Leveled Reading Overview

Leveled reading uses small-group instruction and developmentally appropriate books called leveled books. This approach recognizes that a wide range of reading ability exists within any grade level or age group, and that reading at the appropriate levels ensures success. Each session, 15 to 25 minutes, begins with introducing a book, eliciting prior knowledge, and building background. A child is placed in a small group with other children of similar ability and given a developmentally appropriate book to read. The teacher monitors and guides the reading of each child as needed. Discussion of the book follows, and the child keeps the book to read repeatedly. Subsequent lessons at the lower levels usually use an entirely new book.

Leveled Books

Leveled books are the key component in a leveled reading program. Reading A-Z leveled books are not selected from a collection of books and then leveled. Rather, Reading A-Z leveled books have been carefully written in accordance with standardized criteria for each level, then quality checked with custom software. Reading A-Z has specific leveling criteria for each of 27 reading levels. The books are graduated, meaning they get increasingly difficult with each succeeding level.
List of Leveled Books

Multilevel Books

Multilevel Books make differentiating instruction easier by providing three reading levels of the same book title. Group students according to skill level, but introduce comprehension skills and reading strategies to the whole class. Support each group with the right amount of instruction during reading, and bring everyone back together as a class after reading to discuss what they’ve learned. Leveled reading lesson plans, worksheets, discussion cards, and comprehension Quick Check quizzes support and guide instruction for each leveled book in the set.
List of Multilevel Books

Projectable Books

Projectable Books integrate technology and reading curriculum using our leveled books and benchmark books formatted for digital projectors and interactive white boards.
Projectable Book Tips  guide educators to meet literacy instruction goals for fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and more. Plus, our companion, printable format extends lessons with leveled books teachers send home for student practice.
List of Projectable Books
Projectable Book Tips

Lesson Plans and Worksheets

Each leveled book is accompanied by a multiple-page lesson plan. The lessons include strategies for introducing the book and building background, strategies to use while students read, strategies and questions for after-reading discussions, and a bank of ideas for teaching a variety of skills, including phonological awareness, phonics, high-frequency words, word structure, grammar, and mechanics. Lessons also include extension activities that link to writing and other curriculum areas, such as math, science, and social studies.

Each leveled reading lesson is accompanied by up to four worksheets on comprehension and skills. The comprehension worksheet is often a graphic organizer designed to engage the reader in the reading process. The skills worksheet focuses on one of the skill-building strategies covered in the lesson.

Stages of Development

Typically, children go through specific stages of development as they progress from nonreaders to fluent readers. In leveled reading, books are written to various levels of difficulty, gradually introducing developing readers to new challenges. The stages of reading development are commonly separated as follows:

• Early Emergent Readers (Reading A-Z levels aa-C)
• Emergent Readers (Reading A-Z levels D-J)
• Early Fluent Readers (Reading A-Z levels K-P)
• Fluent Readers (Reading A-Z levels Q-Z)

Leveling Correlations

Reading A-Z’s leveling criteria are based on the scientific measurement of accepted leveling strategies.

For your convenience, we have correlated Reading A-Z levels to Reading Recovery, Fountas & Pinnell, and DRA, and we have provided a correlation chart. Reading Recovery, Fountas & Pinnell, and DRA levels are not official levels assigned to Reading A-Z books by those leveling systems. Rather, those levels are approximate correlations based on a comparison of attributes in Reading A-Z leveled books with equivalent books that have been assigned official levels by Fountas & Pinnell, Reading Recovery, and DRA. A correlation chart specific to each leveled book appears on the copyright page of each book.

Assessment

Reading A-Z provides a variety of assessment tools as part of its leveled reading program.

Benchmark Books are used with running records to help assess the appropriate developmental level for leveled reading sessions.
Running Records allow the recording of a child’s reading behavior as she or he reads from the book.
Benchmark Quick Checks help assess a student's comprehension of the specific Benchmark Book.
Retelling Rubrics provide universal tools for quick and easy assessment of comprehension.
Leveled Book Quick Checks are a fast, easy way to quiz students on how well they are absorbing their reading.