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Primary education

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Original poster

Reception DD still on level 1 bookband - is this right?

15 replies

angelicstar · 10/12/2012 21:45

Hello
I would be grateful for any help as I really have no idea if this is right or if I should be worried. DD 4.5 started reception in Sept. She has progressed very well with her phonics - knows all her letters and sounds and is reading her books very well and is fairly confident with sounding out letters. However she has been on level 1 pink all term. A few weeks ago she got 2 level 2 books but since then has been back down on level 1.
Is this ok or should she be progressing quicker than this. It's not as though she is struggling with level 1 - in fact I think she could be challenged more. I know I should ask the teacher but don't want to cause a fuss if its normal for her age and ability to be on that level!?

Thanks

OP posts:
TodaysAGoodDay · 10/12/2012 21:59

All 12 children in our Reception class are still on Level 1+, there are none ready for Level 2. What may have happened is that your DD was given 2 Level 2 books by accident (possibly?), and the staff feel she isn't coping well enough with them. She will get there, try not to push her, or she may lose interest in books altogether. Just enjoy reading time together with her and she'll progress fine.

learnandsay · 10/12/2012 22:07

If you're really worried you can take a sheet of A4 paper, draw matchstick figures of cats and dogs on it and write with a black marker pen

Pip the dog grabbed the cat by its back legs.

And see if your daughter can read it. If she can't you can throw the A4 paper away and stick with the school books.

simpson · 10/12/2012 22:09

Pink level is fine. If you think the books are too easy then have a quick chat with the teacher and see what they say...

Also you could look at the Oxford owl website (it has free ebooks).

Or check out the library,my local ones had loads of basic, phonetic books....

MellyMunster · 10/12/2012 23:30

Our DD was also on Level one for many months in Reception, then suddenly she shifted up a gear and steamed through to the next level. It was as if a light had suddenly been switched on and reading became that must easier. Our DD gets a new book every day which she reads to us after school. Now in Year 1, we often get two books a day.

I bought some second-hand Oxford Learning Tree reading books (from beginners to advanced) online and she reads these during the summer holidays and half term breaks.

We found that by doing writing exercises every day, our DD's reading improved too. Maybe this could be something you could try?

redskyatnight · 11/12/2012 09:26

I read with a Reception class as a parent volunteer. 3 children have just been moved up to Level 2. The 27 others are all at Level 1. Absolutely fine.

Joyn · 11/12/2012 10:14

The normal/expected level to finish reception on is level 3, with Level 4-5 in the normal 'high' range.

orangeberries · 11/12/2012 10:56

In my children's school they do not start reading books until May, and they ALL start from the beginning, Ie stage 1. They have a huge emphasis on phonics, and this has served my children very well with reading. The older two are doing very well and by the end of Y1 well exceeded national expectations and so did many others in their class. I would say if your daughter is making progress you have nothing to worry about.

survivingwinter · 11/12/2012 13:09

I also read as a parent helper with reception children and all bar one child are on Pink level. My dd was on Pink the whole reception year and it suddenly just clicked and she learned to read over the summer hols starting Yr 1 on Purple level. Your dd is doing fine!

learnandsay · 11/12/2012 13:21

Just because children are reading pink level books that doesn't mean that they're not capable of reading other colour levels.

givemeaclue · 11/12/2012 14:21

Yes mine is still on pink. Have twins the other is on yellow which is two bands ahead. I an not worried about it, they pick up different things at different rates.

givemeaclue · 11/12/2012 14:21

How do the levels correlate to the colours

survivingwinter · 11/12/2012 15:32

givemeaclue - see bit on this site about how levels relate to ORT www.readingchest.co.uk/book-bands

N0tinmylife · 11/12/2012 19:51

What is the rush? My DS is in reception, still bringing home level 1 books which he reads confidently. I certainly wouldn't want to see him moved up a level yet, its lovely to see him enjoying being able to read.

blackeyedsusan · 11/12/2012 22:48

if you think the books aer too easy, talk to the teacher and ask her to explain what dd needs to practise at this level. whethert or not everyone else is on pink does not mtter, the level should be ight fo your child.

I had one who was ready for band 4 about this time, the other is not even ready for band 1 and is showing no interest in reading books.

littlemiss06 · 12/12/2012 14:10

Just have a word with the teacher and see what they say but to be honest pink stage 1 in reception is fine, my little girl in year two is only one stage above on stage 2 im hoping we are getting close to moving up but don't think she is yet as she's not fluent, still sounding out and still makes mistakes

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