Anonymous wrote:The biggest issue here is that your child is being assessed according to Fountas and Pinnell levels. These levels are pretty meaningless...

Good, in-depth explainer here:

https://www.readingrockets.org/blogs/right-read/fountas-and-pinnell-benchmark-assessment-system-doesn-t-look-right-sound-right-or

+1

The biggest issue here is that your child is being assessed according to Fountas and Pinnell levels. These levels are pretty meaningless...

Good, in-depth explainer here:

https://www.readingrockets.org/blogs/right-read/fountas-and-pinnell-benchmark-assessment-system-doesn-t-look-right-sound-right-or

I'm concerned that she's still being assessed by Fountas and Pinnell levels.

What is the reading curriculum at your school? This child needs phonemic awareness and explicit, systematic phonics.

OP,

Please also see the ""Balanced Literacy" thread in the general education forum. It sounds like your school might be using Fountas & Pinnel for reading. More phonics might help.

I agree, B is concerningly low for halfway through 1st grade. Is your child one of the youngest in the grade? If so, then it's less concerning. But yes, it's time to do some research and see where it leads you.

In what sense is she making progress?

Anonymous wrote:What level of reading is your 1st grader reading on? When should a parent be concerned? I have a 1st grader making progress but still only reading level B books. She’s at a well-known private on this board but looking for insight or maybe your kid took time as well and eventually caught up.

Thanks for your insight…

We're in a very small private in Bethesda and most kids can read at least level F-G by the end of Kindergarten. A few kids read level K. The minimum requirement by end of K is level E.

Fountas and Pinnell level B?

Does anyone in the family have dyslexia?

I had a friend with a DD at the same level in first grade. I remember because my friend was SO stressed out about it. They did end up with an outside reading tutor (recommended by the school) and there was no noticeable gap by around 3rd or 4th grade. It also wasn’t indicative of anything other than a kid who ‘clicked’ a little later that some of her peers and wasn’t enjoying the reading or practicing until she got it.

To the OP. Please ignore these unhelpful posters. Yes, many kids can read above grade level, but many others are still working it out in first grade. Those parents just don’t talk about it as much.

If you are concerned, trust your gut as a parent, ask the school if they can offer extra support in phonics and read with your child outloud, taking turns to keep them entertained.

I would also go ahead and reach out to an office for neuropsych testing. They can do a battery of tests unpack whether there are attention issues or whether reading/ phonics are in facts major concern. It is expensive. No school can give you as thorough of an assessment. If it is dyslexia, better to know by end of first grade rather than playing catch up later in elementary school.

My first grader might be a little ahead, but she is reading Greek Myths from the Classic Starts collection. Not sure what level that is, but it says grade 2-4.

https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Starts®-Greek-Myths/dp/1402773129

YMMV, but if it were my DC then I would immediately begin supplementing reading at home and/or after school. I also would meet with the school, but if they told me everything was fine with DC's reading, then I would silently disbelieve that.

B level reading at the end of 1st grade is underperforming IMHO. Shallow holes are easier to fill than deep holes.

Our public has most kids read out loud 1-2 grade levels ahead of their grade. And their comprehension is fine and progressing well.

—-Agreed——

They can give you a prognosis and offer strategies. Don’t feel bad if they tell you your child may need more support than the school can offer. It happens.

My kids struggled but then it just clicked in the beginning of 3rd grade but some school have no patience for that

If you're concerned, schedule a meeting with your lower school reading specialist and the child's homeroom teacher - they can likely give you a lot of insight and strategies as well if you want to do more about it.

What level of reading is your 1st grader reading on? When should a parent be concerned? I have a 1st grader making progress but still only reading level B books. She’s at a well-known private on this board but looking for insight or maybe your kid took time as well and eventually caught up.

Thanks for your insight…