How are texts leveled and what should students know about their reading level?

One way in which texts are leveled is through the Learning A-Z text leveling system. With the help of teachers and instructional experts, a variety of books ranging in difficulty were analyzed to create developmentally appropriate levels for students. This system follows the Common Core State Standards guidelines. The Standards evaluate reading in three levels of text complexity: qualitative measures, quantitative measures, and reader and task considerations. The Learning A-Z text leveling system looks at both quantitative and qualitative measures to accurately determine the level of a text.

Qualitative measures are text attributes that can only be evaluated by the reader.  The Learning A-Z text leveling system looks at factors such as:

·         Predictability of a text

·         Text structure and organization

·         Illustration support

·         Knowledge demands

Ø  Concept load

Ø  Familiarity of a topic

Quantitative measures are statistical measurements of text. These include factors such as:

·         Total word count

·         Number of different words

·         Number of high frequency words

·         Sentence length

·         Sentence complexity

Considerations of the reader and the reading task is a component teachers must evaluate. No leveling system can include these considerations because they depend on each individual student. Each reader brings different skills, background, and motivation to the act of reading.

The Learning A-Z text leveling system allows teachers to focus more on reader and task considerations after qualitative and quantitative measures of a text have been assessed.

Students should know that their reading level does not define them as a learner. Students’ progress through “just right leveled texts” in the elementary years. We, as educators, must help children understand that their ‘level’ is a low indicator of their abilities and strengths. Levels become a concern when students confuse the level of text they are reading with the kind of reader they have the potential to be. We have to remind children that we can’t judge a book by its cover just like we can’t judge a reader by their level!

References:
https://www.readinga-z.com/learninga-z-levels/text-leveling-system/
http://www.angelamaiers.com/2009/09/minilesson-a-different-look-at-reading-levels/