Guided Reading Levels A-ZIn the classroom, I level our texts using the Guided Reading Level System. It is a fairly straightforward A-Z leveling system. In general terms, the leveling works like this:
A-D Beginning of First Grade Level Texts E-G Winter First Grade Texts H-K Spring of First Grade Texts L-M Advanced Leveled Texts for First Graders M+ These are texts that I monitor very closely. Texts above M are often challenging chapter-style or small-print non-fiction texts that are meant to be ready by 3rd Grade and older students. For example: an M-level book about crocodiles may be appropriate, but include graphic details or concepts that are irrelevant to a First Grader. Alternatively an M-level chapter book may deal with themes unrelated to the life of a First Grader (most pose philosophical and theoretical dilemmas that characters face) and may be very challenging to comprehend independently. When analyzing a First Grader's reading level, it is important to note that students have both an independent reading level (the level at which a child can read with full understanding and analysis) and an instructional reading level (the level at which a child can read with the support of an adult). The majority of a child's learning is going to occur in this instructional reading level with support. Sometimes the level of the text has more to do with the intended audience than the students ability to read advanced words. |
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