Ginn Level 11 - What age is it aimed at? And some advice needed about reading generally.

[Miaou]

Dd1 is on Ginn Level 11 atm. Her reading group gets one book of short stories/extracts/poems every few weeks, with accompanying comprehension work. They also get a "pocket book" at the same level to read for enjoyment, which is changed every fortnight.

Dd1 is very bored. She finds the reading and comprehension work unchallenging and the pocket book, though reasonably enjoyable, she finishes in 20 minutes!! It sounds like she finishes both the reading and comprehension ahead of all her peers then ends up re-reading the books whilst the others finish their work

We have parents' evening at the end of the month and I want to bring this up with the teacher (in a constructive manner ) but dh and I would both appreciate some input on this subject. Her teacher had talked about getting level 12 in for her before she started this year but they would have to buy it in specially and this doesn't appear to have happened yet.

Given a free choice of reading material it appears to me that she chooses far more challenging stuff but I'm not sure how in touch I am with it all really.

DS whizzed through the reading levels and is now allowed to choose what books he like (although they are banded in colour by level) - he is now bringing home more interesting books and is reading a chapter or two a night.
It sounds though your DD needs stretching more in class - usually pupils would be given some extension work if they finish a task which would stretch them & make them think a bit more. I'd just discuss it with the teacher.

Yes, at her previous school last year dd wasn't on a reading scheme, they just used to let her choose what she wanted to read (from a pre-chosen range). I don't really have a problem with her doing the comprehension work, but I'm a bit disappointed that she is being "kept down" to the work the rest of her reading group are doing.

I will talk to the teacher about giving her more stuff to read once she has finished her comprehension work - just wondered what level 11 is usually aimed at.

Just to add Whizzz, like your ds, chapter books are much more her thing - these Ginn books are so short that she gets fed up of them. This is the kid who read HP7 in two days !

Are they Ginn 360 's ? They're aimed at KS2. ds had some when around Stage 11/12 ORT which I think was at around Year 3/4.

Year 3/4??????

Dd1 is in P6 !!!!

(Yes they are 360s btw)

I should also say that she is in a mixed P6/7 class and in the top reading group (and at the top of the group)

I share your frustration, miaou!

Dd(not quite six) is on Ginn Level 4 at the moment. She can read a lot better, not quite Harry Potter yet, but she makes a good stab at Horrid Henry. I have said to her teacher on a couple of occasions, "you know that she can read a lot better than the books she brings home, don't you?" Teacher agrees, and even recently told dh that she was doing so well she was thinking of moving dd up into the top group. Has she done it yet? No!

My Mum who is a secondary remedial english teacher, was very happy with dd's reading and says that the Ginn 360 scheme is very good, but doesn't think I should interfere at school

I just feel a bit let down tbh as she was assessed at the end of last year as a very bright child and we were assured that they would stretch her, but it doesn't seem to be happening

I can't find anything online about Ginn 360 that tells me about the levels - anyone teach Ginn? Or are your kids doing Ginn? What level in what year?

How old is p6? is this 10 or 11?
In the reading scheme in my school (which is colour coded) the Ginn 360 level 11 and is a reading age of approx 9-10
Surprised that a good reader in year 5 or 6 would still need a scheme.
My dd2 is in year 4 with a reading age of 10.6+ and she reads pretty much anything she likes (Lemony Snickett/ Jaquline Wilson).

This seems to give reading ages for Ginn 360

my dd is in p6 and has just finished Ginn 360 level 9, along with the rest of the class.

Thanks all.

Dd2 is in p5 and has just gone on to level 9 (again, top reading group), so that fits with what you say I guess, Linnet.

Smartie, dd1 is 10 and in p6; however she is working with the top p7s and her reading age is off the scale (sorry, not a boast, just trying to provide a context). IMO she should be on level 12 at least; having read her level 11 books I don't think she is gaining much from them. But they don't have level 12 in school - there was talk of buying them in though that doesn't appear to have happened.

ah the ones ds had were level 9 according to Carbonel's link.

Lizs, I was more than slightly before I read Carbonel's link!!

My daughter's school uses the Ginn reading scheme. I don't know if it is Ginn 360, but some of the stories have Rosie and Sam in them. Once they pass stage 8, they put them onto real books. In year two this was a bit hit or miss because the real books were not appropriate to children just coming off a reading scheme. Some were OK, at the level of a corgi sprinter, but others were much too difficult (Paddington Bear?). In year three the classroom has much better books eg. Flat Stanley series.

In fact because there are things that annoy me about my daughter's school, I should remember the good stuff too.

Miaou - I'm not suprised you are driven bananas by your child being on a reading scheme if she can read so well. She is in the top set, so the school clearly know she is a very fluent reader.

On the positive side, does the school's method produce good spellers? I don't know what to do about my daughter's spelling, it is so bad and bears no relationship to her reading ability.

Good luck with the parent's evening. Given that your daughter has a bit longer to go at primary school, they are either going to have to buy some more books for her, or put her onto free reading. Surely they are not going to keep her at the same level until she goes to secondary school?! Until then enjoy the library.

That's just it madsometimes - I want to know that she is not going to "tread water" - she has another year and a half to go at this school and will likely be in the same class next year! I also want to know whether to point her in the direction of certain literature etc out of school or just leave her to her own devices.

Overall I'm very pleased with them - she seems to be being stretched in other areas and certainly gets extension work. For example re spelling - she can spell perfectly, but still gets some spellings home. They have to write them out three times then put them in a sentence. Her extension work, though, is that she is given an additional instruction, eg use personification in this sentence, etc. So I'm happy with that.

Reading and spelling aren't really linked afaik though - dd2, though in the top reading group for her year (p5) has atrocious spelling! Much of it is down to laziness though (if you ask her to think again she will say "oh yes, it's got a u in it" or whatever) - so she knows, just doesn't bother to think before she writes!

Coming a bit late to this - sorry

My dd1 is also 10 and LOVES books. TBH I would take her along to the library and concentrate on developing her love of literature outside school.
There are lots of threads on here recommending books for children of all ages.

Have fun!

Sonnet - I work in a library

She gets loads of books from the library, that far outstrip what she is doing in school. My concern is that she is getting turned off reading/comprehension in a school environment and this may have a long-lasting impact on her attitude towards learning in the future. I just feel that the school has a responsibility to challenge her in all areas and not let her "coast" just because she's reached the top.

Not trying to criticise what you are saying sonnet btw, just trying to explain my concerns

my daughter is in year 1 and is reading GINN books level 12, can someone tell me what age read is that.

thanx

Ginn 360 levels 11/12 are aimed at 10- 11 year olds (not the same as reading age of 11)

My son is aged 5 in reception class and is on level 3 Ginn 360, he reads these with expression and is very fluent and has good comprehension of the story, I went to talk to his class teacher and she said that I am a pushy parent and asked why I am trying to push him up the levels, to which I replied I am not pushy I am a caring parent who wants the best for my child and I feel that the book is not stretching him enough and he is getting bored. They won't change the book what do I do now?

Could she take another (more interesting book) into school that she could read if she has finished the comprehensions etc before the others in the group?