The Daily Cafe

High School Reading

#1

We are discussing and working K-12 on Literacy within our district. We have adopted and have been using F&P levels for knowing our students instructional reading level. I understand that by 8th grade they should be at a Level Z, but then what? How can the concept of workshop, a catch and release method of teaching, be at the high school level as well (i.e. literature circles, not having the entire class read the same novel, but read at their ability/interest level accordingly. Read and write for the standard and not the book). What can they use to know a student’s reading level? How do they match “a good fit book” to their students and/or students at a Level Z? How do they use the lexile level and match that to a student’s reading ability?

Any insights would be appreciated.

#2

Reading levels for older students can be determined by Independent Reading Inventories that check up at least through 12th grade. There are many very good ones out there.

The paragraph below is from an article on the site:

“If you don’t have an IRI, you could use any leveled book, do a running record and have the child retell to determine the following: Independent Level: Students can read these “good fit” books alone with a high level of success. Instructional Level: This level of text would have a few challenges, which focused guided instruction will overcome. Frustration Level: This material is too difficult in either content, vocabulary or both. A steady diet of frustration level texts will produce unenthusiastic and nonfluent readers. Comparing instructional levels from one round of assessments to the next is a quick and easy way to measure individual growth.”

There are charts available that compare the reading levels using many different leveling systems: Lexile, F & P levels, Intervention levels, DRA Levels, etc. If you google “Comparing Reading Levels”, you’ll see several options.

A great site for finding the levels is on the Schloastic.com site, http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/
Go to “teachers” then Book Wizard. It will give reading levels up to 12.8. You can request books by Grade Level Equivalent, Guided Reading (F & P), DRA and Lexile levels.