Reading levels

[Loobylou3]

I know this has been done before but is green level books for a child in foundation a reasonable level for this point in the year? Child has literally just turned 5 yrs. I don't really have anything to compare this with.

Take a look at this...

www.readingchest.co.uk/book-bands

thanks

In Dd1 Reception class in a private school level 5 (green)at this time would have been in the upper reading group. I think the top children finished Reception at levels 6-7. That said, there was still a number who were at level 3-4 at the end of R. As far as I understand, National Curriculum expects an average child to be at level 3 by end of R.

So your DC is doing well!

Glad we didn't bother with private school then . It's better if they go at their own pace, some may turn up in YR as fluent readers (rare but happens), some will certainly be fluent or fluentish by end of Reception, and some will be on red/yellow. Quite glad there was no "top reading group" in our school as DS finished on errr gold/white band I think, level 10ish and DD is heading the same way. Basically he learnt to read in Reception.

oops, just saw you said top readers, not top group. Apologies. Haven't learnt how to delete posts...!

It seems that your school has a sane approach to progressing able children, Freetrait.
Ours doesn't. They don't allow kids to become "free readers" until Y3, so until then we have ORT books :(. Apparently it goes to level 16...
DD1 is reading Harry Potter and lots of other good books, yet brings home Tree Tops stories that I just find are simplistic and just not good literature!

We are changing schools for next year, so hopefully DD2 won't have to deal with the same!

That's daft. DS brought home Treetops in Y1. He read about 2 or 3 that weren't really suitable for him (he could read them fine, just didn't really relate as young). Stopped getting any stage books after first term in Year 1. Apparently there are some good ones, but there are lots of good REAL books too! Mind you, DS brings home various books from school and generally doesn't read them . He reads all sorts of things at home (is Y2 now). This is his latest choice www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Proctors-Fart-Powder-Time-travel/dp/1847386547/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0KVR3B51BNBEKQGG1EPB hmmm! Very good if you're 7 apparently.

Yes - I do not read with DD since Y1. I just comment in her book. Instead we pick a good book and she reads it to me.

Her school reading book this Fri was Jungle Book, TreeTops level 14 :(. Luckilly we have already read the original. I think it's better enjoy the books in the way it was written.

Doctor Fart Powder - lol. DD bought it with the Book Day voucher! Fart powder is hard to resist at 7. Sort of like Captain Underpants at 5-6. Had your DS tried How to Train Your Dragon series? Mine loved them. Also Astrosaurs and Horrid Henry - I think her sister reminds her of HH :)

It depends what they mean by "free readers" often it's a synonym for "we have no books for your child's level in this class so they can pick anything until next year"

DD2's school ran out of appropriate scheme books until they did some fundraising and got the Big Cats books in - they go up to NC level 5. DD2 was most indignant to be put back onto them in the beginning of Yr5, but she did enjoy most of them and ripped through them quickly. The school then set up a reading group for the very able readers along a guided reading sort of model, reading books that were appropriate but challenging. It seemed like a sensible way to differentiate to me.

scheme books are teaching tools - they have a purpose, teaching specific skills!

My reception child who is almost five is on level four

And my year one child who is six is on level 5

However the youngest can in my opinion read better and could easily read the older ones books

Mrz - I agree that scheme books teach specific skills as the kids are learning to read. Once kids read well I, frankly, see no use for them.

DD1 has read more than a 100 books since the school year started - and gets no additional learning from reading ORT books. It seems just a waster of time. Luckily it doesn't take her long,

Our school is just inflexible - school library has plenty of books, but it seems easier to keep everyone on the scheme until Y3.

I'd rather DD read Fart Power books - at least there is real humor there!

I've not met a child whether national curriculum Level 1 or Level 6 who has nothing more to learn - many are fluent readers but there is always more to learn.

Of course there is more to learn. I'd just rather she learned from normal books she is clearly able to read and, more importantly, enjoy.

ORT levels 12+ I do find useless. Sorry.

DS (yr4) has been reading whatever he wants since the beginning of yr3 (books from home as the choice in school is poor) and was most indignant to be put back onto scheme books (school bought a load more of stage 12-16 books) especially as it was a book he had read in yr2! His yr1 sister read it instead

DD ( yr1) hasn't read a scheme book (nor been given one) since about November, and didn't get a scheme book for the last term of reception as the teacher thought she didn't have the maturity to read stage 11 and she hated scheme books so much!

Once a child hits NC L3 they can choose whatever they want (which I don't agree with) and so I provide DD's reading books too.

I don't know what the fascination with Captain Underpants is but DD is currently obsessed and racing through them all.

Personally I wouldn't give ORT books at any level ddmommy but I do think "reading" books should be allocated with a specific teaching purpose in mind or they are just "library" books so why pretend they are anything more!

What sort of purpose do you allocate? And can't you do that with other books too? DS hasn't been allocated any teaching purpose EVER with books from school, unless you count the early phonics books but's that pretty obvious what the purpose is.

At higher levels things like developing characterisation or discussing settings, comparing character motivation, use of different language features and their effect on the reader, comparing literal and figurative language, infering messages and moods, elaborate on predictions and opinions and use the text to support ideas, reading between the lines using action and descriptions to understand authors intent/meaning ......

Mrz - I agree that is the goal but is unrealistic to expect that depth of discussion about 3 books/week with each child in a class.
At my DD1 class they'll have a book that they study during the term and they do analyse writing, character development, etc.

Also - I do hope that at the higher levels kids work on all of what you mentioned using the books by the original authors, not some re-writing of a classic to fit it into a reading scheme book.

Less realistic if the child is selecting random books because they like the cover or author.

If the teacher is sending books home which have the single purpose of keeping parents happy they may as well not bother

Dgs aged 5 is on purple he is yrR his brother in yr2 is a free reader mainly because he hated the last ORT books. He is happy with Fantastic Mr Fox etc and loves Jeremy Strong's books esp the 'My Brother's Bottom' series!
All this usually levels out before Y6 by which time most NT dc are reading fluently with varying degrees of engagement.

What is NT dc? Thanks to anyone who answered my original question.

Mrz - totally agree that it is ridiculous for a young child to be able to choose their books themselves. DD used to be taken to the library (at school) and came home with books completely unsuitable for her content wise.

Luckily her teacher is happy to leave her reading books to me now and I can give DD a choice out of the (suitable) titles we have at home/library.