant reader as such, but there are things she would rather do than read, and sometimes I get 'Do we have to read?'. So sometimes I don't push her.

Her class has recently been doing a 'Readathon' and it's been a bit of a struggle trying to get enough books read, but we managed it.

She mentioned tonight that one of her classmates is on Stage 10 (Oxford Reading Tree) and DD1's on Stage 6. It suddenly got me thinking that maybe I should've been doing more reading with her.

I do try not to be swayed by what other kids/their parents are doing, and I know they're all different and develop at different rates.

What do you think? Does Stage 6 sound OK, or (any Y1 teachers out there) should she be on a higher one by now?

It really varies. Let her go at her own pace but if you want to try to encourage her can you read other stuff at home that she is more interested in to encourage her?

Do you read together every night? If so, how much? A page, a book?

Should point out that I am not a teacher but DS is also in Yr1

The thing is she's quite interested in what stage other kids are on - and I say, 'that doesn't matter, don't worry about them' (I know that kids can be quite competetive like that (and sometimes not even truthful ). We do try to step it up sometimes, but her enthusiasm wanes. The thing is, if we're reading home books that means we're not getting through the 'school books' so not progressing through the stages.

The last few months haven't been good for reading every night - she's the eldest of 4 (we had a new baby in January, so we were very much occupied with him for a while, so reading did slip - which I'm beating myself up about).

She does get read to everyday, and she is constantly reading things around the house - like boxes, and bean tins and wrappers and instructions - just not her school books, though we do that every other night, and then we try to do half a book.

How does she find the stage 6 books? If she enjoys the stories, I wouldn't worry. However, if she is a little reluctant at the moment, maybe have a chat to the teacher. Ds1's teacher moved him onto project x rather than kipper books when he got a bit stale. Maybe a change of scheme would help your dd? In ds1's class, stage 6 would be the upper end of average (range from 2 to free reading) btw.

Stage 6 at end of Y1 is good. Stage 10 at end of Y1 is well above average.

Hi, my dd1 is also the eldest of 4, and is now in year 2, with our newest being last July - it does make for a busy house doesn't it?! Don't beat yourself up.

DD1 was on level 7 at the end of year 1, and is now free reading one year on - she flew from this point. We mix what she reads between school/home books. Some nights she reads to us, some nights we read to her, and some nights if we are v busy with the other 3's bedtime routines then she reads 2 chapters to herslef. Also, recently she has taken to reading one of her younger siblings their bedtime story (at their own request and arrangement) which makes her feel very important and is a brill confidence boost.

Level 6 is spot on or a little ahead at ths stage according to how my daughters peers seem to have done.

Oh gosh, I feel better now. I'm glad for her that she's doing OK - when it's your first you don't really have a clue. Her ambition is to be a free reader and to get her 'pen licence'!! Bless her.

It's nice to know she's round about where she should be. It is hard with 4 - you do feel like you're spreading yourself a little thinly at times!

Thank you all for replying. I really appreciate it.

According to this she is doing fine :)

ORT chart

I had no idea such a chart existed - thank you!

You have the exact same worries I am trying to keep under control! My DD is yr 1 and stage 4 and has a reading age that is exactly her age. I have also worried that she is not as ahead as some of her friends on level 10.

My DD is also often quite tired at the end of a day and so reading can be a bit of a strain (its much easier at the weekend). I am plugging on at it but am waiting for the magic moment people mention here where it suddenly 'clicks' with her and she's away!

You are not alone and I don't even have a new baby!

oh god don't worry. DS is in yr1 and still on stage 3/4 and I thought he was doing pretty well

DS quite enjoys reading but doesnt really try to push himself...they choose their own books at his school and he tends to go for the ones he thinks are easiest. Not long ago, he was coming home with stage 1+ books!! I dont worry, as long as he is reading, and we read our own books every day here anyway, I can see that he is improving.

TBH, I was VERY slow with the reading scheeme books at school because they were so dull, but at home I read all sorts of stuff and was reading enid blytons at home independently when I was very behind with reading at school, so I dont put to much store on it. DS isn't doing this, but I think as long as they keep reading SOMETHING they will continue to improve and gain stamina and confidence

Don't fret too much about your DS being on stage 3 / 4, geraldine. He still has almost a whole term to go in year 1. If he is reading the correct level he may make a spurt and move on to stage 6 by end of year. Or, if he should be reading higher levels keep on with the other experiences at home and see what happens in Year 2. I often jump children up several levels in September (I teach Y2). Children often make rapid progress towards the end of Year 1 and over the summer, they mature and can show me they are ready for more complex books. Also sometimes the Year 1 teachers are rather very conservative in their leveling as they don't want to over assess the level a child, as this can result in unattainable End of Key Stage 1 targets being set for them in September. I know it's something we still need to work on as a staff and we are a consitently "outstanding" school (for what that's worth!)
It does make me look good though . I've just analysed my year group's progress over the last three terms. With two exceptions all children have made at least three sub-levels progress, with many making 4 or 5 and several making 6! Despite conservative assessments I know the vast majority of children here make huge progress at this time as they are all developing so fast at this age.

Yeah - these books are SO dull, aren't they. No wonder they can't muster much enthusiam at the end of a long day. I mentioned earlier that DD's class have been doing a 'Readathon' and as she's competetive she's been eager to get through the required number of books to earn herself a bookmark. And yes - I used to read all sorts but the school books weren't that interesting then either.

I think the problem is, as a parent (unless you've done this before) you really have no idea where they should be and I'm very aware (with the weekly spellings and the maths homework) that I don't want to over load her with schoolwork.

I'd say though, that reading hasn't 'clicked' with her yet either - but I'm hoping it'll be soon.

I think the problem is, as a parent (unless you've done this before) you really have no idea where they should be

that is exactly how I feel!

If she is a reluctant reader, try out my phonics videos at www.mrthornedoesphonics.com or on youtube www.mrthornedoesphonics.tv :)

my dd is in reception and is on stage 4, i think thats pretty good though as most on stage 3 although she's one of the oldest so i expect her to be higher i suppose -and noone in her class in higher than that. Her teacher said they like them all on stage 4 by the end of reception so stage 6 in Y1 sounds right!

Everyone being on stage 4 at the end of reception sounds quite a high target.

I never realised how much the birthday thing mattered. DD1 is a summer baby - so there's almost a year's difference between her and some of the older children in her class. Though the girl on Stge 10 is only a month older - so she's obviously a genius!!

Thanks for the phonics links. I'll check them out.

I do wonder about the birthday thing. DS is in Year 2 and class sits on 4 tables which are basically ability. Was talking with him about who is in which group and in the top 2 nearly all are September to December birthdays.

In DD's reception class as they had a September and January intake then some children have been there a lot longer than others. From this September all will be (able to at least) starting in September. I wonder if it will make any difference overall.

Lawrie.... In my dd's class, the top group is also Sept to Dec birthdays.

In my class there is are 2 children with September to December birthdays who are high achievers and 3 children with May to July birthdays and 3 with January - April birthdays but our children all start on the same day so have had the same length of time in school...

In my dd's yr 1 class there is a child who is a year ahead of herself (February birthday so substantially ahead) - the funny thing is the only people who have a problem with the child being up a year are the parents who were previously saying that the reason their child was not at such a such stage (maths/socially/reading etc) was due to them being summer babies.

Throws their argument out of the water - time for them to accept that all children develop at different rates, and their children are just developing slower than others, not due to their birthday.

Timetowaste - do you mean the child one year ahead of herself is reception age but in a yr1 class? Or yr1 age but working ability-wise one year ahead? If it's the latter that is not unusual at all.

But don't the Summer birthdays catch up eventually?

My DS1 is 4 and in Reception (August birthday) and still has developmental related problems I'd say with things like fine motor skills/writing is a bit ropey etc

However you can tell these will be surpassed as for example his reading has really taken off at an amazing rate, and his vocabulary consequently too. I don't see his birthday holding him back for long.

Lovecheese - she should be in reception but is in year 1. So is 6 months younger than the youngest correct age yr 1 children, and 17 months younger than the oldest correct age yr 1 child.