KS1 teachers, tell me what you think

[misshardbroom]

OK, I am really sorry that this is yet another KS1 reading thread. And by way of disclaimer, I know that children learn at different rates, that it's not a competition, that they need to read with expression and good comprehension of meaning, and not just decoding print etc etc etc.

However...

DD is 6.4 and at the very start of Y1 (in mid-Sept) was moved onto the turquoise level books (mainly ORT, a few other bits).

She is still (a term & a half later) bringing home turquoise books, which she is reading competently. If I ask her about what she's read, she's clearly understood it. She makes a very obvious effort to read with expression. I have written 'Read easily', 'Read fluently' 'Found this one a bit easy' in her reading record for the last few weeks but nothing changes.

I don't think she is ever heard read in school on an individual basis, it is all group or 'guided' reading, which I know very little about. However, DD is a lot more reserved than most of the other children in her reading group, and she has a slight speech problem. She's also a very proud little body who won't attempt something unless she definitely knows the answer. I suspect that she finds group reading intimidating, and so the standard of reading I'm hearing at home is different from what the teacher is hearing in class.

Anyway, either she's not really progressed since September or she's been overlooked.

Any thoughts?

I have at times found dd1's school books a bit easy, and they can be slow to move her up at times, but I compensate by making sure the books she has at home are more challenging (and a sight more interesting and fun to read on the whole compared to the school books!).

I am looking forward to the day when we are shot of reading schemes and she can read for fun tbh!

(sorry - not a ks1 teacher btw)

Given you've tried putting it in the reading record, I'd phone up or catch the teacher at hometime and explain what you've said here. (Am not a teacher, just the parent of a 6yo.)

Thanks for your posts. Totally agree, ZoeC about being finished with the reading scheme... the only problem being if they never move her along, she'll still be bringing turquoise books home in Y6!

ds had the dreaded ORT Biff Chip and Kipper. I think it was actually worse than drippy Peter and ghastly Jane from my own youth! (Less sexism, I suppose, but illustrations not half as charming. Although it was funny seeing the artist putting himself in the drawings - at least that's why I assume the same bearded chap tended to crop up every time.)

I had a similar issue so went on ORT strike. I refused to read them at home (it's your free time after all and you can read what you like). I just put in one of the paperbacks he was reading at home,an ORT book has never darkened his bookbag since.

The day ds came home with his first non-ORT reading book and a note in the bookbag explaining he could move off them was a major celebration in this house.