A question about reading...

[TheRoundTable]

What exactly is expected besides being able to read and the ability to comprehend and perhaps also read with fluency and expression?

My older DD is quite fluent and her comprehension is okay in my opinion, but/so I really do not know what else is expected besides this? I do not understand why reading has levels if it is about reading and understanding what they have read?

TIA

Have you looked at the descriptions of the different levels for reading? Google "National Curriculum reading levels" - explains all the different things they need to be able to do for each sub-level.

Inference is a big thing too.

DD is expected to be able to point out the specific word which says how somebody feels...

For example (from Horrid Henry):

Dad glowed "What a school report Peter!"

DD is expected to be able to say whether the school report is good/bad even though it does not say that. She is also expected to be able to say how dad feels (proud) and be able to pin point the word that gives this away (glowed - glow with pride).

link to Dept of Education site

agree with Bella there is loads more. Understanding punctuation, being able to describe characters, predict what might happen in the story, read and understand the index, the contents page, understand what chapters are, being able to spot rhymes, identify words that help imagine the setting and the atmosphere, talk about why events happen in a story, what the consequences of that event might be,

There are some child and parent-friendly versions of the levels in various formats here: displays.tpet.co.uk/#/Search/reading+levels The bookmark versions are really good to give an idea of prompts for things that you could ask about when your DC are reading with you and you can see what they need to do to get to the next level.

you all very much!!! I can see what is required now! Thank you. Those links are awesome too!

Sorry to bring this up again, but how exactly does one go about supporting their child with reading? It just seems to take the fun out of it to stop them and ask the questions? I don't want to feel like a hawk hovering over them while they are reading... Just feels like it'd then become 'work'.

Any ideas welcome. Thank you!

If she is reading independently then just ask her things like what was the book about, who was her favourite character and why etc. Or if you are reading with her, questions about how do you think the character felt when things happened, etc. Just keep it chatty and low key rather than an interrogation!

You could then get her to write a book review, or write the next chapter of the story, if she is keen.

I try to wait until there is a natural break in the story. Or if it is short book we talk a out it afterwArds. DD should e Bel to remember what she read and to talk about it.