Another reading one - really slow progress in year 1

[Coldcomfortjoe]

Another reading one I'm afraid. Just wanted to hear if others had experienced similar. My DS is in year 2. Reading progressed well in reception, he seemed to grasp it really quickly and ended the year on Green level which we were told was ahead of expected levels.

In year one he really seemed to slow up and had only just moved on to Turquoise at the end of the year. I know this an expected levels for this stage but not a great deal of progress from where he started.

I wouldn't have thought much of it but he has started to notice, and mention, that other kids in the class are moving ahead of him, those he was reading alongside (they read in groups as well as individually), are moving up the levels so comparatively he's progressing more slowly and so slipping down the groups. Doesn't help his friends are all very able readers so he feels like he's the odd one out.

He did fine in the phonics test, fluency is pretty good as is his comprehension and teachers haven't mentioned anything specific. I just wondered if anyone else had experiences of a child that started off all guns blazing them seemed to come to a bit of halt!

'comparison is the thief of joy' isn't that what they say?

His awareness of others is probably increasing so he will probably be able to understand that people progress at different rates in different skills.

On the QT you could, if you think he is solid on his current level, both reading and comprehension, ask the teacher to check his level when convenient.

Oh to answer your question sorry, yes my dc progresses in big unexpected bursts - especially with reading - jumped right past two book levels one day right at the end of year one after having just gone up a level the month before, prior to that it had been a very slow year!

Yes that's true I guess he's going to get more aware of how others are doing as they get older. Just don't want him to get too disheartened as he's always been so enthusiastic at school.

I'll give them a few more weeks to settle and assess then mention to the teacher. Certainly reading at his current level with no issues.

Glad to hear that Biff, Chip et al do disappear at some point Silly1me - not sure how many more times I can bear to hear the sentence 'Suddenly the magic key began to glow!'

Does he read other books at home? Other children may be reading library books now and school stuff is not really enough.

Hi. My DC is very similar flew reception the ground to a halt. She finished reception on gold ( level 9 ) and her comprehension etc was very good. She has just started year 2 on lime ( 11 ) her written work followed a similar trajectory and she has now been diagnosed with poor working memory and visual processing despite a very high intellectual ability. Basically once it reached a certain level of complexity she struggled to process it. Most of the recommendations are supportive. Breaking stuff down, slowing it down and giving her time and encouragement with lots of positive reinforcement. Not saying this is your child's problem but it sounds familiar !