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Early puffin readers

17 replies

Wobblypig · 06/11/2012 22:18

Since starting yr 1 Ds seems to be 'unlevelled' books chosen by the TA . They include books such as the Witch's dog series and Blessu and POppet by Dick King SMith.
We get one a night and they are on average about 30- 60 pages long but I have no idea what level these are. Does anyone know?

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learnandsay · 07/11/2012 21:29

Anyone can look inside the text of one of those books here: www.amazon.co.uk/Poppet-Colour-Young-Puffin-King-Smith/dp/014130264X#reader_014130264X

To be honest I'd say that the text inside that book is (although mainly simple) contains enough difficult words to be beyond any scheme book that I've yet seen. (But then I've seen very few and not that far up any of them.)

But I'd suggest that if your son is reading these books without any problems then he's doing well. I'd be inclined to veer towards library books and start to depend less and less on scheme books.

Tiggles · 07/11/2012 22:08

If you google "essex library books reading scheme bands"
there will be a pdf file called Books for Children beginning to Read, which is by a library who try and match their books to the reading bands.
If I have the right books, they put some of the Puffin books at ORT level 10

Tiggles · 07/11/2012 22:10

Ok, yep they have Blessu at level 10 :)

shattereddreams · 07/11/2012 22:11

Learn and say it doesn't work on mobile version. Grrr

simpson · 07/11/2012 22:16

DS got "Poppet" when he was on lime level...

Tgger · 07/11/2012 22:40

White/lime I reckon. Equals top of old traditional reading scheme, but easier than Roald Dahl etc

Gumby · 07/11/2012 22:43

Can he read the books ok?

Sounds to me like he's a free reader Smile

Wobblypig · 08/11/2012 22:57

Yes generally fine, one of the books had a long passage including words like dexterity and nasal appendage which I had to explain, he has just turned 6 so thought that was Ok.
Don't think they do 'free reading' at Ds 's school.
Thanks for replies

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Tgger · 09/11/2012 18:02

One a night is a lot for that length book- do you keep up!? DS, same age, is reading similar, but we get two on a Monday and two on a Friday so we spread them out and don't always finish all of it which his teacher doesn't mind. He also reads his/our own stuff the other time. "Dexterity and nasal appendage"- quite tricky eh!

mrz · 09/11/2012 18:24

I wouldn't class white/lime book bands anywhere near being a free reader but it's down to what schools and individuals mean by the term. To me it is a child who can read any book. White and Lime are certainly age appropriate for KS1 children and more able reception children.

mrz · 09/11/2012 18:26

Wobblypig your son is doing well congratulations to him. I wouldn't expect most 5 or 6 year olds to read a longer book like this every night (perhaps 2 a week)

Tgger · 09/11/2012 19:15

Mrz, just out of interest, if a KS1 child can cope with harder than white/lime, what do you give them to read? Is it appropriate to give Y1 children harder books and if so what?

mrz · 09/11/2012 19:21

grey, brown, crimson and navy book bands if the child has the level of maturity and understanding. Personally I would give them "easier" books but work on higher order skills - that way they can focus on things like inference and author's voice within texts they can decode/read comfortably, shifting the focus of teaching/learning.

Tgger · 09/11/2012 19:34

Ah I see. Ok. That's interesting, and helpful. I can see why DS's teacher has him reading the white/lime ones then. He can manage these very easily, but perhaps he can improve the skills you mention.

Tgger · 09/11/2012 19:35

I think I could improve these too Grin.

Wobblypig · 09/11/2012 20:40

Don't know what is beyond these, but these are fine for Ds wouldn't want harder because the phrasing seems to become more complex requiring greater maturity.

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mrz · 09/11/2012 20:42

a very sensible attitude

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