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.

[recyclingbag]

I didn't know, that's why I asked.

However I did some googling and found a chart on a random school website.

[Sarah715]

Still waiting here, they actually put him back a few stages so that he wouldn't 'run out of books'

He read a 200+ page book over half term but he's still on effing stage 15 at school.

[mrz]

Your random school website has misinformed you. A reading age of 11 is unlikely to atrain level 6 if levels still existed.

[Wardrobespierre]

Genx, my 5yo dd comprehended The Philosopher's Stone just fine. You really can't generalise. It might be extremely uncommon but I can reassure you it wasn't just words. She's precocious I grant you!

[recyclingbag]

Mrz - year 6, not level 6.

I'm not sure what the difference is.

[mrz]

Sorry but reading ages are highly unreliable and can't be equated to year groups I'm afraid.
There's an awful lot more to reading ability than the book bands which only follow a certain criteria.
As others have said the whole "free reader" label can mean so many different things. Your sons reading well that's the important thing.

[MissRabbitHasTooManyJobs]

Jeez most of these posts should be in gifted and talented!
Are there any normal dc on MN?
Dd is in reception and on red level. She's bloody bright, school make them read every single book within the colour band! It's ridiculous.
I told her teacher she is bored and unchallenged and got the "cats bum face"
Surely must depend on the school..
I going to film dd reading Horrid Henry and take it to the next parents evening

[TeaT1me]

My daughter read chapter books early (yes I think most posters here are like my daughter and not at all typical or representative! I know there were only a few free readers in yr 1 meaning most weren't!)

However I'm surprised people were encouraging harry Potter so young. I've taken a just because she can doesn't mean she should attitude. I also haven't encouraged jaqueline Wilson as I think the themes are too old for a 6 year old.

So many lovely children's books out there they can read while little!

[NickiFury]

Age 7 - year 2. But she's an early September child so amongst the oldest in her class. DS I am not sure as he has autism and it was difficult to assess that kind of thing, it just felt like he could always read tbh though obviously I know that can't be true.

[NickiFury]

I'm not sure I believe that there are so many children free reading so early.....

[MajesticSeaFlapFlap]

This ia mumsnet, there are no average children.

Pink band Biff and chip are out and lord of the rings extended, extra wordy edition is in.

[user789653241]

My ds was free reading from reception, but without comprehension.
He was just a good decoder. Proper comprehension came around YR2, I think.

[Skiingmaniac]

I have an average child - struggled with reading up until mid way in year 3 then took off so I would say free reader since year 4 Christmas time.

I also have a very capable child who was reading early and was free reading since end of year 1.

They're all different 😊

[user789653241]

I think it's totally understandable that MNetter's children are more advanced compared to other children. They have parents who are interested in children's education, and take time to get involved, have books around, take them to library, etc.

[MajesticSeaFlapFlap]

Ahhh... better parents!

Theses are not just advanced kids, theses a mumsnet more cared for kids!

Good to know

[Vagndidit]

DS became a free reader right before Christmas break in Y3. I am proud but feel like a right idiot for being really concerned when he failed to move past Stage 1 ORT in Reception and most of Y1. He just wasn't interested in reading anything until he was past age 6.

[BastardGoDarkly]

My son stated free reading just before Christmas too, I think there were plenty in his year that were earlier, and plenty later.

Harry potter in reception??!!

[BastardGoDarkly]

Sorry ds is year 3 also.

[NickiFury]

I don't think irvine is being serious? That's a joke right?

[user789653241]

NickiFury, I am serious. What's wrong with that? But that's what I thought any way. I maybe wrong, of course.

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Different country but DS1 started choosing his reading books last year, so no "levels" any more. That was when he was 7 and in Y2.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

No idea, they both drifted off banded books and onto choosing from the library somewhere around year 3/4, and stopped having reading diaries then too, but school never use the phrase "free reader" and don't make anything of it (unlike times tables where you get a certificate when you know them all). I have one child whose comprehension skills exceed their decoding ability and one whose decoding exceeds their comprehension. I don't regard either of them as truly free readers yet (they are now in years 5 and 7), they both still have progress to make.

[harryhausen]

I like/liked our schools approach.

Dd is 11 and has been a 'free reader' since Y2. She didn't completely finish all her levels. She progressed through to Gold (or something) that stopped reading, complaining that the books were so dull. At parents evening I mentioned this worry and her teacher just said "let her read what she likes from home or library". That night she went into Charlie and the Chocolate factory and never looked back. She's just finished book2 of the Hunger Games.

However, for box ticking this new curriculum for y6 her teacher has given her a banded book saying she must read it even though she can read way beyond it. It's so silly and my dd is pretty annoyed by it so just reads it alongside her 'real' books.

All school do different things. I've never understood the bands/colours.