Free reader - what NC level should they achieve?

[AllabouttheE]

Dd in year 2

I was told at parents eve she won't make level 3 in anything. Fine by me. But an earlier thread got me pondering.

She is a free reader, has gone through ORT treetops and now is allowed to read what she wants. She doesn't read much for pleasure.

Is it likely she won't get a level 3? I know inference and deduction etc come into it but surely she wouldn't be released from the scheme if she doesn't have those skills?

Schools have different definitions for "free reader". You'd have to be at least a secure Level 3 to be a free reader at DC's school (as in the level would determine that you were a free reader rather than the other way around). Other schools sent the boundary much higher, or much lower. So can't really answer your question without knowing what your school class as a free reader.

DS reached level 3 and free reader at the same time.

I agree with red sky that it depends on school. In Yr 2 ds had finished the reading scheme. Juniors is an entirely seperate school and he went back into theirs. In yr 3 now and his teacher told me he is now a free reader and she defined this as he would have the ability to pick up any book, magazine or newspaper and have a go. He is nc level 4c but is still on scheme books some of the time though we rarely read them as he is not that interested. Teacher is happy for us to record anything he has read and horrible histories are his current thing.

ds become a free reader at the end of year 3. He got a level 3 in reading. It sounds like your daughter's comprehension skills have not been developed. She can bark at the print, but doesn't understand the story. This might explain why she isn't enjoying reading.

I suggest that you read to her every night even though she can read. Read a book that she enjoys so she can just listen to the story without the work of reading. Audio books are good as well.

Same here. Free reader. Very keen and prolific reader but been told won't make level 3.
She was 2b at end of last year, apparently going to achieve 2a for y2. It's not a lot of progress.

In my DC school a child cannot be a "free reader" until they have hit NC L3.

DS was a free reader from the beginning of yr3 ending yr2 on a 3C.

DD currently yr1 has been a free reader since November. However IMO she is not mature enough to necessarily choose a book because she wants to but goes on the colour of the front cover (usually pink!) so basically IMO being a "free reader" means nothing, although DD is a good reader, she can't/won't choose a book totally independently.

My DTDs (yr 3) both got L3 at the end of KS1 but were still on reading scheme books. I got quite frustrated at the start of yr 3 as they were happily reading Harry Potter at home but still bringing home scheme books. In the end we just stopped reading the scheme books. DTD1 is currently reading Hetty Feather and DTD2 is on the 4th Harry Potter book but their school has never referred to them as "free readers"

I do think being a "free reader" is a load of bollocks tbh.

Some schools have scheme books right up to stage 16+. My DC school generally class a child as a free reader once they have finished stage 11 and are a L3 in reading.

mine was allowed to choose own books and off scheme by ort 9. completely free (as in taken to junior library) at start of Y2. by then reading proper books from 9-12 section of bookshop/library. assessed with reading age of 12 year old and L4. then we changed schools and poor sod put on an ORT reading scheme no.12, along with bulk of class. Bored witless. the books are simple and poorly written. it is bollocks bad practice and incredibly depressing.

Hmm my DS was a free reader in rec who went on to get level 3 in Sats.

Pretty sure the other 2 were free first term of year 1 and went on to be 3s too.

Our school gets quite good results for reading and were quite relaxed re the whole scheme thing for able readers(thankfully).

All of my 3 are prolific,avid readers now and always have been.If they'd been forced to stay on scheme I'm not sure they would be to the same extent.

We don't have free readers in any year group (althought we don't use ORT books either) and get excellent results in reading and more importantly our children read for pleasure.

I've always had the opinion that kids are "free" to read whatever they choose,always read the scheme books but did our own thing at home.

Not keen on the expression "free reader" it must make some kids think they're not "free" to pick up books of their choosing to have a go at reading them.

There is "reading for pleasure"and "reading for pleasure". Picking up a book and flicking through it is "reading for pleasure" which most kids will do but it doesn't necessarily mean a child is an avid reader.The more kids read the better they become at it,certainly further down the line.

My kids would have died of boredom if kept on scheme.I think particularly for boys(I have two) autonomy and book content is very important.

I think that as long as the school provides the right books, whether scheme or non-scheme, and then works appropriately with the children to develop all the skills reading entails, the whole 'free reader' thing is a complete red herring. It takes an investment of time and common sense to provide a library of books with something to suit everyone, but mrz is clearly doing it, so it is possible.

In yr 3 now and his teacher told me he is now a free reader and she defined this as he would have the ability to pick up any book, magazine or newspaper and have a go

My DD does this, and reads and understands.

She is on ORT 7.

It seems reading is generally an un quantifiable thing open to loose interpretation everywhere.

Our school used to stop the reading scheme after lime but now have banded books right the way through. This is much better as DD was previously bringing home all sorts of stuff to read unsuited to her age and maturity.

It does sound a bit odd that she won't achieve a level 3 this year OP - did the teacher not express any opinion about that? I agree that it's unlikely she would have progressed through the scheme if her other skills hadn't kept pace with decoding ability. Where I've seen book bands linked to levels, anything after lime is usually L3 or above

My Ds is a 3a (YR 4) for reading but still on stage 12 ORT.

When he is reading he switches words as though he sees the pattern and then very swiftly guesses what it should be IYSWIM, struggles with some words, misses out parts of the sentences. Yet he can tell you exactly what has happened in the story he has just read (sometimes I wonder if it's because of the pictures ). I have no idea how the reading levels are tested in school and I am very confused about the whole reading thing to be honest.

What Pointy said.

Sadly I think some schools just stick with schemes and support for able and early readers is hugely lacking.

I also think kids switching off from reading avidly(and a huge breadth)in KS1 and early KS2(more likely if they're dying of boredom on scheme books)can have an impact later.

Thanks all for such comprehensive replies

I agree with a lot if what you have all said. I will try to remember to come back and give her level come July.

Technically she can read any word. I'd say she also understands most words as well, I don't adjust my vocab at home at all so big words are the norm.

A good example is on amazon she searched for a particular beanie baby. It was 'currently unavailable' and I checked she understood. She said it wasn't available to buy.

Retro pear I think has hit the nail - school books have turned her off as they are so dull. Having iPads in the house doesn't help!

As for her teacher, she retires end of this term under new head. She clearly has already retired in her mind a long time ago so I don't take much stock by her. She will grade her whatever she grades her and seems to think she won't get a 3. So I don't expect one.

I just think she probably is capable but there's no intenti

Sorry
Intention to get her there.