Reading levels

[craftymama]

How do you know what level your child is reading at? I am sure he's behind, but I honestly don't know what he should be able to read at his age or what level he is at.

[matilda]

I usually do a search for the book titles of some books they have read recently and "reading level" and get a general idea.

[Aurelia]

I look up the reading levels of books DD is reading with this. The level gives grade and month, so, for example, 2.2 would be something a child in the second month of 2nd grade would be expected to be able to read.

Edited March 8, 2012 by Aurelia

[reign]

I agree that checking the level of the book seems most accurate. Dd can read books at a second grade level. The decoding tests given online give a much higher reading level of 4th grade to her. She maybe able to decode at that but can not sustain that reading level for a whole book.

[Paige]

I think the catch is that the "average" public school student is expected to read at least 1 grade level ahead of what the scholastic site lists as being the grade level. I am very surprised at how high of a level it lists the books my 2nd graders read. 3rd grade for Ivy and Bean or an early easy Magic Treehouse?? That is reading level inflation, IMO. I consider my 2nd graders a little behind based on what my son's school was doing in 2nd grade, and his school was pretty average. The Secret Garden was listed as late 6th grade? That seems really high.

[craftymama]

As a follow up question, when do you consider you child to be reading a book? Does the child need to read all the words without hesitation? Be able to sound all the words out? Be able to read the whole book without help? Be able to read and understand the whole book without help?

[asmall]

We always went with five. Open to a random page and have your child read and if they have fewer than five errors, it is a good reading level.

AL

[NanceXToo]

Here are a couple of reading skill assessment tools/tests:

 

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/articles/060899.htm