Below average reading Level Year 1

[MaryPoppinsBag]

I have just had DS1's Year 1 school report.
And it says that he has a below average reading age a 1b
He has on target or above average results for
Speaking and Listening - 2C
Writing - 1a
And Maths - 2b

He passed his phonics screening check (1 of only 6 to pass out of a class of 23.)

I am going to speak to his teacher about it because I am a little bit worried. And I cannot understand why his reading score is below average when he is doing so well in other
areas.

I have discussed it with her before and she says it could be a confidence thing.

Tips for bringing him on over the summer will be gratefully received.

I intend to visit the library once a week to take part in the book challenge. And have level 6
Biff, Chip CMs Kipper books for us to read.

Should I be worried or will he catch up?

What colour band are your biff and chip books? I think if you start to high it might put your DS off (6 sounds high to me. DD4, average reader in reception, is on stage 2 ORT -red band-) . I know for us as parents it is a chore to go through books with only a few cvc words in them but that is what new readers need to learn how to read. Also, there is more to reading than just decoding words, comprehension is also included in reading. I think you should ask the teacher about exactly what is it he struggles with and books she recommends that will suit his needs.

too high

To be honest I wouldn't worry that much. My DD was was below average for reading in YR and Y1. She has suddenly made amazing progress in Y2 and is now above average. It took her a long to click, but I didn't push it, I wanted her to discover the joy of reading rather than see it as a chore. now she happily takes herself off to get stuck into a book that just 6months ago would have been beyond her.

1b is in the middle of the expected range highlighted on our reports.

Our school uses 1b/1a as the y1 average too.
Personally I think that libraries are full of books that are more helpful for children learning to read than Biff books. Our library has a beginner's section and I've found lots of books in the picture book section that are helpful.

Thank you all.
I am just panicking a bit!

Thanks gorionine you have focus my mind on what to ask his teacher. I don't actually know what it is he struggles with. He is on Level 6 at school, and does not struggle with them.

He reads OK with me at home (but obviously I am not a teacher and I am not questioning her assessment because she knows best) but find that he is distracted if he reads to me before class as though there's a million more exciting things to do. He also seems more interested in what's going on in the pictures!

Should I take the reading at below average comment with a pinch of salt, as it seems other schools give a slightly different level as expected.

Don't try and do anything expect keep reading him books/reading books with him.

Certainly don't make reading a task for him - he needs to see reading as a pleasure, work on that at this stage. Interest in the pictures is perrfectly fine. Open the book look at the pictures together, talk about then, wonder what's going on in them, and then read the words

My DS was also below average at this age and now, finishing Y2 he is only just below average but has made such good progress this year that his teacher thinks he will easily catch up next year.

I used to fret about it but have relaxed a little this year. Just keep reading to him encouraging him to have a go regularly. I would start with books slightly below rather above his level especially if you think confidence may be an issue.

Does he have an interest? DS was obsessed with anything to do with cars, lorries etc so while we were driving I used to see if he could read stuff "oh look mum there's an Asda lorry" . We read road signs, motorway signs, played I spy with words or sounds as we traveled around.

I am sure he'll be fine as his other results are good and you are aware and willing to help him

As a 1b and as he passed the phonics screening, I really wouldn't worry.

Most kids "click" into really fluent reading somewhere from mid-Y1 to mid-Y2 IME. Just try and do lots of reading for pleasure over the summer, it almost doesn't matter what he reads, it's the regular practice that is important.

Couldn't agree more Moln Far more important they get the enjoyment from reading at this age than worrying about levels.

Thanks, I have been very careful not to make this into a huge issue for him.

He is very aware of who is a higher level / book band though. Not from me I might add.

We have read 3 times a week religiously as if they do this they get a gold star on a Friday and after they get 12 stars they get a book.

Although he does seem to find it a chore.

We read to him every night before bed and have done since he was tiny.

It sucks being told your child is below average at something even though you try your best!

I have been led to believe that 1b was the national expected level. It is not necessarily accurate for them to say he is below expectations and I am suprised that schools adjust these expected levels as of course the cohorts vary from year to year.

In DSs class at the beginning of Y1 in a class of 30 there were children ranging from Red level to White level so a huge difference and yes the children all know who were on the high levels but the teachers said it was used positively and told the children that if you pratice lots then you will reach those levels too.

Don't push with just the school books over the summer, read lots to him and let him read what he wants. Take it back a level maybe and let him gain the confidence. There are lots of fab reading books for boys with superhero themes - look on Amazon for DK readers. Maybe they will help encourage him to enjoy it!

I didn't think orange band (level 6) was below average for year 1 especially if he is reading them with ease. Is it his comprehension that is holding him back?

He is very little and children make progress in big leaps in the early years of primary. Is your ds young in the year? There is a massive difference between a september born girl and an august born boy.

Getting good at reading is a matter of practice. I suggest you get some non school books for your son to practice with. If your son is reluctant then it may help for you to read a paragraph and then he read a few sentences.

I wouldn't imagine that it is comprehension that is holding him back.
What does comprehension involve at Year 1 level?

It is likely to be a reluctance to read words and get them wrong - which possibly impacts on fluency (based previous discussions with teacher) although he isn't like this with me. But when he brings a book home he has obviously already read it with the teacher.

Reallytired he is November born so is one of the oldest! Which is why it is worrying me.

Mary it really doesn't sound like he is behind, you definitely need to speak to the teacher. It may be a typo you never know - there was a thread yesterday about a Y4 child I think getting a 3c for writing but it was a typo and it was meant to be a 3a.

I will have a word this afternoon. Last time I spoke to her she mentioned about his reluctance to decode words.
Later on that weekend I got out his huge dinosaur book and he decoded Muttaburrasaurus!
And I was a little bit what's she on about!
I think like many posters have said I need to get him interesting reading material.

Another I think might be of influence is that he doesn't take kindly to making mistakes.
It is the end of the world if he doesn't get a sum right / write a sentence correctly/ gets a spelling wrong.
This could also be spilling over into reading.

speak to the teacher - at the very least she can tell you there is nothing to worry about.

My Ds1 couldn't read at the start of 1st class and so in the bottom 5% (i'm in Ireland and 1st class is the third year in primary) at the end of the year he was reading well and then in 2nd class his reading is brilliant (imo!) and in the top 20%

keep it fun, use the pictures, and read with him. That read with him, as you go through the pages he reads and when he hits a word he can't get give him about 5 seconds and either point to the picture to get the word (ie if the words 'horse' point to the horse) or of thats not possible tell him. Then just carry on with the reading.

Don't be disheartened if he comes across a word you've just told him and on the next page and he doesn't know it again. Just do the 5 second thing again and carry on. Reading is a difficult code to crack it takes different children different times to crack it

eg

Xxarxinx xx xeax txkex tixx. Xuxt maxx ix xxn!

It sucks being told your child is below average at something even though you try your best!
I don't understand this. Teach your child to do the best he can do regardless of anyone else.We don't teach our children to do their best only in subjects they will come top in. The biggest challenge, IMHO, is to teach our DC to keep trying even in subjects they find harder. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, stop worrying about what other children are achieving. As I said earlier, my dd was behind in YR and Y1 but is now just above average in Y2. My DS was way above average at the same age but you know what, he is now in secondary school and it has evened out to a certain extent.
I appreciate these levels (2b/3a etc) can be helpful to a certain extent but too often they cause anxiety and concern for parents who have children who are doing perfectly fine.

all this testing and banding is so negative. I thought the point was to let people know where the schools were at, not to stress out parents about whether their child is below or above some arbitrary level, and pass that stress onto the poor kids. Let him enjoy reading. If it's any comfort my dd had a reading age of about 6 on entering secondary school, but pre year 9, is up to her own age. Her social skills have always been good, is that not equally important?

I would recommend the Summer Reading Challenge which you are going to do, just keep reading and the more they do the more familiar they become with sounds and words.

My dd has just finished reception and we recently had a meeting about expectations in Year 1. The KS1 leader said that when they reach Reading recovery level 15 (orange Book Band) they they are looking for more understanding from the children. Which is not only the ability to retell the story but that they are starting to pick up on the information that is inferred and not explicitly stated.

I didn't mean to imply that your son isn't doing this but I hadn't seen it mentioned.

I definitely won't pass on the negativity to him.

I am not comparing him to other children - I don't know what level they are at, and don't care. I am however, reacting to the statement written by the teacher in his report that he is reading below what is expected for him age. Which in my mind means we need to work on it.

He is frustrated by it! As he sees his peers reading easily. And it impacts on his ability to read Maths questions. (I obviously don't see this I have been told by teacher)

I have taken on board suggestions and all might be a little clearer when I speak to his teacher.

I didn't take offence at the implication that it was his comprehension. I just don't understand what they are looking for and what constitutes an average reader. So all suggestions are welcomed.

Thank you all

Try to relax about it. I think the term "average" in regard to reading at age 5, 6, or 7 is very annoying and is in danger of upsetting parents/children. "Making good progress" would be much better. As others have said children "click" often at different times with reading, it's often a case of development rather than anything you have or haven't done.

It's fab he passed the phonics test, shows he's on the right track completely. I should think at some point in the next year he will start to fly with his reading, in the meantime doing a little over the holidays won't hurt, but I think you are right to keep it fun and not let it become a chore/worry.

You could up it and do a little bit of reading each night rather than 3 times a week, and yes, getting more interesting books is good. It took my nephew until the end of Year 2 to really click and then he was off. He's now 8 and the fact he was a little slow/reluctant to start is ancient history as we watch him enjoying books now.