January 29, 2010

Greetings parents,

During the last weeks of 2nd quarter, students were assessed in their reading to determine their current reading level using the Columbia Teachers College Reading Assessment. The main focus of these assessments is to determine your child’s reading accuracy, retell, and overall comprehension. Comprehension is a major component of students’ reading and it goes beyond word recognition. Our targeted level entering 3rd grade is level a N/O. By the end of the school year, students targeted reading level needs to be at least a Q.

In class, we have discussed during our reader’s workshop the “Goldilocks Rule” to help students understand how to choose “just right” books (not too easy, not too hard). Students shop in class for a group of books on their level once a week. The same practice should be ongoing when students check out books from the library. It is important for them to find books on their level and that have their interest. Also, students are learning that reading is more than calling words, but its understanding and making meaning from the text. One major aspect of 3rd grade reading is inferential understanding which students use details from the story and what they know to determine what the author is trying to say without actually mentioning it in the story. We practice daily how we read as thinkers and write down our thoughts as we read (making connections, predicting, questioning, etc). Our reader’s workshop will consistently teach skills and strategies to help build their necessary reading habits and become successful readers throughout the school year. In addition to this, I conference with students weekly to determine individual needs, and meet with small guided reading and strategy groups to meet common needs.

On the back, I am providing you with your child’s current independent reading level and a list of reading levels with examples of books that are on each level. If you would like a list of more books for your child’s reading level, you may use the following websites:

http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/

http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/classroombooks/browse_level.asp

Sincerely,

Miss Kerr

Student’s Name______Independent Reading Level______

Observation/Need:______

Level / Benchmark Book Examples / Level / Benchmark Book Examples
F,G
1st Grade / Rosie’s Walk
The Carrot Seed
Cookie’s Week / M,N,O
3rd Grade / Amber Brown
Ramona Qumby, Age 8
The Magic Finger
Secrets of Droon series
The Baby Sitters Club series
H,I
1st/2nd
Grade / George Shrinks
Goodnight Moon
Hattie and the Fox
The Gingerbread man / P,Q
3rd/4th Grade / James and the Giant Peach
Fudge-a-Mania
Magic School Bus
Time Warp Trio series
Anastasia Again
J,K
2nd Grade / Henry and Mudge
Danny and the Dinosaur
Amazing Grace
Curious George
Frog and Toad
Nate the Great / Q,R,S
4th Grade / Shiloh
The Great Gilly Hopkins
Dive series
From the Mixed-up Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Because of Winn Dixie
L,M
2nd/3rd Grade / Horrible Harry
Pinky and Rex
Author Series
Judy Moody series
Magic Tree House books / T,U,V
5th Grade / BFG
Bridge of Terabithia
Goosebumps
Blubber
Bud, Not Buddy
The Jungle Book
Harry Potter
W,X,Y
6th /7th Grade / Where the Red Ferns Grow
Crash
Ella Enchanted
Z
7th and 8th Grade / Holes