Making Sense of Leveled Reading Systems EDC 424

Leveled Reading Systems Descriptor: Emergent, Early, Transitional, Self-Extending, Advanced Grade Level: Grades L-12 Fountas & Pinnell (Guided Reading): A-Z (A-M Grade K-2) A to Z.com (Guided Reading): A-M Grade K-2 like F&P Basal Readers: Readiness, PrePrimer, Primer, Grade 1-8 Degrees of Reading Power (DRP): Cloze assessments (fill in the blanks with multiple choice) Reading Recovery: one-to-one tutoring in Grades K-2 Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) Level: oral reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension Lexile Level: Lexile reader measure and text measure rated on vocabulary and sentence length

General Leveling Criteria Vocabulary, word choice (decodability*) Repetition or predictability* Sentence length and complexity Picture support Length of book Subject matter Age appropriateness/interest level

Decodability (Hoffman et al) the regularity of spelling and phonetic patterns Highly decodable: CVC one syllable and high- frequency or sight words Very decodable: useful vowel and consonant combinations, compounds, contractions; irregular longer words (characters, sounds) Decodable: regular 1-2 syllable words or less common rimes (eigh, irt/urt) Somewhat decodable: little attention to spelling regularity or pattern; longer words Minimally decodable: range of spelling-sound patterns, longer and irregular spellings, range of derivational affixes

Predictability (Hoffman et al) text’s format, language, and content Highly predictable: multiple and strong features (picture support, repetition, rhyming, familiar events or concepts) with few exposures Very predictable: many features, but fewer and less strong Predictable: 1-2 characteristics about language Somewhat predictable: particular words or phrases repeated but not throughout text Minimally predictable: no or very few features

Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Levels Work with a partner to identify key features… A&B: C: D: E: F: G&H: I:

Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Levels A&B: direct link to pictures; print same place; separations between words; 1-4 lines of text (label/concept books) B = more lines and vocab. C: longer but simple story line; familiar language; story carried by the text with varied text patterns D: Complex stories but still familiar; 2-6 lines; full range of punctuation; new vocabulary E: Subtle concepts; 3-8 lines with varied text placement; illustrations have several ideas; longer words for decoding F: Slightly longer and print smaller; meaning more in the text; syntax more like written language; more storyline & dialogue G&H: more challenging ideas and vocabulary; longer sentences; new content; 4-8 lines; less repetitions I: Varied texts and specialized vocabulary; complex story structures; illustrations extend texts;

High Frequency Words

Decodable Text

Level A – Nonfiction - Kindergarten

Level C – Fiction – Grade 1.1

Level D – Fiction – Grade 1.2

Level I – Nonfiction – Grade 1.9

Level J – Fiction – Grade 2.1

Level K – Fiction – Grade 2.3

Level M – Nonfiction – Grade 2.6

Level P – Nonfiction – Grade 3.2

Level T – Nonfiction – Grade 3.9

Level X – Nonfiction – Grade 5.3

Level Y – Fluency – Grade 5.5

What does the Lexile Measure Mean? Lexile measure: – calculations based on word frequency and sentence length (but need to also consider content, age & interests of reader, and design of actual book – Developmental scale provides formative information about rate of growth over time (within a grade level) A. Lexile reader measure: – a person’s reading ability on the Lexile scale – Take a reading comprehension test and level is included on the report – Range from 0L – 2000L; below 0L labeled beginning reader (BR) –

What does Lexile Measure Mean? B. Lexile text measure: – A text’s difficulty level on the Lexile scale – The lower the Lexile measure, the easier to comprehend – Use the Lexile reader measure and the Lexile text measure to predict comprehension at a specific Lexile level – 75% is the targeted reading level based on independent reading – Reader at 1000L forecasted to comprehend 75% at the same Lexile text measure (1000L) but take motivation into account for increasing range of acceptable books – Best to select books based on a “Lexile range” of 50L above to 100L below for indep. reading but for instruction…

Lexile Text Levels 200L – Danny and the Dinosaur (mid Gr. 1) 400L – Frog and Toad Together (mid Gr. 2) 500L – The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth (beg. Gr. 3) 600L – A Baby Sister for Frances (mid Gr. 3) 700L – Bennicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery (mid Gr. 4) 800L – The Giver (end Gr. 4)

Sequence and Guess My Level Title Predict Level & ReasonCorrect Level