Reading Levels

• Reading Comprehension Questions (A-Z Leveled Text) (Website)
• F & P Text Level Ladder of Progress

Understanding Your Child’s Reading Level

Reading levels are formally assessed each November and May, using the Benchmark Assessment System. The formal Benchmark Assessment is given individually to each student, who is asked to read a series of texts at varied difficulty levels, and then talk about what was read. Varied reading proficiency levels might be determined for each student. A description of each follows. Teachers informally assess reading progress during weekly conferences.

Independent Level - the level a child should be reading at home, as well as during independent reading in the classroom. It is the “just right” level for a student. The student can read with high accuracy and fluency, and have a thoughtful conversation about the text.

Instructional Level - the level a student reads at school when working with a teacher on developing new skills. The student knows many of the words and understands most of what is read, but needs instruction and support to be proficient.

Placement Level - If a student’s assessment results do not reflect classroom achievement, or an instructional level wasn’t found due to limitations of the assessment, a teacher will consider current and prior assessments, as well as observations during Readers’ Workshop, to determine the student’s appropriate instructional level.

Hard Level - the level that is too difficult for a student, even with adult support. Students do not benefit from reading text at this level, and it should be avoided.

How You Can Help at Home

• Show that you value reading in your home. Have books available in places where your children spend a lot of time. Let them see you reading for pleasure and for information. Talk about what you have enjoyed or found interesting, as well as what you do when reading gets challenging.
• Read with your children and talk about what you’re reading. Have conversations about the characters, events and/or information, your reactions to what you are reading, and what you notice about the way the book is written.
• Provide books written at your children's independent level. Encourage them to spend time reading alone, but also make time to listen to them read. Encourage them to reread familiar texts to develop fluency and expression.
• Read books to your children that are beyond their independent reading level. This is an important way to expose them to new ideas and vocabulary that can’t be experienced when only reading at their independent level, while avoiding having children reading books that are too hard and not beneficial.