Downgraded 7yo's reading stage - why?

[PatterofaMinion]

Ds2 started at a new school a couple of months back. He was doing well with his reading and I wasn't sure what group of books he was on but they have assessed him at the new school, and they don't seem too sure what stage to put him on, so anyway.

He's been given the opportunity to choose his own books and has come home with some stage 15s which he finds perfectly readable complete with emphasis, understanding of the plot, etc etc. He's well away.

I got a note in his record from one TA or reading assistant (not sure which) who reads a lot with the class I think, and she put that he ought to be on stage 12, but this is a 15 (!). I wasn't sure how to respond so apologised and said he chooses his own books so I'm not sure what to do about it. She wrote that she would sort it out once he had finished that book.

He then had a reading session with the class teacher who sent him to get another stage 15 or whatever he wanted as he was clearly managing well, and enjoying them, and they are interesting.

He finished it fairly quickly and took it in today, whereupon he was handed a stage 12 by the TA and told she had chosen it for him.

Why would she want him to be back on stage 12? This is the bit I don't understand - surely he needs the challenge of books that are a bit harder than this? If he is coping well with 15 then why on earth put him back on 12?

I'm not pushy but he is my first able reader and so I'm a bit stuck as to how to handle this one without seeming tw*ttish

Any thoughts welcome.

I can only assume the teacher didn't make it clear to the TA that he was OK on stage 15, and I don't think (or hope not) that the TA would amend the teacher's choice.

UNLESS the TA had picked up some 'shortcoming' that the teacher hadn't noticed. I was a TA and helper for twenty-five years, and sometimes the TA gets to know a child more closely than the teacher does.

Even when I was retired but still a voluntary helper in primary classes, on at least one occasion I did amend a book level, but upwards, as I knew the child could cope with it. BUT I also told the TA about it, as strictly speaking voluntary helpers shouldn't go amending the professional's judgement!

However, reading levels could be regarded as somewhat subjective, and it's not an 'exact science', though there are assessment criteria a teacher will use to get as close as possible to a 'correct' level.

Wait and see what develops, but don't lose any sleep over it!

Thank you - perhaps I will put a note in the contact book asking about it as I'd kind of like to know the thinking behind it.

The thing is he was really enjoying the 'fun' books on stage 15 and wanted to read them - the stage 12 ones are such a drag and pretty dull. We have the one about Francis Drake this week [sigh]

It's much harder to get him to read those than the ones he's just had.

I wonder if she might have misunderstood his dysfluency to be hesitation at what the word says - he stutters at the end of words normally from anxiety, and she might think he is struggling with the words.

Thanks for filling me in on how it works

Could it be to do with fiction and non fiction? My DD always find non fiction harder and content can be too hard for a able but still young reader so dropping a few levels could be appropriate.

Could it be a confidence boost because of the new school?

I'm not sure. The stage 12 she has given him is a non fiction, but he doesn't seem to be having any problems with it.

Maybe his teacher did want him to feel confident but as he isn't aware of what is 'average' (and neither am I) then it's unlikely to be that - I don't know if most of his class is on stage 12, 15 or 17. And it doesn't matter anyway.

I'll write a note in the book and see what they say.

Thank you for the suggestions

Hmm. I put a v polite note in the book this morning asking if she could fill me in on how they do the staging, as he was a bit disappointed to be put back down to S12.

His contact book mysteriously disappeared just before home time apparently but he says she read the note, and told him that it was because he started on stage 12, but then had skipped three stages. So she had decided to put him back down

It sounds a bit arbitrary particularly as another TA as well as his class teacher both told him to choose another S15 or whatever he fancied.

I wonder if she just feels he ought to drudge through the entire ORT before he's allowed parole? Tbh I don't like this idea as the books he's gone back to are really bleddy dull and at a similar age, I was forced to work through similar books and it put me off reading for life.

What to do now. She's bunged him a stage 13 as a reluctant compromise I think! Which is admittedly better than Francis Drake but it's too easy. He tells me it's too easy, it's not me saying that.