Just Right Books
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Beginning readers must have opportunities to be challenged while they read so that they can practice the skills they have learned. However it is equally important, that beginning readers do not become overwhelmed with too difficult a text. Some mistakes are okay; too many and beginning readers will not enjoy the reading and most often will not understand what they read. When these beginning readers are reading books within a level with very few mistakes, with fluency, and with understanding it may be time to move to more difficult text.
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Level your Books
Have a book and want to find its reading level? Go to these sites and enter the book's title. Nordstrom school uses the "Reading Recovery" leveling system. In some sites, you might have to refer to a conversion chart. The "Guided Reading" by Fountas & Pinnell leveling system from letters A-Z is commonly used. Kinder reading levels begin at A/B, 1-4. First grade reading levels begin at level 4 and exit at 16 (Reading Recovery) or C-I (Guided Reading).
Note: some "trade books" (books available at bookstores and libraries) have a "level" 1, 2, or 3 printed on the cover. These books are not leveled according to the Reading Recovery or Guided Reading systems. Enter the title into the below database to see the appropriate leveling. Feel free to bring any books to me if you have any questions or you just want to show me what your child is reading at home.
Note: some "trade books" (books available at bookstores and libraries) have a "level" 1, 2, or 3 printed on the cover. These books are not leveled according to the Reading Recovery or Guided Reading systems. Enter the title into the below database to see the appropriate leveling. Feel free to bring any books to me if you have any questions or you just want to show me what your child is reading at home.
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A to Z Teacher Stuff lists both Reading Recovery levels and Guided Reading levels.
Scholastic Book Wizard lists Guided Reading levels. |
List of Leveled Books Great website listing leveled book titles from K-6th grade. Compiled by teacher Nancy Giansante. |
Grade Level Reading
Here's the expectation for kinder and 1st grades reading levels:
- August-November: Levels 4-7/8
- December-March: Levels 8-12
- April-June: Levels 12-16 (levels 12+ are measured by even numbers in assessments
kinder: levels A/B, 1-4
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1st grade: levels 4-16
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2nd grade: Levels 16-22
You will notice that 1st grade has a much larger range of levels, as compared to kinder and 2nd grade. This is because kinder establishes the foundations of reading--phonics, phonemic awareness, and concept of print. First grade builds decoding and reading strategies; and reading for meaning becomes more of a purpose. Second grade rides on top of kinder and first grade's foundations and builds reading comprehension.
Chapter Books
If your child is a high reader (reading level 16+), they may be ready for chapter books. Here is a list of chapter books in order of what to start them off with from easy to hard. For successful chapter book reading experiences, work with your child in reading comprehension and vocabulary.
- sequence--beginning, middle, and end
- problem/solution
- cause/effect
- who? what? where? when? why?
- What would you do...
- Why do you think...
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Henry and Mudge, level 17
Little Bear, level 17 Frog and Toad, level 17/18 Amelia Bedelia, level 19 Arthur, level 18-20 Cam Jansen, level 21/22 Horrible Harry, level 21/22 Magic Tree House, level 22 |
Magic School Bus, level 24
Junie B. Jones, level 23/24 Amber Brown, level 25/26 |
