Changing reading levels?

[debs40]

I have never raised anything, ever at school about reading books and levels and my son is in Yr2.

However, he changed schools in Yr 1 and found himself on a quite slow paced reading scheme - ORT and all the phonics and facts spin offs that go with it.

That was fine. I know reading is more than about words, it's about comprehension and reading different types of reading materials etc.

His reading age is great and he is now on a level which most of the other boys in his group are on but I can't remember the last time he read a book from school with a word he didn't know. I feel they're a bit easy for him.

I put a note in the reading record book last week to the effect that the books aren't taking a wrinkle out of him and suggested something more challenging, but he just got the next one in the series home.

Is it worth raising again? Does it matter? We have parents' eve in a week and I was going to ask then but I'd be grateful for your views.

[smee]

I'd wait and see what the teacher says - it's only a week away after all. They may be making sure he's really assured before they move him on. Home reading's often about confidence from what I've heard, so they rarely give them something they'd struggle with. He might well be being challenged in terms of new words, etc at school when he reads to them.

[bruffin]

As smee says, home reading is about confidence raising, it shouldn't be challenging. I know when dc's were that age their home books were a level below the guided reading they did in class.

[debs40]

I was wondering whether it really mattered what they were reading as long as they were reading.

However, I suppose I worry a little because, when he changed schools, the only space for him in the new school was in the mixed R/Y1 class. His reading book levels remained stagnant for quite a while after that as he was so far ahead of everyone else in that class, his reading levels were not changed until everyone else seemed to catch up - if that makes sense.

He is now in a Y2 class with the children from the main Y1 class and I can see that some have advanced further in terms of reading levels but only to levels he reads easily at home. There is nothing wrong with his comprehension and his reading age is years ahead, so I just wonder why he's on a lower level.

I also read somewhere on here once that reading books should contain at least a few words in that the children don't know.

Also, I don't see any evidence of guided reading in his reading record book (as there was last year) so I'm not sure that's the answer.

I've never raised this sort of thing before as I loathe 'pushy parents' so I'm hesitant to raise it again now the comment was ignored.

I just wondered if there was some logical explanation.

[4ever21]

I think we're almost in the same boat! I just posted a thread here and I'm also trying to find out if there's a real reason why some teachers tend to hold kids back. i know what you mean about your ds not reading any word that he didn't know. same with my ds, i don't remember the last time i helped him out with any word.

i too would really love to know if maybe they want all the kids at the same level, so they slow some down till others catch up.

i also dont like being pushy and the response i got from my dc's teacher when i asked for an extra book has really put me off.

[debs40]

Hi

I'll ask directly at parents' evening and let you know. I suppose as long as they're reading it doesn't really matter as long as it doesn't turn them off school books!

[katiestar]

At our school they say that the reading books that get sent home are the level below their 'teaching level' ie what they do in guided reading

[debs40]

Thanks. I asked his teacher today and she said they didn't get to hear them read very often so it was good to raise it. She suggested brining something in that he reads at home which is good but a bit odd in that the stuff he reads, he reads again and again. We have some old ORT books which are a couple of levels above what he reads, which he can read.

What do I take in? I thought I might pop one of the ORT books in and say it might be worth trying him at that level or does that seem too pushy?

[debs40]

Sorry, she suggested bringing something in so she could see the sort of stuff he reads.

[smee]

not being funny debs, but isn't her admission that she doesn't get to hear him read often a bit woeful? At our school DS's teacher doesn't necessarily hear him read v.often either but DS does read every day with a TA or teacher of some sort, so they keep the teacher informed as to progress/ what home reading book is appropriate - also teacher takes note of reading records, etc, etc to monitor progress and keep them challenged/ encouraged. Kind of sounds a bit crap to me if that's not happening for your son.

[debs40]

I agree completely. I had actually put a note in his book to say that he might need something more challenging a couple of weeks back but nothing was done (hence the post here) and it was clear todays that this was news to her.

The trouble is there are two teachers who share the class. Not necessarily a problem (DS had this last year and it worked well) but it depends on the teachers.

There doesn't seem to be much coordination these days.

[TessoftheD]

This is a subject very close to my heart at the moment. DS is in Year 2 and has been on the same ORT reading level since last March despite the fact that he loves reading and reads loads of far more advanced books at home. We have had a lot of negative comments about his behaviour recently (mucking around, not paying attention, silliness), and I think ignoring the fact that this is something he is actually good at and enjoys rather than using it to help motivate him is a shame. However, his teacher will not budge from her 'this is the way we do things' stance and is insists on trudging through ORT as 'it's linked to the comprehension work they do in class' (don't fully understand this). I too would hate to seem like a pushy parent, and I know that, as he is reading loads of other things it doesn't really matter, it's just the principle that's riling me...