Grade Level Expectations
Understanding Grade-Level Expectations for Reading
Where Is My Reader? How Can I Help Them Grow?
How do I find books on my child’s reading level?
Do you find it challenging to find “just right” books for your child? Check out PCL’s e-News next week for information on how to access leveled book lists from these reading programs. You are also welcome to stop by the Youth Services department and ask Kate!
Below Grade Level: If your child is reading “below grade level,” ask their teacher:
- Guided Reading Program: Which guided reading program does the school use?
- Grade level expectations: What is the reading level range is for this grade,
(ie: students should enter the grade on level ___ and end on level ___) - Differentiation: How is learning personalized in the classroom?
- Student support: What interventions have already been put in place? Has the teacher worked with the student one-on-one? Do they receive small group instruction during independent work time? Does the school offer support services? Does the teacher suggest that the student receive additional support with an interventionist during or outside of school?
- Moving forward: What goals has the teacher set for the student? How are they supporting them in achieving these goals?
- Areas of improvement: What does my child need to work on? Are they struggling with decoding and phonics skills? Are they struggling with comprehension? Is it specifically analytical comprehension, literal comprehension, or both?
- At home: How can I support my child at home? What connections or resources does the school have to offer?
If your child is reading “on grade level,” ask their teacher:
- Reading level: Is my child reading at grade level?
- Foundational skills: How is my child doing with foundational skills like phonics, phonological awareness, and fluency?
- Vocabulary and comprehension: How is my child’s vocabulary and comprehension?
- Decoding: How quickly can my child determine the meaning of words from context?
- Reading fluency: How fast can my child read without sacrificing accuracy or intonation?
- Book topics: What book topics or genres does my child seem to like?
Above Grade Level: If your child is reading “above grade level,” ask their teacher:
- Comprehension: What strategies are used to help my child’s reading comprehension? Ask how the teacher helps students understand what they read both inferentially and literally. Can I use specific prompts to engage with my child and their reading?
- Types of books: What topics and genres does my child seem to like? You can build on your child’s interests by reading related books at home. I suggest encouraging children to read genres outside of their comfort zone. For example, if they tend to read a lot of realistic fiction, introduce them to poetry or pursue the non-fiction section together. It’s important to continue exercising different types of comprehension skills, and this can only become strong when there is a solid level of comfort when decoding and comprehending various genres.
- How can I support my child’s reading at home? Ask if you can access books, workbooks, or activities your child has been working on at school.
How do I find books on my child’s reading level?
Do you find it challenging to find “just right” books for your child? Next week, check out PCL’s e-News for information on accessing leveled book lists from these reading programs.
You are also welcome to stop by the Youth Services department and ask Kate!
Questions? Email Youth Services.
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