I think my son has regressed and I blame myself!

[bangingmyheadoffabrickwall]

My DS is 5. He is in YR and in October 2016 he began the dandelion launchers. He has only
Progressed to unit 6 since then! His school has a pink sticker on them so am assuming they book band these!

I am a teacher but not at all familiar with these books as my school use a range of other books that are book banded.

He has basically been on these books for the past eight months!!!

Surely he should have progressed to red or even yellow by now even for home readers???

My children are assessed half termly and every one of them (admittedly Y1) have moved up at least 2 book bands the majority being 3-4 book bands!!

I blame myself! I don't know why I haven't picked up this sooner. It wasn't til I saw his friends book (I know, don't compare) and saw she was on blue band (very high for YR I know) but it actually brought to my attention that my son has not progressed!

We read ' Viv can run' tonight and he read it with no enthusiasm at all. I asked him why he wasn't reading as well as I know he can and he said reading the stories are boring and even he realised that this book hasn't only 4 worded sentences and one sentence to a page yet the book previous to THAT had two to three sentences per page.

I don't feel as though they have encouraged him enough and didn't to the easiness of these books he is reluctant to read.

He loves writing and writes all the time at home independently and sentences with capital letters and full stops. He is even reading phase 5 high frequency words.

Am I being too pushy? Am I barking up the wrong tree? Is the school not encouraging him enough?

Obviously speaking to school on Monday about it but wanted some views on these books!

1golfterrace - I do no less or more than any other parent! I read with my child. I trust the school. There is no reason why he 'shouldn't be on a PINK book' when his supposed instructional text is a RED, but it has come to light that this is not the case. At the moment, school have seemingly lied to me. My son has not progressed when they said he's reading fine AND not kept me up to date - THIS has only become apparent to me yesterday. So it isn't a case of 'taking more responsibility'. I CANNOT ACT ON INFORMATION THAT I AM NOT AWARE OF! Not sure how else to get that across! I have no clue as to Dandelion Launchers. My school do not have them, never heard of them before my son brought them home. So no, until mrz enlightened me about unit 6 being a 'cause for concern' at this stage, I had no idea!
To put it across another way; school said he was reading RED at school. PINK at home. Not uncommon. Usual business of schools in my authority. No reason to be alarmed. BUT THIS ISN'T THE CASE. I was only made aware of it via my child YESTERDAY. His bloody PINK reader IS his INSTRUCTIONAL TEXT as well as his HOME READER.

Basically his ONE reading book does not match his phonetic ability.

mrz I am confused even further! How can a dandelion launcher book be classed as dandelion reader book as well?
Is he only reading the Dandelion launchers? There are only 4 launcher books per unit and 1-2 lines per page 6 pages per book which suggests he's done very little reading this year. Or has he also had Dandelion readers? This, implies there are two different reading schemes that run alongside each other. His 'Viv' book does have 6 pages and yes, 4 books per unit. I am not understanding why you reiterate what the launcher book is and then ask if he's had the dandelion reader as well?

And yes, very little reading this year. I can't do anymore with the home readers when, until a month ago, they were only allowed to change them once a week (around end of term times this reduced to once a fortnight!) and they don't 'move them up' to match any progression in phonics and simply 'keep them moving along methodically'. I wouldn't be so bothered if this was just the home reader. But I was led to believe they had a separate book at school that would match their needs.

it isn't as if we haven't been reading. We do read every day, it's the home reader we don't read every day. he can only take so much of 'Sam, Tim, Tam, Kim, Viv' and all the other bloody characters. So my fault if I have led people to believe 'we don't read every day'.

And my capitalisation is for clarification - not shouting.

A child shouldn't be reading a 'PINK' book or Unit 6 if they are beginning phase 5 of Letters and Sounds should they?

THAT is ultimately what I want an answer too.

Mrz i have posted 'elsewhere' too in case you're wondering (if you view it) why as I feel I may get wider professional advice on there.

Is the school teaching Letters and Sounds (hope not)

"mrz I am confused even further! How can a dandelion launcher book be classed as dandelion reader book as well? " it can't ...the title you gave Viv can run isn't a Dandelion launcher. So your child has been reading Dandelion Readers which are the parcelled scheme offering more text.

I am not sure. TBH I assumed they were because the HFWs coming home follow the L&S structure.

But we are ... In fact teachers follow the LCP planning. I personally hate it with the passion!

I am aware of the new curriculum but maybe it's my own lack of knowledge, professional development (it came out at the time I spent a year off work with sickness, stress, pregnancy which was high risk and a further year off for maternity) - not aware that Letters and Sounds was defunct (??) as my school STILL teach it. Maybe 'news' has filtered into my neck of the woods. We always seem to be the 'last to know'

In fact in Y1 'we' are making massive changes to ensure there is a lot of phonics, spelling and handwriting taught as at the moment 'we' spend too much time and emphasis on actual writing stories etc before the basics - IYKWIM. But it's been my yer of 'pushing' for that to happen.

'Boys are different' nonnoumum?

What a singularly unhelpful and sexist post.

Goodness! Only giving an opinion.

You are clearly unhappy with the school. And seem very hung up on 2 similar book bands. It's not as if they are sending home pink and you feel he should be reading at orange for example.

All I was suggesting was that you take it in to your own hands over the summer (as many other parents will automatically). When he is reassessed in September by a different teacher hopefully you will be happier with the material he is sent home with.

And also, bloody hell, op, you are a teacher? You wouldn't fill me with confidence if you were my dc's teacher.

Er, yep it is! Have it in my hand:

Dandelion Launchers Unit 6a CVC
Initial Phonic Code /jwz/

Story by Tamar Reis-Frankfort and Wendy Tweedie
Illustrated by Clair Baker and Drew Wilson

On the back it says:
Dandelion Launchers is a phonic reading series for beginner readers. The book precedes and supplements the Dandelion Readers series. Dandelion Launchers can be used with any phonic programme. Each unit represents a new level. In this series, the pupil can read 4 books at each level.

Based upon the 'Sounds - Write reading and spelling programme (which I am now beginning to wonder if his school follow). I have no idea!!

thereallochnessmonster Why not? Because I trusted the school had my child at the 'right' level? My son reads the books he brings home fluently. They are supposed to be fluent for a home reader. Am I supposed to 'READ MINDS' and GUESS that his home reader is in fact his instructional text??? They TOLD me he was reading RED AT SCHOOL. Why would I not believe them? Why the fuck does that make me a 'bad' teacher? Where in my training was I supposed to demonstrate the ability to communicate telepathically with my son's teachers and suddenly KNOW' my child isn't reading the level book they TOLD me he was?
My child came home and told me that the book he reads at home is the SAME book he reads at school. I am annoyed that school have seemingly LIED to me and/or not matched his reading with his phonic ability.

Well, I suppose you always get someone who comes along and makes the briefest of comments that isn't helpful and inflames situations further ...

Find your rock deep beneath the loch. I'm going to ignore and disregard you now.

1golfterrace - sorry, if I came across as harsh. But people are pissing me off right now and passing judgements on my own teaching capabilities when they clearly have not comprehended the thread and clearly have absolutely no idea about my teaching at all.

So sorry again if I have upset you.

Yes, I MOST certainly am taking greater responsibility for my son's reading over the summer.
We have started with Oxford Owl (he chooses) and I am going into school over the holidays as I generally do so will take him with me and he can choose some books (phonic led ones of course!) as well as go over 'old' ground with the GPCs he has been taught.

I'm going to leave this thread now. I think I have all the answers that I can possibly get right now and besides, the trolls and 'loch ness monsters' have come out of their caves and quite frankly I refuse to allow them to derail this, inflame the situation and be as rude as they are by passing judgements about my own teaching skills. (17 years, numerous OFSTED visits, LEA visits etc - and not one has questioned my teaching thanks! Won't allow some toffee-nosed troll/monster to pass judgement. Your opinion won't matter to me.)

Bye!!

I wouldn't worry too much. Hopefully you can do lots of reading this summer and this will make a big difference. As my school hardly ever sent books home, I registered with the Reading Chest to receive books home via the post. Very reliable service.

You made the "mistake" of trusting the school. Just be glad you realised now and not later.

Good luck.

I still don't understand why you can't find your own books for him to read at home at an instructional level? That's not pushy, it's just common sense.

Then you can note in his reading record 'read x blue book at 95% accuracy'. If they don't pick up your lead go in one morning and say 'he's reading blue books at 95% accuracy at home.. is there a problem at school?'.

Yes sorry banging I've looked it up as I should have in the first place. My apologies.

"Then you can note in his reading record 'read x blue book at 95% accuracy'. If they don't pick up your lead go in one morning and say 'he's reading blue books at 95% accuracy at home.. is there a problem at school?'." The problem being that the school isn't using book banded reading books so "blue books" is totally meaningless.

Sorry it all went pear-shaped Banging.

From reading MN and from real life I've come to realise that education is more of a lottery than it should be.

No parent should have to teach their children at home. Lots end up doing it. It's wrong for so many reasons.

You could go to the school and express your concerns, in fact you probably should. I imagine little will change but at least you'll have tried.

You may have to teach your child yourself.

Have you had a look at the reading Reform Foundation and the International Forum for Effective Reading Instruction? I've found both useful as a layperson ( although I have a rusty teaching qualification) . I d love one of them to do a piece on a Letters and Sounds; why it came about, the first part-nursery part and of its useful or time wasting , why it's been archived, what the government thinks should be used instead, is it a phonics scheme. I think Debbie Hepplewhite might have written a critic but I can't find it.

Anyhow, good luck!

I think you are right about Debbie having written a critique of it. Although I think the reason it's archived is because everything was archived. I don't think the current government have an issue with it as a phonics scheme.

Which is a shame because it could do with being replaced.

OP I get where you are coming from. Even if you are a teacher it shouldn't be up to you to have to teach him to read to cover gaps from the school.

Might be worth having a conversation with them about why they have him on that level and not a higher one.

I am not a troll.

I was questioning your judgement because (a) it's June. The school year is almost over and only now you're querying reading levels? and (b) you haven't made any effort to find out about your son's reading level for youself. Instead you have posted hysterical messages on MN.

Is that the best, most professional way of going about things? Why on earth not write a note in your son's reading diary months ago?

How do you expect parents of dc in your class to deal with issues? By posting on the internet - or asking you?

Maybe 'news' has filtered into my neck of the woods. We always seem to be the 'last to know'

What about your own CPD as a primary teacher? Aren't you supposed to be reading TES and keeping up with developments in phonics and reading schemes? Just an idea.

Even if the school are "following" Sounds- Write it doesn't sound like they are following it well. Maybe they've just bought in some phonics books but not had any phonics training ?

Theirs is another website worth looking at if you ever have the time or energy. Actually, eureka moment- have you got an iPad? If so get your child the Sounds-Write app . It's amazing, it works and it's fun!

I know you've gone by just in case you are still reading:)

Hi OP,
I don't know if you're still reading this, but just in case: I'd like to share another perspective.

You sound very worried that school hasn't been teaching your child well and you feel guilty for not having realised/intervened earlier.

I agree that from your descriptions, it sounds like the school/the teacher are not the best, don't do things the way you would expect, and don't communicate well.

However, it doesn't sound like your child has 'regressed'. He seems to be doing ok! His reading seems to be fine. His phonics too.

The only real problem seems to be that he seems to be on the wrong book band/seems to be given too easy books.

Perhaps they haven't properly taught him to read. Perhaps they haven't heard him read weekly. Perhaps they have been doing very little at all to help him learn to read.
And yet, he has been making good progress!
It seems your child is one of those lucky ones who learn and make progress even when faced with crap teaching. It shouldn't be that way, of course, and it indicates a bit of a problem with his school. Sounds like you will have to keep a close eye on things.

But for now, your problem is not that he hasn't learned to read/hasn't learned his phonics. Because he has! Your problem really is only that his school readers are not at the appropriate level. Which is sadly a very common problem. But luckily, your child has learned to read/made progress despite poor/lack of teaching, despite being given the wrong level books/not many books at all. And the problem of reading books not matching their phonics ability/reading ability really is a minor one IMO - assuming the child has parents who are engaged and provide the child with other reading material. (There has been a whole thread on this recently.)

So your child has made no progress up the book bands - but he has made good progress in his reading/phonics. Which one matters?

Does it still seem like such a huge problem?

phonicsinternational.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1256&sid=a8b3fd60c5d4f34300b072c863051b41

Here is a critique Debbie Hepplewhitte wrote of Letters and Sounds .