Should my reception twins be on higher reading levels?

[lovessummer]

My 5 year old twins are nearing the end of reception & every time I read reception reading threads on here, it makes me worry! One is on green ORT & one is on blue. We read loads of books etc in the house & I realise i could push it more, but to be honest, feel they are knackered most evenings and want to relax at weekends. They get two books a week & we read them a few times during the week. They are always confident by end of week if not on first or second read through. But by end of year, they are clearly not going to be on higher levels. It's a pushy middle class school, so I am presuming most of the other kids will be on higher levels. (One mum said in passing her child had been given a poetry book last week) On MN all the children seem to be on much higher levels by end of reception. I guess what I am asking is should I be pushing them more and going in to request more books, as I know they are capable- they are bright and engaged with a love of books? Or shall I just leave it to work itself out & not pressure them in their last few weeks of school? We'll do lots of reading over the holidays I am sure. Are they reassessed in September? Maybe they could catch up then?

It depends on just about everything, I'd say. As far as I can tell green ORT at the end of Reception isn't brilliant, but it isn't half bad either. So, I don't think there's anything to be worried about.

As far as should they be higher is concerned, does that mean ideally, or practically?

Ideally, possibly no they shouldn't. It depends on how well they read.

Practically, it also depends on how well they read. A child could conceivably have been reading harder books than green books in kindergarten. Does that mean she should read the same books in school? Maybe not. In kindergarten nobody was studying the way she read the books. And in school they are. Maybe that matters. (And maybe it doesn't.)

they are doing fine. poetry books run through all the stages right from stage 1, it is just there are only about 3 at each level and reading poetry is a different skill so perhaps the teachers keep them for when a child is nearly ready to go up a level, perhaps the teacher just fancied a change or thought it might appeal to that particular child more.

mumsnet isn't a good cross section when it comes to reading levels so really don't worry about it.

I would also say that if they aren't confident with the books at first read then they are not ready to be pushed up a level.

My experience is don't worry. Mine had an appalling reception year with various supply teachers who didn't recognise her abilities or provide books. She scored v badly on the EYFS at the end of reception.

Fortunately the whole system seems to change in year 1. They actually test their ability at the beginning and at the end. Mine was bumped up three levels within a few weeks and she was suddenly a "free reader" before the end of year 1.

My advice would be just enjoy reading with them what they like, explain the meaning of words, encourage new vocabulary. And seriously don't worry. The book exchange was absolutely appalling in our first year - didn't change books with three words for a month despite our protests. But it's honestly made no difference at all to her ability by the end of year 2. The more important thing is how well they are teaching phonics. No amount of ploughing through biff and chip books will help. Just let them enjoy books and keep on eye on what the phonics teaching is like.

Just a layman's view. I think mine was on blue at the end of reception. But actually the rush towards "free reader" is not such a great thing. They get v little attention for reading after they hit that point. I would actually like them to continue because she can sound out words but doesn't know what they mean. But she's become low priority now, so we are trying to fill this gap.

Stop worrying, they're doing fine and don't listen to the boasters out there. Take it slow would be my advice.

morgan, I'm a little bit confused by your post. Blue at the end of Reception isn't amazingly bad. (OK, it's not white or lime, but it's not incapable.) So, I'm not sure how this relates to supply teachers and inability to see the child's potential.)

Could the child clearly already read before staring school, for instance?

MN kids are all genius kids.

DD is doing well with her reading, it is above average both nationally, in her class and it is well above her writing and maths.

She didn't read a word on entering reception, she finished on Orange (just by a few weeks) and by this end of year 1 is on white/lime but can pretty much read anything, but knows what she likes !

There are two boys who whizzed in reception to level 8 (purple I think) but in comparison their continued rise in Y1 has been substantially less than DD. Same goes for maths. I know their parents did some 'work' with them before school started whereas I didn't as I had no idea what to do.

I posted several times last year in YR for reassurance about school approach, how she sometimes often refuses to read etc. but I'm out the other side so to speak and much calmer.

Blimey, do you go to a super high achieving school? My DD is on blue and I think she is doing really well- as far as I know, one of her friends is on green and the others I know of are on red (I've not been rifling through bookbags- they come out of class holding their reading books when I have picked them up for playdates)
If you look at the bookbands blue and green are within the age 5-6 range, so perfectly acceptable and appropriate for end of reception.

Don't stress, and don't believe everything you read on here!

Meant to say your twins sound like they are doing well, even by MN standards

I have 4 dc, I can't remember about the oldest one tbh.

youngest 3 all left reception unable to read, by the end of year 1 they were either where they were expected to be apart from 1 who was way way ahead of where she should be for her age.

Don't worry, be happy. Reception is all about learning through play, getting used to school, coping with it all so they're not absolutely knackered each and every day.

If they can't read by the end of year 1 then start to get concerned after all the rest of Europe don't bother until the age of 7ish!

If they enjoy reading then stick to what you are doing.

I'm sure you just hear from the pushy parents who want the world and his wife to know that their child is top of the class in reading and is a genius.

If they're not improving then that's different but if you're happy regardless of the other loud mouth parents then I wouldn't worry.

Reading is a marathon not a sprint.
DD entered reception unable to read ( a few other parents had a level of shock on discovering similar to if I had abused her). She read steadily through reception and year 1 somewhere in the middle. Was largely ignored in year 2 - that's another story. Found her reading mojo in year 3 and flew away she reads every night for pleasure now and devours around 3 books a week and she's in year 4.
IMO with reading slow and steady wins the race.

Typical bands at the end of Yr R are yellow/blue. Remember also that reading comprehension is as important as decoding ability. What's the rush?

My 5 yr old dts are the same, one on green, one on blue, at a high achieving middle class school and in top 10% in terms of ort levels at their school. Tells you as much about the school as the child, our school like to go slow and embed understanding and expression. It's not a race despite the impression you get from some on mn!

What is a middle class school?

Exactly what it says. If you look at school description in ofsted report lots are descriped that way. Generally used to show low levels of socioeconomic disadvantage...

My DD2 is still on pink and looks like she probably will be when she finishes the year. She even has to sound out a lot of the words. Oh well I'm sure she will get there in the end.

Does anybody notice if the child's age plays a part or not? DD2s birthday was about a week before she started school so she won't actually be 5 until she is due to start year 1.

That sounds completely fine for their age and year. Ignore the boasters.

They're doing fantastic for reception, my little girl end of year two is only on yellow band stage 3

haven't a fig leaf of a clue what colour DS is on.
As he's DC4 I should know what normal looks like by now.
He can sound out most short words and in theory sight read up to 50 (very unreliable).
Not clicked with reading otherwise, & I don't expect him to for another 8 months (around his next birthday).

I'm not sure what band my yr 1 son is on. He is what I'd describe as a reluctant reader but he is gradually building confidence. He is ace at maths and can just do it with little effort and enjoys doing multiplication in is head. My point is that with reading it takes effort and because it doesn't come easy to him he switches off. I'm not that concerned because he has an excellent vocab and comprehension. I'm sure that it all falls into place eventually.

My son was born in October so he is nearly 7.

Why do they have to be school books and the ORT books of doom in particular?

The more books they have access to the better so get down to your library and find the equivalent levels on the reading scheme/ early reader shelf. Read loads of real books and pick out words they could sound out as you read if you feel they could do with more books.

I always did my own thing.Did what school wanted but did masses of real life ie non ORT reading at home.Fostering a love of reading is the most important thing imvho.

I agree with others MN is not RL and lets face it on a primary section of a site with the demographic that MN has you're going to get a false picture ie there are lots of very pushy keen posters.

Also agree school is a marathon not a sprint,I firmly believe maturity has a lot to answer for in many areas.Reading can just click,you may find they steam ahead next year.

Mrz is your lady/man?Hopefully she/he might put your mind at rest or advise.

My reception DD is still on red level but as she is not 5 until July , I'm really not worrying. She is as keen as anything and reads and is read to daily but she can only progress at her own rate.

My DS was the complete opposite. Lazy as anything but as an October born was always on the highest reading level in the class.

Parents are so funny. With my DS other parents were always fishing to try and find out what level he was on. It was all so competitive!

It seems that no one is worrying about where my DD is in the class pecking order!

Our school is also the very pushy type of school that you describe.

Your twins are doing really well, those levels are aimed at 5-6 year olds so they are not doing badly at all. I think some schools push their children up through the levels way too quickly. For example, my twins (just turned 5) are on green level - they are very, very fluent reading these books - great expression, very few mistakes. They were reading in front if their aunt yesterday who is a TA in a different school ( in reception) . She was astounded by their reading - she said at their school they try to get kids through the levels quickly, and the best reader in their class is a good few levels above my kids but she can honestly say he doesn't read anywhere near as well as they do - not as fluent and many more mistakes. So what I'm trying to say is that I wouldn't listen too much to parents on here bragging about their children's book levels because their school may just be rushing through the levels and in actual fact their reading may be no better than a child on a lower level at a different school.
Learn and say - you say blue/green band is not brilliant for end of reception but what exactly do you base that on? Just curious because according to the ORT reading levels table blue/green is great for reception.

DD is in reception and has finished ORT so brings home books with a Y sticker from the school library. I have no idea what the Y means and no amount of googling will tell me but she's happy, the school are happy that's all that matters. And school books are a small part of what she reads.

DD2 is yet to start school but I can't get her to sit down and even look at a book she's just not interested. All children are different.