Should I speak to the teacher and if so - say what??

[Ellokitty]

We have just moved house and my DD to a new school. She is 6, and currently in year 1. She is a fluent reader, and her old teacher said she could pretty much decode anything although typically for her age, her comprehension skills were not quite as strong. In her old books, she could read all the fiction books fine, but would have half to a dozen new words on the non fiction books.

However, since moving schools, DD has been put down two book bands as is now reading the same colour band books as she was reading in reception last year. She has learnt one new word since being here, and her reading record is full of 'lovely reading' type comments. So, I think the new school books are just way too easy for her.

She's been at her new school a month now, so they should have her file from her old school. Should that tell them what book band she should be on? Or is there something else I am missing?

Could it be because they use different books and the new school's books are harder? In her old school, she was reading from Rigby Rocket, Lighthouse and Collins Big Cat (these were coloured book bands), and at her new school the books are ORT Snapdragons. Are the coloured book bands the same from the old books to the new ones?

I know I'm going to have to say something to the teacher, but I really don't know what. As we are new here, I really don't want to come across as a pushy mum. So is there any explanation I might have missed? (I don't want to look a fool ).

Also, how should I word it, so as not to offend the teacher? (who told me on her first day that she assessed my DD's reading level). I don't want to criticise the teacher's assessment of her, but at the same time, I feel as though she is not really progressing in her reading at the mo.

Really, really dreading doing this!

But, thanks for reading and any advice / insights welcome.

forget the colour of the bands - they are from different schemes so are probably not comparable. What do you think of the books she brings home?

I think they are too easy, and DD says they are easy too. But, there is always the doubt that I'm being too pushy!

Still not sure what to say though!

There are two main methods of banding books - they are fairly similar so I wouldnt expect a child to drop too many levels. But one school may be stricter in how they assess.

Not all schools bother to pass on information unless requested (cost & time reasons) so I would ask the teacher in case they need to chase the old school up.

You go in and say that your DD is complaining that the books are too easy and ask the teacher to explain the reading scheme.

Go and simply ask the teacher if she would kindly explain how their reading scheme works and how it differs from the one your child had at her last school. No conflict in that and you won't look stupid either.

There are plenty of other schemes around that you can buy in your local bookshop. We did this with my children - we bought Peter and Jane. Yes, I know, I know, but one was a deputy head by the time she was 32 and the other is a design engineer at Ford motor company, so it didn't do them any harm. Criticisms of different reading schemes are purely adult driven and go in and out of fashion. Kids don't care at all - they just enjoy reading and your children can do the same. Once the teacher sees the progress being made, she will have to admit it.

Good luck!

Maybe this teacher likes to work more on the comprehension.

It may be that the level she has been given may be more suitable to her comprehension level.

It is quite common for young readers to "jump ahead of themselves." and be fluent readers but not yet have the experience to understand what they have read.

"She's been at her new school a month now, so they should have her file from her old school."

Our secretary spent nearly an entire term a few years ago chasing up another school to send us the file for a child who moved mid-year. When it finally arrived it didn't have a lot of information in it anyway.

As SoupDragon says, the colours are not necessarily the same for different schemes.
This chart shows the ORT levels against the BookBands scheme - the colour is a bit dodgy, but the Snapdragons appear to be red, which is the second colour on the bookbands scheme, so could well have been what your DD was reading in reception, and two levels up from that on the Bookbands is in the same position on the tree as the snapdragons.

As a primary school teacher i know that colour coding reading books can differ widely depending on the school and the colours may not be comparable school to school.

If you think the books are too easy compared to what she was reading at her previous school it is perfectly reasonable to say to your DD's teacher that she is finding them easy and you would like her to try some slightly more tricky books to give her more of a challenge.

Thank you for your advice and ideas. I looked at the chart, and she has definitely been put down two levels. The old school used the colour book bands, (Pink, red, yellow etc...) and the chart showed the Songbird's comparison to those book bands, and it is two levels below where she was.

I will speak to her teacher tomorrow! And I will do as recommended - ask her to explain book bands etc..

The problem has been solved! I spoke to DD's teacher (who was lovely) and she said there is no problem with DD's reading, and she is two bands below, but that is because they do not treat reading and writing separately, but rather the book they read at school should match her writing - so she is learning sounds which she will read about in her books and then be encouraged to write them in her writing.

So I can forget my neurosis for another day .

Thanks for all the sensible advice I was given yesterday - it was very helpful!

Sorry but Snapdragons aren't phonics based so aren't teaching/introducing sounds in any particular order

Sorry but reading & writing skills don't necessarily go together...

Never heard of this either. Just read loads with her at home

I would talk to the teacher and say that your DD is finding the books a little easy. This would demonstrate that it is your DD and not you that has the issue with the books.

It may be that your DD when being assessed by her new teacher was a little bit hesitant due to being in a new school with a new teacher and didn't demonstrate her true capabilities. I'm sure her teacher (if she hears your DD read regularly) will soon realise her true capabilities.

My DD has always been assessed lower at the beginning of the new school year (she is quite shy and hesitant with her new teachers). However, within a couple of months has been jumping up the bands.

Keep reading other books at home to keep DDs interest up.

It may also be, as others have suggested, a comprehension issue. I remember when my DD had just turned 6, she was able to read the Rainbow Fairy Books but i didn't feel the comprehension was there. For example, in one passage it said something like "Or fairydust Rachel added". My daughter thought Rachel was doing some maths not adding to a conversation. Hence, i stopped her reading the books for about 9 months until she understood the text.