What Are Reading Levels?
Books and comprehension complexity are leveled from top to bottom, so that children are matched to books and instruction that is appropriate for their abilities, and will allow the reader to grow. At Oakdale we use Guided Reading Levels (GRL). GRL are arranged by letters from A-Z. While every child is different and has their own reading skills and goals, the above chart might help you understand how GRL and grade levels correlate.
How Is My Child's Reading Level Found?
Reading levels are assigned to your child based on reading assessments. To find your child's GRL, we use running records. Running records are an assessment tool teachers use to listen to children read, and then talk to the child about their comprehension of the book. Students are also assessed on a written response beginning at level E. Teachers use running records formally with the DIBELS 3-D System. Teachers also use running records informally with books students are reading.
How Do I Help My Child Pick Appropriate Books?
Your child's reading level is NOT set in stone. This means that your child SHOULD NOT only read books that are on their GRL. However, books that are at or near their reading level will be the best books to help your child grow as a reader. Books that are far below your child's reading level can still be enjoyable, and that means those books are still wonderful books to read. Books that are too hard can be a challenge, but sometimes children really want to work through them. Consider helping your child with those books.
Your child should think about these questions when selecting a book to read:
** Why do I want to read this book? (reading purpose)
** Am I interested in reading this book? Do I want to work through this book?
** Do I comprehend the story?
** Do I know and understand most of the words?
** Use the five finger rule: open to the first page, put five fingers up. Read. For each word they don't know or understand, they put a finger down. If all fingers are down, then the book is probably too hard.
How Can I Help My Child to Grow as a Reader?
Use the reading level targets (by GRL) to give ideas for what to talk about with your child when they have read a book. These targets are arranged by GRL, however you can use your child's reading targets with books that are not at their level. These targets are designed to help your child develop deeper comprehension skills. The GRL targets can be found by scrolling the mouse over the Reading Levels drop down box.
The GRL targets were compiled by Michelle Vanston using The Continuum of Literacy Learning (2007) by Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell as well as the Common Core State Standards.