Helping students reach fluency in reading through balanced literacy and attention to reading levels is an essential part of the reading foundation skills.
Get reading level appropriate literature into your kids’ hands. FREE DRA, Fountas & Pinnell, & Lexile reading level chart.
Looking for children's books sorted by Guided Reading Levels (Fontas & Pinnell)? Compiled by teachers, this site lists the best books for each level.
A LOOK AT LEXILES and Text Complexity While delivering PD yesterday, a teacher asked me, "What's a Lexile?" I wanted to say, "where have you been?" But the reality is--I commend her for not being afraid to ask what we think is such a basic question. We forget that some people have been so busy working in the trenches that they haven't been able to keep up. (They've been too busy administering tests, Student Learning Objective assessments, state exams and more.) So, listed below are the basics of LEXILES 101. Essential understandings: The Common Core has defined where "college and career ready" (CCR) students should be reading and it's a 1450 Lexile. Therefore, they scaffolded in reverse levels to graduate students at the appropriate level. These Lexile levels are more difficult than where typical students are reading. Lexile is an algorithm. It is a mathematical assessment of a linguistic product. Lexiles (and other readability statistics) are fallible. (For instance, it is not valid for prose or drama and is less valid for fiction in 1000+ Lexile range.) The parent organization to the CCSS, (CCSSO formally called the Governor’s convention) recently released a white paper verifying the validity of text complexity. Therefore, we have to pay attention to this essential shift to embrace "rigor" in reading. To read the recent white paper from the Council of Chief State School Officers click here. This article compares a number of algorithms and the summarizes text complexity for the CCSS. Text complexity formulas were meant for instructional purposes. Pleasure reading should be allowed at any level and this is validated in the Common Core, Appendix A, page 9, paragraph 1: It is very interesting, to compare the variables used among the six different "approved" complexity measures. Metametrics (Lexile) uses the simplest measure of only word count and sentence length. (Lexile.com provides a search tool for books, but many are missing.) Other companies including Accelerated Reader (ATOS) and Pearson, DRP, etc... add additional measures of review such as punctuation, a 100,000-word vocabulary match, and more. Therefore, we would conclude that the ratings of the latter companies would be more accurate picture of complexity and appropriateness. This quote from page 17 of the white paper puts it diplomatically: "There is no clear "gold standard" measure of text difficulty against which to compare the various metrics. Instead, we compared each metric against various reference measures based on grade level and student comprehension data for five sets of passages gathered for the study. These are defined and discussed in the sections following. Although there are limitations in the validity of these indicators as measures of text difficulty, the variety in their construction allows us to observe the robustness of the metrics and consider how different reference measures might affect their performance." Be sure to note that Microsoft Word's Flesch-Kincaid measure has also been proven valid. This picture shows how to "turn on" readability statistics within Word: Readability statistics, is only one characteristic to examine for instructional materials. Please see the charts below to identify correct grade levels and Lexiles - or level of complexity. The Common Core has asked teachers to evaluate classroom materials for quality as well as quantity. Complexity is only one piece of the puzzle. In addition, a teacher, librarian, or educator, has to pay attention to: • Complexity - Lexile, vocabulary • Qualitative measures -value • Reader and the task -is there enough in the text to foster good discussion, value -added assignments, and begin a knowledge exploration. How can I use this novel or passage to foster critical thinking skills? Every reading program (F and P, AR, Reading Counts, etc.) uses as its baseline, some metric to measure difficulty or "readability". Here is a chart by Perma-bound, which correlates the different reading measures:
Breaking up is hard to do. But I'm doing it. I'm breaking up with a system I've held onto for twenty years. I'm breaking up with Fountas and Pinnell's text leveling system. You know -
Find the best ways to test reading level online, tips for getting an accurate score, and what to do with the results!
Make reading assessments more efficient with these FREE reading assessment tools for teachers of kinder, first, and second grade.
What are Bossy R Words? R-Controlled Vowels are often referred to as the "Bossy R" because the r bosses the vowel to change its sound. The vowel and the
Here's a list of Accelerated Reader levels by color. Find AR books according to your child's reading level and purchase them for less here too!
Build a Sentence is a resource that builds speaking, vocabulary and writing skills. A focus image is used to generate vocabulary which in turn is used to build, or create, sentences. 60 focus images, along with 4 levels of differentiated student response pages for each image, allows you to easily customize your lessons. 4 blank student response pages are also included for inserting your own images. This resource is perfect for small group instruction with beginning and intermediate English language learners. Once students build their English proficiency, this would also make an engaging and effective independent literacy center. My ESL students love this activity! They are challenged with building a 3 word sentence, a 4 word sentence, a 5 word sentence, and so on. The supports provided within this resource allows for ALL students to find success in building their English language skills. Detailed instructions on how to use this resource is included. Check out the preview for a closer look! *This resource would also be effective for students in the primary grades learning to write. PWIM - Picture Word Inductive Model My resources are 50% off for the first 24 hours! "Follow Me" to receive notifications of new product postings! Additional Resources that Support English Language Learners Vocabulary Workbooks for Newcomers Bundle Also sold separately. Vocabulary Cards and Sorts Bundle Also sold separately. Vocabulary Mini Office Picture Dictionary Vocabulary Booklet for Any Topic Graphic Organizers for Fiction and Nonfiction Reading Word Wall Cards Monthly Themed Vocabulary Year Long Bundle Ancient Civilizations Math Activities Earth Science Life Science Terms of Use: Purchasing this resource provides the buyer with a single user license to use in his/her classroom only. This resource may not be modified or altered. It may not be posted on the internet (in part or in whole) or on an unsecured learning platform. Thank you. -Kristen Vibas A Walk in the Chalk www.awalkinthechalk.com
And a FREE ONLINE Reading Assessment Calculator for each step - Know how to determine the reading level of your child in 7 quick steps. The EASIEST way to...
With so many of my BIG KIDS struggling with fluency, I worked to make it a part of my daily work with students, a Tier 1 intervention that the majority of the class could benefit from. Reading fluency incorporates three main components: speed, accuracy, and prosody, which directly impact comprehension. While I have shared a great deal about incorporating 6-Minute Solutions, here are a few other ways I worked to make fluency fun for my 6th graders.
Last year we really enjoyed using All About Reading Pre-reading and Level 1. My daughter liked Level 1 so much that she begged me to get Level 2 for this year! I'm amazed with the
Back to school means a new group of scholars to meet, assess, teach and love on! It's so exciting! But it's tough too. You are busy making relationships and teaching routines, but you also have to get to know your students' academic needs. What reading level are they currently reading at? How much do they
Many teachers have "tried and true" resources that they pull from year after year. I've been an elementary ESL teacher since 2005 working with grades 1-6. During this time I have used a ton of resources with my students; and my favorites have stuck with me. Even though my "classroom" can change year to year, from pushing-in, co-teaching, to predominantly working with small pull-out groups, these tried and true resources are ones that I wouldn't want to do without. Here's a look at a few of my top favorites... Graphic Organizers This resource is #1 for a reason! I almost always use graphic organizers to teach reading comprehension. I find them to be highly effective because they are not text heavy. Students read with a purpose, then complete an activity that supports that specific reading skill/strategy. No matter my students' level of reading or language proficiency, a simple graphic organizer is what I need to reinforce that skill or strategy! I keep these graphic organizers on my desktop, and when I'm planning my lessons I can quickly pull up the organizers I need, then print and go! Tip: When I print, I reduce the setting to 80% and then trim the sides. Students glue the graphic organizer into their reading notebooks which makes for a great collection of student work and visual reference of student progress and effort. Leveled Books for Reading Instruction I have been very lucky to work in schools that have had awesome book rooms full of guided reading sets. I hope that you have the same access to books in your school. Finding books on my students' levels is one thing, but finding relevant books, especially for my upper elementary beginning ELs, is another. It's a challenge, for sure, but with a good book room I know that I can almost always find what I need. Click here for a free modified guided reading lesson plan template! Don't have a stocked book room? I also order several grade levels of the Scholastic News Magazines. (I think 10 magazines per grade level is the minimum order; that's what I get.) I mostly use grades 1, 2 & 3 with my ELs. With your order, you also have access to the online magazines, which is awesome! You can project to an interactive whiteboard, or have students read on an iPad or computer. These various grade levels make it easy to differentiate text levels. Since I use the magazines for reading instruction, students do not take them home. I keep the magazines organized by grade level and time of year, then I reuse the ones I love, year after year. Reading instruction is a big part of my day, so having access to leveled reading materials is a must! Visual Reading Word Wall Cards I love this resource because of the visuals. and the versatility. When introducing a reading concept, such as "making predictions" or "plot," to beginning or intermediate English learners, a meaningful visual is definitely worth a thousand words! These reading word wall cards provide my students with the visual supports they need as they are learning new concepts in English. I use these cards at my reading table, as a word wall, in anchor charts, as sorting headers, and in my learning objectives that I post on the board. Guided Reading Table Anchor Chart Lesson Objectives Words Their Way for Word Study For ELLs, learning spelling patterns in English is important. I especially like this resource because I can differentiate it according to the needs of my students. First, I assess what my students already know, as far as consonants, short and long vowels, word families, digraphs, etc., then start from there. We systematically work through the sorts building their knowledge of sounds and spelling patterns. A bonus with this resource is that it's another exposure to new vocabulary! Each Monday my students receive their list of words, and each day of the week they have various independent activities to do with their words. Then on Fridays, we finish up with a quick spelling quiz. Click for a free download of Weekly Word Study Activities To start, I set up their notebooks with their weekly Word Study Activities. We do this together the first week or two, so that I know that they understand what's expected. This is a word sort that my newcomers might be working on. And this is a sort that my intermediate ELLs might be working on. After I copy the page, I'll cut the page so that they have about 15 new words per week. My advanced ELLs might have 18 to 20 words. Once my students understand their weekly activities, these Word Study Activities become independent activities during the week while in Reader's Workshop. Students are responsible for completing the weekly work and learning their words. I set them up on Monday with their new words, then quiz them on Friday. It's up to them to do the work Tuesday through Thursday. Vocabulary Mini Office This is a MUST have for my newcomers! When they arrive, this is the first resource I give them. It's basic vocabulary that students use everyday. The Vocabulary Mini Office is kept at their desk to use during independent work time. Whether during Writer's Workshop, Reading or Vocabulary practice, it provides them with access to everyday vocabulary. My newcomers love this resource and they use it often. For my older newcomers I put the pages inside their reading folder. When they practice their writing, they can easily find the vocabulary they need. Daily Language Review I often use this resource as a warm-up activity. With my beginner and intermediate students, this is a group activity we do together. I want them to get used to the format of the questions so I do a lot of guided practice and modeling with this resource. My advanced kiddos do this as a quick independent warm up and then we go over it together. It takes about 5 minutes. Depending on the language level of my groups, I pull pages from either the first, second or third grade book. It also provides a great jumping off point. I can see in which areas of grammar my students need direct instruction, such as contractions, sentence structure, mechanics, etc. It's just a quick warm-up. My students like it and I get good information about them from it. As a teacher of English Language Learners, these are some of my must have resources. When I plan my lessons, these are many of the first resources I grab. They make my instruction consistent, effective and meaningful. Yes, there are other resources that I would not want to do without, and perhaps that would make for a follow up post, but if I were to pick my top resources, these would be them! I'd love to know what some of your favorite resources are! (Affiliate Links Below)
Recommended books for a 7th grade summer reading list. Good variety of books in different genres, formats and themes.
Setting language goals can help ELLs become aware of how they are progressing with learning English. Learn ideas about how to help ELLs with goal setting.
Reading novels is a wonderful way to build a love for reading! Here you will find the 10 best novel studies for 4th and 5th graders. These 4th and 5th-grade chapter books keep students engaged because they are interesting and fun to read. You will also find a FREE printable list of each chapter book
Regardless of the skill level, first grade is a critical time for first graders to improve their reading skills and be building upon new ones.
Check out my must-have guided reading materials and supplies for upper elementary grades and how I use them on this post.
Take your reading reviews and book journal to the next level with this printable book review sheet. Instantly download this PDF and get started! - Title - Author - Book Cover - Book Details: Genre, Year, Format, Page Count - Date Started, Date Finished - My Favorite Quote - Book Summary - My Thoughts
Hey bloggy friends! Long time, no see! Let me tell you, getting into the groove of this year has been C-R-A-Z-Y! After 3 weeks of gatheri...
Looking for the BEST 2nd Grade Reading List? This second grade book list is arranged by reading level, with free printable for the library.
Vocabulary folders are a convenient way to organize vocabulary pages. I used illustrated vocabulary sheets to help my English Language Learners speak and write about new vocabulary. They are also helpful for younger students with spelling. Some primary classroom teachers I supported had a set of these folders on student tables or in a writing
Read for ways to foster student-led learning, build classroom community, and create excitement around reading with books clubs.
This simple reading assessment makes it easy to see the letter names, sounds and sight words students have mastered so that you can determine what to teach next.
How to teach ELL students to read challenging, on-grade level texts through Visible Reading, a differentiated, process-driven reading strategy.
With all the ESL books out there, it's hard to know which are worth the purchase. On this list you'll find recommended ESL textbooks and resource books for teaching both children and adults. Whether you need ESL books for beginners, intermediate students or advanced learners, there's something here for you. Read on here!
Für meine Freiarbeitsecke wollte ich noch etwas zum Thema Lesen. Ich habe diese Lese-Eier gebastelt und stelle euch auch die Vorlage zur Verfügung. Die Eier habe ich nummeriert und darin circa 7-8 Bil
This list of FREE online reading for kids provides you with engaging books and passages to use with your guided reading groups!
*Google Slides and Print Option* *Rubric Added!* About this Product This product came as a result of my students’ love of the biography series “Who Was…?” If you have not looked into this series, I recommend that you do! They are a fun, easy read that offers an engaging way for students to learn about historical figures and important people. Although this product is based on this series, this product could be used for any biography book or project. This is a nice way to integrate Reading, Writing, and Social Studies.🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5. How I Used this Product In my 3rd Grade classroom, I used multiple copies of the same book or books and paired students in partnerships. In my school, we have a 30 minute Reading Intervention Block. I began this project with students who were not pulled out or working with me in small groups during this time. This was a nice way for students to work independently or in partnerships. It also created an extension for what they could already do as readers. Plus, they had so much fun! I let them work on this project in their partnerships. This held several benefits. Many students who were not pulled out or working in small groups tend to be higher level students OR students who have untapped potential. Allowing them to work on a project like this can extend their learning, as well as find new ways to enjoy reading. While other students had special groups or went to see other teachers, it was nice for these students to have their own project too. The Poster Page is a template that you could use for students to turn in with the essay or you could use this as a planning page and then have students create a larger poster on their own. I assigned it as homework and was pleasantly surprised at what my students turned in. I saw a wonderful increase in engagement by students who had shown little motivation or enthusiasm for reading. You can see the photos in the preview or in the product itself. Please know I updated the pages after the photos were taken with more detail and provided the poster template. Good luck to you with this project! If you have any questions, please contact me! You might also LOVE... Reader’s Notebook Anchor Charts My Opinion Matters! {An Opinion Writing Unit} My Life is A Story {A Personal Narrative Writing Unit} Buzzin' in Book Clubs {Book Club Reading Unit Resources} Newspaper Article Writing Unit {Here's the Scoop!} Opinion Writing for a Literary Response Current Events Writing {What's the Scoop?}
Introducing a back-to-school read about friendship and finding the courage to share your talents, featured in the MaiStoryBook Library Collection: “We Will Rock Our Classmates” by Ryan T. Higgins *…
Fluency tends to be a commonly overlooked skill, but you can change that by learning about strategies for teaching fluency with your elementary students!
Our school is required to use Accelerated Reader. In order to make this mandatory program fun, I decided to throw away reading logs, and use AR point goals instead. I love giving students Accelerated Reader point goals because it encourages reading and holds students accountable by having them take the AR tests. Granted, I have to have mini-lessons...
Eclectic and diverse 8th grade reading list. 12-14 year olds will love this collection of realism, fantasy books, historical fiction novels and even poetry.
Read the tips for setting up a reading program for children using Daily 5, using leveled readers and book baskets. Create student reading folders with a FREE parent hand-out printable.
How to draw a castle in the style of Mary Blair. Drawing game, template, and lots of design ideas so that every castle will look different.
