Should I request that ds be moved down a reading level?

[lecce]

I know that is not usually the way it goes on here, but I am concerned that ds (YR) is struggling with the books he was moved up to about 6 weeks ago. I don't know what level they are, as the school uses a different banding system from the ones usually referred to on here, but they are first chapter books. There was one called 'The Chocolate Cat', I think, and we have just finished 'Smudger and the Smelly fish' - or something.

The problem isn't the words, he decodes pretty much all of them on sight (immediately, Thunderguts, deceive being recent examples), but the comprehension. I'm not at all sure he is fully 'getting' these stories, especially those that feature a lot of humour - all of which I'm sure sails over his head. The one we've just had went on about people 'fancying' each other and about funny things that would be written on mugs about people - we have no mugs with writing on and he just didn't understand the points being made about the characters. I don't think I'm explaining this well. I also feel some of the sentences and chapters are too long for him and this causes him to lose focus and makes it hard to help him pick up on what's going on.

On the other hand, he is proud and excited to be on chapter books like his older brother, copes very well with the language (and does understand the meaning of most of the vocabulary he decodes) and I just do 10 minutes a night and try not to stress over whether he's really following the plot.

As well as this, I have history of over-thinking and worrying where my dc's reading is concerned, and know that I had related concerns over ds1 at this stage, and I did nothing about it and he's been a free-reader since Spring term Y2. However, I do worry more about ds2 as he's not that interested in books (unlike his brother, and despite our best efforts) and I feel that is part of the problem - he hasn't experienced as many narratives in his life.

Sorry for the mammoth post, but I would love some advice. (Work f/t, so never see teacher for a quick chat and dh doesn't see a problem .

I did this with DS1 because he was decoding but not reading IYSWIM. It was the right thing for him because he needed to get better at the mechanics of reading before the comprehension could follow. He is now Y6 and reads well.

I know what you mean. My friend's DD is a similar case, free reader just after starting Y1 but the books provided where high above her head.

She had a meeting with the teacher and the literacy coordinator and they agreed on this; the school would provide books as much as they could but if the parents think they are not suitable the girl could read from her own selection at home.

It helped that my friend's mum was an Infant teacher as well and could advise on suitable reading material and our library is decently stocked. The mum would then provide the title of the book the girl read and if it was her own one (not library) she would bring it in and the teacher would go through it with her to see progress of comprehension. It wasn't easy for 1 1/2 years until the girl matured enough.

I think a similar meeting is necessary to see what the school says. In our school such meetings are normally before school hours, maybe asks if this is possible for you.

FYI accelerated reader place Smudger and the Smelly Fish as white band (from the national scheme).

You can google the skills & competences required at white band to see how far off, or close, your son is and that will help you to decide how to proceed as well as help you to support him too.

Yes, I would ask for slightly easier books so that you can work on comprehension. His decoding is obviously advanced for YR, but if he can't follow the stories, he won't enjoy reading them.

I'd also read and share a lot of suitable material at home. Picture books are great for YR, often there's a lot to discuss (e.g. things like 'Stick Man' 'The Lorax' anything by Anthony Browne, 'Giraffes Can't Dance' etc).

Non-fiction is also good because you can read a double-page and answer questions- you don't really need to remember what you read three days ago.

The other thing to remember is that you can work on comprehension skills when reading to your child, e.g. when reading a bedtime story ask 'How do you think he felt when x happened?'.

I have asked for easier reading books lots for my DC, and especially DS now 6.
Sometimes they surprise you though & it's worth giving longer books a try, make sure they only read for 5 minutes or so even if that's only 2-4 pages total.
Best thing is I go in with him to choose his books so then I know it's pitched about right.
If that not convenient for you, could also get right sort of books from public library (at least our libraries have huge appropriate selections).

I think you should speak to them, it is hard for staff to know I think because they only listen to them read a page or so of a book at that level due to time constraints so I think they would appreciate knowing your concerns.

I do think that staying lower would sound like it would be a good idea and will probably be better in the long run.

Could you ask for a mixture of books of different levels? I was always given books for older children 'because I was good at reading', and I found them incredibly dull because I just didn't understand the themes properly. I still wanted to read about the stuff that young children like! You don't want to kill his love of books by making them boring.

I think in your shoes I would ask for some more age appropriate books. It sounds like he is doing brilliantly with the reading, but at that age the most important thing is that he is enjoying it rather than reading the hardest things he is able to.