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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Reading in Reception. Advice required please.

62 replies

DiscoDizzy · 05/03/2008 13:16

DD1 is one of the top in her class at reading at the mo. When she started in reception someone would listen to her read and comment on how she did, this year so far she is listened to every 3 or 4 books which isn't always every week and when she is listened to its always be a teaching assistant and not the teacher which obviously isn't a problem but her teacher hasn't heard her read since beginning of December so hasn't seen her progress or can decide if she is to go up a level. Is this the norm? Dependent upon responses I was planning to have a chat with him next week to see what was what (in a nice way).

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CountessDracula · 05/03/2008 13:24

She has been on the same level of books since December?
DD's teacher listens to her about once a week sometimes every other week. She gets listened to by TA or a parent helper twice a week. I have no idea who decides when she goes up a level but she has gone from ORT 3 to 6 this term so someone is making the decision and it doesn't always happen when the teacher has heard her

CountessDracula · 05/03/2008 13:25

She also gets 4 books a week sent home which we read with her.

katepol · 05/03/2008 13:45

My dd (also in reception) has been heard twice individually. She has done group reading twice too. This is since she started in reception in Sept. She gets one reading book home per week.

This is normal for her school, and like your dd, she is in the 'top' group for reading. I think it shows that there is a lot of variation in what is 'normal' or 'good' practice between schools.

You are obviously concerned, so if I were you I would ask why things seem to have changed, and what the school's strategy is. Chances are though are that the weaker readers are being given more attention.

CountessDracula · 05/03/2008 13:49

One per week?
Is that usual?
Why do we get 4 I wonder?

stuffitllama · 05/03/2008 13:51

I'm sure the teacher won't mind if you have a word. It would be nice for your dd to get a boost by going up a level or two. I wouldn't worry at all about the TA listening to her read except as you say that she doesn't seem to have the "authority" to change her reading level.

cba · 05/03/2008 13:51

we get a new book every night. The teacher reads half way each day with ds2 then we continue on the evening. ds2 in reception

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 05/03/2008 13:54

With my son, year 2, he would move up once I mentioned he was findng the current colour easy and the teacher would then hear him read and move him up.

DD is also (probably) the best reader and she isn't on any colour as they don't know what to do with her. I have written several notes but have been told she can only have 2 books a week for her to read to me but a new library book every day which I am meant to read to her. She usually reads it to me but this week hasn't brought one home.

It is the curriculum to only let her have 2 books a week and if she had more "the other mothers wouldn't like it." I replied that DD has to miss out then?

I wish DD was on the colours like her brother was as a least then I could see that the teacher knew how well she was doing and I could see it with the colour. At the minute I just am amazed but what she can read but don't understand what level this makes her.

Original poster

DiscoDizzy · 05/03/2008 14:06

Thanks for your responses. She gets 2 books per week but thats because the parents chose the books from their particular colour level on Mon and Thurs.

Out of 23 in her class there are only 3 in her colour so I wondered if they were perhaps spending more time with the others so they could catch up which I can understand but didn't think it fair to hold the others back.

He does appear to be the authorative one when it comes to changing levels cos the only 2 times he's heard her he's moved her up a band.

This is one of the best primary schools in the county (as per 2007 ofsted report). I just don't want her held back for any reason, I worry she will become discouraged at school even though she's encouraged at home.

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katepol · 05/03/2008 14:06

CD - yep - one book home per week (although sometimes none ).

I did find the lack of books odd when dd1 was in reception, but she flew with reading and was able to read Harry Potter (the first 3 books), Roald Dahl, Enid Blighton etc in Yr 1. I am therefore relaxing and anticipating that the slowly, slowly approach works as well with dd2. They certainly do a lot in school with the building blocks for reading, but less pressure to do books per se. The school regularly gets 45% of Level 3's (SATs) in reading, and about 50% of the children in dd1's Yr 2 class have finished the book banded reading scheme already so they must be doing something right .

ChasingSquirrels · 05/03/2008 19:47

Ours are meant to read with the teacher once a week (and change their books) and then change them once more a week with the parent after school.
When we started he had 3 books from the teacher, and we got 3 books when we changed them later in the week, if he ever read more than one per night I just changed them twice rather than once.
We seem to have been through a period of the teacher not hearing him weekly, for whatever reason.
He is selecting books from the next class and as he has read most of the basket he was on I asked the teacher in that class which was the next basket and after a bit of discussion with her we chose a book from that one.
Tbh I am not that bothered that the teacher isn't reading him - I listen to him daily and he is doing phonics work daily at school. At the moment he just needs to read a range of books to expand his vocab etc, and he can do this at home. If it means that the teacher is able to concentrate on teaching the others to read - that's fine.
[As an aside I am not saying his needs don't matter in comparison to others, he is also very numerate, and this is something that does need channelling, I am not prepared to accept that he can do this at home as it needs more focus than reading.]

msappropriate · 05/03/2008 19:50

Am interested in bhow you know your kids are in the top group. Did the child tell you? Were they told by the teacher? Other parents? or from the teacher directly?

Original poster

DiscoDizzy · 05/03/2008 19:55

On the days you change your books, the tables are divided into colour codes, pink, red and yellow, each being a stage. DD and 2 others are on yellow which is the higher of the three colours. I have also been told by the teaching assistant and teacher that she is one of the top children for reading in that class. It wouldn't bother me if she wasn't, I'm just curious as to why the amount of reading she does with a teacher/teaching assistant is reducing

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ChasingSquirrels · 05/03/2008 19:57

I don't know my child is in the top group, I am pretty sure that he is the only child in his year chosing reading books from the next class, he certainly was when he started doing so. I was told by the teacher at the autumn parents evening that he was amongst the most advanced (at that stage) for literacy, and well in advance of the other for numeracy. And pretty much the same this this term.
For what it is worth I don't think he is gifted, I do think he is an above averagely bright little boy.

msappropriate · 05/03/2008 20:02

aah, we never get to see inside the classroom! except on parents evenings. The teacher doesn't ever compare your child to the rest of the class either. I don't think I did either when I was a teacher am suprised so many do.

Original poster

DiscoDizzy · 05/03/2008 20:06

I think in our village you only get to see inside the classroom whilst in the infants, as soon as they go to the juniors (different school) they're on the own.

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SusieSheep · 05/03/2008 20:08

Does anyone on Mumsnet NOT have a child who is top of the class?

msappropriate · 05/03/2008 20:09

I think mine is but no ones ever told me

needmorecoffee · 05/03/2008 20:10

me. DD is probably bottom of her class. She can't read or write or speak.

Original poster

DiscoDizzy · 05/03/2008 20:11

Mine isn't top, she just so happens to be one of the top at reading. If I was raising a question about common sense, she'd be bottom of the class.

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ChasingSquirrels · 05/03/2008 20:13

point being? Lots of people obviously do, lots and lots. But they are unlikely to be posting on this (relatively small) thread aren't they.
And bright children need discussing just much as those at the bottom of the spectrum, I know someone with children at both ends, she pushes for the bright one just as much as for the other. Quite rightly.

SusieSheep · 05/03/2008 20:14

Point being, is there a correlation?

Piffle · 05/03/2008 20:15

dd has gone up 4 levels since sept. Teacher listens to every child once a week. TA once a week and parent helper ( experienced) once a week or when teacher or TA not there. All can put up levels. Dd has been put up twice one week too. Think our school is one of the better ones though as they also allow parents to change the books when they want. This means you get through the levels faster. Dd reads 4-5 a week. But she is really into it atm also bear in mind class sizes and help. We have 7 parent hellers, 2 TA it is also mixed reception yr1 class with a total of only 23 kids. So small indeed

If I were you I'd def be asking for more input.

ChasingSquirrels · 05/03/2008 20:15

between posting on MN and having a top of the class child? Or am I missing the point?

Original poster

DiscoDizzy · 05/03/2008 20:15

Do you have anything constructive to add to this thread SusieSheep because so far I can't see any reason for you being here.

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Original poster

DiscoDizzy · 05/03/2008 20:18

I do think that i'll have to speak to them. I get the feeling she'll be listened to tomorrow as Thursday usually is the only consistent day but i'll eat my hat if its the teacher. Is it the norm to make appointments to discuss this as its not appropriate in the morning prior to school - too much hustle and bustle.

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