Leveling Criteria for Reading-Tutors
- Word count
- Number of different words
- Ratio of different words to total words
- Number of high-frequency words
- Ratio of high-frequency words to total words
- Number of low-frequency words
- Ratio of low-frequency words to total words
- Sentence length
- Sentence complexity
- Predictability
- Language pattern and repetition
- Print size, spacing, and number of words per page
- Illustration support
- Concept load
- Topic familiarity
Benchmark Books
To assess reading ability, the child is given a book she or he has never seen--a benchmark book--to read aloud. The child's reading behavior is recorded by a person trained to assess reading level. A running record form is available for this purpose. If a child reads with 95 percent accuracy and responds well to comprehension questions, she or he is ready to progress to the next level. Reading-Tutors provides one benchmark book for each of the 27 levels, aa through Z.
Running Records
The running record accompanying each benchmark book allows a tutor to record a child's reading behavior as she or he reads from the book.
- Running record form
- Marking
- How often to take
- How to take
- Analyzing and scoring
