when did your DC become a free reader

[recyclingbag]

We had book bands in infants, then new set in juniors which went up to black I think (stage 16)

DS has just finished all the bands - he's in year 5. Is this expected level?

I've no idea what the rest of his class are doing and don't like to ask.

I think some were free readers ages ago.

[StephanieKing]

My DC is 6 and only on level 9 (ORT). He will be 7 in May. I'm surprised at how many are free reading so young.

[ZanyMobster]

Mrz - yes I have heard of that too. One excuse I heard was that they didn't have any higher level books (only went up to lime level) at the school so to read books they hadn't read for a while.

[greenbloom]

Ophiotaurus - diary of a wimpy kid is just right for a 7 year old - the books look long, but the vocabulary is quite simple - about the same as Horrid Henry.

[Mouseinahole]

Dgs2 was 7 towards end of year 2 and his younger brother was free reader aged 6 at very end of year1. He loved The Golden Key stories though.

[ophiotaurus]

That's lovely Shakey good for him

Also I think when you are born in Scotland (with regards to age within year group) is different. Ds2 is August but is in the middle age wise. I think it's the December to February ones here that are the youngest. But we have the option to defer them for a year if we want. My two are June and August so no choice.

[Shakey15000]

Today

He's made up. August born, youngest in Yr4 (8yrs old)

[nilbyname]

Sounds very Finnish.

Anyway I'm Scottish, I can't spell for toffee but I'm wildly creative

[ophiotaurus]

Thanks that's good to know. When I read a lot of threads and people talk about years I never know what age they are!
Re Scotland being progressive there are pros and cons. It might just be my school but I don't think it concentrates enough on fundamental skills. Yes the play based structure for early years is great but there is little to no emphasis on handwriting or correcting spelling (this stifles creativity apparently).

[nilbyname]

P3 is y2 and p1 is yr or reception.

Scotland is way more progressive anyways so lucky you!

[ophiotaurus]

No I'm not offended at all nilby. I suppose it's true people are hardly going to pile I and say how much their children are struggling.
I'm in Scotland so unsure of what all the years are in the rest of the U.K. My eldest is 7 and in P3 and my youngest is 5 and in P1.

[WellTidy]

At DS' school, they are free readers when they've finished Oxford reading tree level 12. Or maybe 13.

DS was pretty much the last in his class to be a free reader and he became a free reader just as he started year 3. I was never hugely bothered as his reading was progressing steadily and he was enjoying reading and being read to. His understanding, recall and use of expression was always good too.

[Spandexpants007]

Stage 11 is counted as free reading at my boys school. One was free reading at the end of reception. The other at he end of year 1/beginning of year two

[nilbyname]

ophio

Sounds like your dc is doing very well, reading a range of things and has a lovely mum who is interested in reading and helping.

MN is skewed, not many people are going to rock up and say oh yeah my kid is pretty rubbish/average. It's just not in our nature as parents!

I'm sorry if I have posted anything that's made you feel crap.

[ophiotaurus]

So is free reading the ability to read books out with the scheme ie books from home? Or not to be on banded books anymore?
My 7 year old is reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid at home and is only orange level at school. I've spoken to the school about this and they won't budge. He understands what is happening in the DOAWK books.

I am a keen reader and read to the children at bedtime.

Washediris I do in fact know about the library. You're right, it isn't rocket science but thanks for pointing out somewhere that books are available. You can also buy them in shops or download them onto e-readers

I'm just surprised at the seemingly high proportion of G&T children in here as opposed to what I see when I go in to help with reading at my dc's school.

Still this area of mumsnet doesn't seem that welcoming so I think I'll stick to the litter tray.

[mrz]

Zany I know many schools where "free reader" means we gave no suitable books in this class so just read what you want until next year,

[user789653241]

Washediris, people get upset because they care, I think. About reading early, you shouldn't get worked up so much, because by yr3/4/5 almost all the children get there, soon or later. And about the children struggling, there are lots of tips from good teachers and parents how to help them. I truly believe, reading is not a race.

[ZanyMobster]

Free reading is interpreted differently in lots of places. One of the school mums went round telling everyone her son had been a free reader for ages, it seemed odd as the other children had said he was in the bottom group. It turned out he was allowed to choose his own book out of the level he was on, not actually a free reader at all. I really wouldn't worry about what other people are saying.

[ZanyMobster]

From what I know, most schools consider a free reader after lime level (level 12 I believe). At others it will be level 16 (tree tops books generally).

DS1 was level 12 in YR and L16 in Y1.

DS2 is Y3 but only on level 12, he can only just about read to himself at night in bed but isn't what I would call a brilliant reader, he is slightly above average in his class.

[Ellle]

ophiotaurus just because some 5 year old children are free readers does not mean that your two are not good for their age.

Every child is different, and as we just said, there are many other factors involved other than parenting for those who are precocious readers.

[nilbyname]

My DS is g and t and is rather bright. He is sailing through school and we are very pleased. However it is only on this an anymore forum would I say such a thing as I don't want people in real life to think I'm an insensitive twat.

It's not easy fielding barbed comments about how clever DS is and how such and such is trailing behind or how they all wish they could read as well as my DS. It's totally out of my control and as lovely as it is for him to be finding school and literacy in particular a breeze and enjoyable, I hate hate hate the comparisons!

Children should be allowed to develop at their own rate, be celebrated for all their hard work and nudged along by everyone.

[user789653241]

ophiotaurus, my ds is doing great academically, but he has chronic illness and asd traits and everything that comes with it. So I feel crap quite often.

[ShelaghTurner]

I was a very advanced reader. DD1 is in yr3 and will never finish the reading scheme as she refuses to read the school books. She's just recently got interested in chapter books like Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton but because she's not reading the school books she'll be on white or whatever till she leaves the school! I'm more bothered than I'd like to be, I can hear how well (or not) she reads, she's doing fine but still I wish she was further up! It's daft.

[ophiotaurus]

Don't think I'll be coming back in here!