Literacy teachers classify a student’s reading level into three categories:
Independent Level
Instructional Level
Frustration Level
A child’s independent level includes everything (s)he can read accurately and comprehend easily without help, while frustration level includes the texts (s)he struggles to read accurately and comprehend easily. Literacy teachers would classify frustration level as texts a student reads with less than 95% comprehension. Frustration-level reading should be avoided, as it just leads to students attaching negative emotions to reading. You know your student is reading at her frustration level when you start hearing comments such as: “I hate reading!”
If you frequently feel your child or your students are reading books that are too easy, take heart! We should encourage our students to read at their independent level every day, because this is where they build fluency and confidence!
However, to learn new skills and strategies, students must read in that sweet spot – that level that is just above independent, but not quite at frustration. It’s a delicate balance . . . and so often missed in upper grades. Parents want their children reading at grade level, so they give them grade-level books and reading materials. Teachers want them reading at grade level, so they use grade-level materials to try to teach students new skills. But no matter how many books they read and no matter how many times they read the same passage, students who are not reading at grade level are not going to gain new skills by reading numerous grade-level books. If we are going to teach new skills and strategies, we must teach them above a child’s independent reading level and below their frustration level!
So, there’s your insider tip for the day: meet them where they’re at to move them forward! You cannot teach a child to improve his reading skills unless he is working at his instructional reading level. But wait . . . how do you discover a child’s instructional reading level?! If you have tips, please share them in the comments section. Otherwise, stay tuned for the next post . . .
Happy Reading!
In school, they have a "just right" reading program, where each child is tested and matched with books appropriate for their reading level.
ReplyDeleteMy son has dysgraphia and was at frustration level for a long time. We found ways to work with it and now he loves reading, as long as he gets to choose what he's reading.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I think a lot of kids have fallen through the cracks because of this disparity in teaching an learning.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an important post. We need to gear teaching toward the way individual students learn. No wonder so many kids have trouble reading.
ReplyDeleteParents needs to be aware of what level their children are reading at- it's a parent /teacher communication process.
ReplyDeleteI have always had a love for reading. I had hoped to pass that on to my son but it turns out he doesn't much like it.
ReplyDeleteI have always had a love for reading. I had hoped to pass that on to my son but it turns out he doesn't much like it.
ReplyDeleteI hated to read until I was a sophomore in high school. Then all of sudden I couldnt' get enough of it and spent TONS of money every week when I got paid on books. Since then Kindles came along and our reading options are endless. My daughters love to read but not one of the boys do. I don't know why that is...
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I am a homeschool mom and my kids are all at different levels, it's taking the time to be patient and deal with it!
ReplyDeleteMy two boys struggle with reading. I found what works is letting them pick out books at the library.
ReplyDeleteAll kids learn differently and at their own rate and I am so glad you are calling attention to this plight.
ReplyDeleteWe do our reading here every day, and even on the days my youngest grouches about it (and sometimes he does) he totally ends up getting into it when we pick up a book. :)
ReplyDeleteI say let them read whatever the want. Our boys loved to get the TIPS magazines for their video games. It involved TONS of reading and they kept the magazines for years.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I think a lot of kids have failed because of this disparity in teaching and learning system!
ReplyDeleteWe are working on basic reading skills in our home right now, I want my two youngest to develop a love a reading.
ReplyDeleteIt's so important that they don't feel frustrated or they won't want to do it! I'm glad to see you're going to talk about how to know their level too.
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