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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Reception reading levels - should I be concerned DS is still not getting books with words?

42 replies

Living · 08/12/2013 09:50

DS (4) comes home with an ORT book a week but so far they've all been the ones without words. Is this normal for this point in reception or should I be getting worried?

I've been taking the attitude that 'he'll get there when he get's there' and DS is young for the year (he won't be 5 until September). Just wondering whether I should be doing more with him at home to encourage the reading. We read loads of picture books together but I'm not doing any work with his actual reading / phonics. He seems to know all the phonics sounds though.

I don't actually know whether he's ready for the next level up or not as I don't have any way of testing. I'm finding myself trying to get a sneaky peak at the books coming home with other children to see whether its just him and I really do not want to be THAT mother! I'm concerned the teacher will think I'm being pushy if I suggest it to her (particularly if she thinks he's not ready).

Not in the UK so can't just go an borrow a book from the library and see how he gets on or I'd do that.

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somersethouse · 08/12/2013 09:57

I'm not in the UK either.

DD is in third year of reception and was 5 in April. I read to her all summer and taught her phonics etc, she could only read simple words at this stage, so 5 and a few months, then suddenly she can read, in the last 2 months and she reads very well.

Therefore, I would not worry at all, a few months makes a HUGE difference, it all happens at once. Also, if he is bilingual like my DD I think that makes a difference as well, obviously.

Just start reading books with words with him and make him follow with you. I am sure school know what they are doing but there is no harm in asking is there, it does not make you pushy! As I said though, my DD, who is very bright (teacher says so!) was not bringing home Reading books at that age and she is now top of the class in reading and on primary Reading books in both languages.

somersethouse · 08/12/2013 09:59

Meant to add, I order bundles of books off ebay as have the same problema with you re library. At only 4 he is still very Young!

mrz · 08/12/2013 10:05

No it is quite normal for some children not to have books at this stage in reception.
I would be more concerned they are sending home ORT

Rhinopotamus · 08/12/2013 10:15

My DS is in reception and hasn't had a reading book at all yet. I saw the teacher at parents evening this week and she said that he is doing well and working ahead of expectations. They follow jolly phonics and it says no reading books until they have learnt a certain number of sounds. He brings home a wallet of words to read instead.
So I wouldn't worry about not reading words in books yet as I don't think it means he is struggling.

Original poster

Living · 08/12/2013 10:20

Thanks everyone. Seems like I should just relax. At parent's evening I was told he was doing well and was in the right class. This has always been my concern as he's been pushed a year ahead and I was worryed that he would struggle.

Is the concern the ORT 'no words' books or ORT in general? I'm never that certain what to do with the book schools sends home - DS doesn't really seem to engage with them.

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Original poster

Living · 08/12/2013 10:24

Oh and this is where the class is with Jolly Phonics:

"Children have learnt the following sounds so far- s a t i p n c k e h r m d, g, o and u. Next week we will be revising all the above sounds and focus on blending and reading small words."

Is this about on track for reception? I'm mainly curious about whether they're adjusting the pace given that quite a few children started with no (or minimal) English. Not concerned either way, just curious.

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harryhausen · 08/12/2013 10:26

Relax. He's fine. You're doing totally the right thing by reading picture books with him at home.

I think my ds (now in y2) didn't have his first reading book until after Christmas. He was also young in his year and has only just seemed to start doing well with reading now. He just bumped along doing barely the 'average' in that time.

I know the anxiety. I've been anxious too. But he'll be fine. Don't force it. Just enjoy reading books.

EvilRingahBitch · 08/12/2013 10:29

If I were you I'd drop a tiny bit of reading into your bedtime stories - maybe the title of the book, maybe sound effects or speech bubbles, just pick out a couple of phonically decodable words at each session and talk him through them (or let him read them out himself if he can). Little (and I mean 30 seconds at a time) and often practice during the Christmas hols will send him back to school ready to fly.

Original poster

Living · 08/12/2013 13:29

Thanks everyone - you've put my mind at rest.

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mydaftlass · 08/12/2013 17:45

They don't give books out until after Christmas at our school, once they've worked through the first phonics.

LindyHemming · 08/12/2013 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Living · 09/12/2013 03:32

Two. Sounds like they are moving slowly. Not surprising as there are only four native English speakers in the class!

Just tried him on some of the online oxford books and he can blend fine (when he can be bothered!) but doesn't know any of the more complex sounds. Not sure it's worth pushing him ahead of the class though. At the end of the day, if we ever coke 'home" he'll have to go down a year anyway.

This is IB not English curriculum btw. Out of interest where is the average reception class in numeracy at the moment? DS is doing basic addition.

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Original poster

Living · 09/12/2013 03:34

Move not coke!

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Original poster

Living · 09/12/2013 04:40

Ok (talking to myself here ) spoke to the teacher who says even two sounds a week is a push for a lot of the children because they're doing the blending at the same time. One sound a week isn't unusual out here. She recommends not pushing him ahead of the class though and I'm not sure there's much point.

They're speeding ahead with the maths because that's easier.

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mrz · 09/12/2013 06:49

Jolly Phonics recommends six sounds per week but I found one a day more manageable

Aeroaddict · 09/12/2013 09:31

Did I read that right, that he is only just 4, and wouldn't start school until next September if you were in the UK? In that case I would look at anything he is doing this year as a bonus, and definitely not worry about progress or lack of it.

noblegiraffe · 09/12/2013 09:36

My 4 year old is getting books with words (easy ones), although I think some in his class still aren't. In maths they seem to be doing counting past 10 and recognising big numbers, no formal addition yet.

Original poster

Living · 09/12/2013 10:42

Yep he'd be in preschool still in England so I'm not really worrying about his future education being hindered . I suppose I was more concerned he might be behind the rest of the class which it seems he isn't so I just need to chill I guess.

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MummyPig24 · 09/12/2013 16:06

Ds reception class didn't get any reading books till after Christmas, and they were very simple. Ds didn't move up a level until I asked about it in June. But since starting year one he has moved up 3 levels!

My grandma talks about them "going through the magic door", and she is right, it just suddenly clicks and your ds is still young. Maybe you could ask the teacher if you are worried?

columngollum · 09/12/2013 20:21

Our school doesn't send books home until after Christmas in Reception and even then they're the ones without words in.

simpson · 09/12/2013 20:41

I think books with no words are pointless (school ORT ones).

However DS (now yr4) did not get books with words in till Easter of reception as his teacher deemed him not ready (she was correct).

DD got books with words straight away. IMO its about whether each individual child is ready.

columngollum · 09/12/2013 20:45

I think the wordless books just come with the set. So, might as well find some kids to give them to.

mrz · 09/12/2013 20:49

No they don't "just come with the set" schools have to specifically order them

columngollum · 09/12/2013 20:51

You're joking. Why would anyone do that?

ClayDavis · 09/12/2013 20:54

Because the publishers have convinced them that thy are a necessary step in learning to read.

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