A question for any primary school teachers..

[Deleted User]

........who use the Oxford Reading Tree series please.

My son is in reception and nearing the end and I wondered if there was a general level that the children are aiming towards before starting Year 1.

I realise this will differ widely from child to child with some not quite reaching it, some do and some will be way past this level and already on Year 1 reading. This will also depend on their interest and age within the year.

Do you know what level of the ORT the average child should be on by the end of July?

Thank you.

PinkLipgloss

Hello!

There are many variables to consider making an absolute answer difficult.

For example, does your school ONLY use the ORT book reading scheme? When I taught in the UK using the ORT scheme we also used Rigby Star Non-Fiction readers, that obviously had an impact on how far through the scheme my class was.

When I started Year 1 my top readers were on level 5, middle level 4 and bottom level 3. However, the following year the levels were different again! It varies with every class!

Here is a general guide:

http://www.oup.com/oxed/primary/oxfordreadingtree/chart/

[Deleted User]

Thank you very much, i was just after a bench mark of what we should be aiming for.

The school predominently use ORT, but i have had a few Rigby ones when the ORT ones were stretched amongst the class. But that was back in the autumn terms, its been strictly ORT since.

bylromarha

I think you'll find no school uses ORT in the way it was written - the levels on the back are largely useless now.

Since phonics became "THE ONLY WAY" (a whole different thread....) ORT books were re-banded into colours relating to the phonic skills needed to read them. You can see the colours on the oup link above. The colours relate to where they are in phonics. So some kids read level a AND level a+1, a-1 ORT books as they are in the same band of phonics ability. Does that make sense?!

So using the link above, an example would be children reading phonics band green. Green books come from ORT levels 4,5 and 6.

FWIW, years ago when we used ORT as it was written, I would be pleased sending a Reception child into year 1 with an ORT level 3 book. Most were at the end of ORT level 2 books.

And can I point you to this website - it's amazing!

http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/Reading/

Check out the large range of e-books and use the drop down menus to find those appropriate to 4-5 and 5-6.

[Deleted User]

Yes I've seen that link thanks, i've been using it with the children.

It seems that at DS school, the children are reading the books in sequence and following the different bands/levels on the back of the books. Usually for each level there is a "Core" stage followed by "Pack A" and "Pack B".

I've found this to be useful and helpful to DS as the new words learnt are reiterated in the later stories again and again. I'm loving the 80's feel of them too. Saw one little boy holding a Sinclair computer keyboard today and I mentioned it to DS that I had one of them.

Thanks for the info its much appreciated.

bylromarha

Deleted_User wrote: »

I've found this to be useful and helpful to DS as the new words learnt are reiterated in the later stories again and again. I'm loving the 80's feel of them too. Saw one little boy holding a Sinclair computer keyboard today and I mentioned it to DS that I had one of them.

.

***cynical mode on***
Who'd have ever believed it, a child learning to read words as a whole and remembering them for later books when they see the words again?

*** cynical mode off, rant mode on ******

Phonics does so many kids a dis-service - most children use a variety of strategies to learn to read and this governments stupidly strong emphasis on phonics is really unhelpful for children who don't see words as c - a - t but as cat.

*** Rant mode off ***

I love seeing things like Sinclairs and old telephone boxes and police cars and CRT TVs in ORT books too!

JodyBPM

I think it varies massively from child to child.

Our school teach phonics, but they don't use the Oxford learning tree as a system as such, but I bought the levels 1-5 OLT pack for them to have at home. By the time DD started yr1 she had well outgrown the OLT 1-5s and was reading "chapter books" mainly Rainbow Magic, Magic Kitten and other such pap! Although she will use phonics on a new or difficult word, DD mainly seems to read by simply "knowing" (recognising) the words. She's now in yr 2 and pretty much can read everything - whether she always understands the contexts of more grown up texts is questionable though.

DS was reading at about level 4-5 when he started yr 1. He's now approaching the end of year 1 and can read simple chapter books such as Horrid Henry. He uses phonics to decode most words still though, with the exception of a few "tricky words" and very common words which he recognises on sight. I'd say his comprehension of what he reads better matches his reading level than his sister's does.

DD is considered a pretty advanced reader for her age though, DS's reading level is probably more average.

[Deleted User]

Thanks JodyBPM, thats helpful too. I guess your DD is academically advanced for reading, whereas your DS is average but as you say his understanding coincides.

Its helpful to read this, I wanted to find out what the education system is aiming towards as a year end to reception reading and I think you have all helped me to do that.

Thank you.