How important is being able to retell the story in child's own words (YR)?

[lecce]

Ds is in YR and on Turquoise books. The school send home a variety of books, though seem to be mainly PM+ , if that means anything to anyone. We are also on Reading Chest. This seems to be about the right level for ds as he reads the majority of words automatically, can sound-out others himself and only needs help with the odd word here and there.

I try and follow the guidelines given us by the school and sometimes printed in the books themselves about questioning ds to check his understanding. The problem (if it is one) is that, although he always answers questions correctly (I don't use closed questions), makes sensible predictions and makes plausible comments about characters' feelings etc, he can never retell the story from start to finish without loads of prompting. He can sequence it if there are follow-on activities to do (like on Oxford Owl) but he just can't do it himself and just seems overwhelmed by the task.

Of course I don't push it but I do wonder if it is a concern as I remember seeing it as one of the things they should be able to do on that EYFS thingy that I understand teachers use in YR. I am more concerned than I would be because ds has only been listened to in school 3 times this year( at least, that is how many times someone other than me has written in his record) and the teacher always stresses that she has nthing to do with reading levels and never even looks in the record book . He has clearly made great progress (barely knew any letters at the start of the year) so school can't be that bad but I'm just a little concerned that we may be racing ahead of ourselves a little.

Of course, I read far more complex stuff than this to him, which we discuss but I appreciate that reading himself and understanding at the same time must be more challenging.

Thanks

If a child is reading turquoise books then it is vital they can recall the story

Unless the story isn't worth recalling and the parent can't recall it either (shock).

Thanks for replying.

Does it matter if they recall it independently or is it ok if they need help/prompting?

Sorry, that isn't meant to be so flippant. I had similar concerns with DS at this level. He stayed on this level longer than the previous ones for that reason mostly I think, so maybe it is a bit of an in between stage, and yes, important to engage and recall story, but it will come as he reads more at this level.

then THAT would be a problem

Is yr reception?Do they really start reading in reception?

Yes, they do start reading in Reception at most schools.

I thought retelling the story in their own words meant doing it independently and remembering what they reading eg the night before when they pick up the book again?

EYFS requires a child to " retell the main points or events of a simple narrative in the correct sequence, using linking language. Particular language patterns, such as ?Once upon a time?, or ?Not I,? said the cat? (The little red hen), are remembered and used."

but if a child is reading turquoise book bands I would expect them to have a high level of understanding of what they read

Am not a teacher so may have it totally wrong but in order to go from an EYFS score 6 to a 7 then they need to be able to resell the story in their own words.

This was my understanding of what DD's teacher told me.

Thank you.

mrz Should he be being taught to do this at school? I do think he understands what he reads because I do use open questions and prompt with as few words as possible. For example, the book today was about swimming and when I asked him what it was about he just said, "swimming" So I said, "and..." and we got there in the end . I honestly don't think he doesn't understand these stories but he just doesn't seem to know how to begin when asked to retell them. I asked him whether he has to retell the story at school and he said he just answers questions. (I do realise this may not be the case.)

How odd, just realised I've read a lot of books since having dc 5 years ago and I don't think a single one has begun, "Once upon a time..." I haven't noticed any really distinctive language patterns like the Red Hen example above in any of the books we have had from school yet.

Should I be requesting that they move him down a little?

My reception dd can 'decode' at a higher level than she can comprehend, iyswim. I guess this is quite common for children who seem to 'click' with the mechanics of reading, whilst their maturity is catching up.

Nobody ever wrote in DS's reading diary but this did not mean he was not being read with iyswim.

It was at least once a week in reception.

Can you try doing a page at a time with the re telling thing??

Or he reads the story and then look at the pictures covering up the words, are they biff and kipper books???

ORT books I think are pants for actual decoding but I do think the pictures are good so looking at each picture and talking about what is happening (after you have read the whole book) and also maybe not doing all of it in one night so maybe reading the book one night and the next night looking at the pictures only to re tell the story.

Could it be that he isn't finding the stories exciting?
When DS (reception) has read a book in school (turquoise level) and brings it home to finish, it is really obvious when he enjoys a book - before he has even got it out the book bag he is telling me what it is about, and what has happened so far, what funny things he has observed in the pictures etc without me saying a single word. Other times he needs a bit more probing as he just isn't as interested.

Not usually Biff and Chip but I really like the idea of using the pictures to prompt him - it's like he just needs a bit of support and that would do it. Also good to know that your DS's book wasn't written in either - I know they are doing lots with him but thought I would see more in the record.

What stage (in numbers) is turquiose?

I think it's 7.

You could look at the Oxford Owl website linked to earlier and look at the age 3-4 page.

Not for one minute suggesting your DS is this level but it does IIRC have some ORT books with no words in for the child to then tell the story in their own words by looking at the pictures if that makes sense.

DS is in yr2 now and his reading diary has not been written in once this year

My daughter is on 1+ songbirds and is in YR... is she behind? I find these books are too easy for her when shes reading at home... its not "testing" her, should it?