Reading

This is a primary skill that is used frequently through one’s entire lifetime. Many adults grow to enjoy reading over time, but many students (especially emergent readers) may find it to be a tedious task. One of the most important things that can be done to help a beginning or intermediate reader on their journey is to pay close attention to the level of books the child is reading. Turns out, the level is key to supporting growth of reading skills. If the book is too hard, the child is likely to struggle and be discouraged. If the book is too easy, auto-pilot mode kicks in, and the kid gains very little, if anything, from their reading time. However, there is a magic middle range in which a kid knows 90-95% of the words in the book and can improve their reading while not being turned off of it. For this reason, vocabulary and reading level tools are at the top of our list for supports in this subject!

Vocabulary

• Want a fun way to improve vocabulary and do some good in the world? Check out FreeRice.com or install its app. Words will be presented to the user with a list of 4 possible synonyms. There is an extensive dictionary behind the program, allowing this to be a beneficial tool for vocabulary expansion for any reading child or adult.
• Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com are exactly what they say they are; online references for definitions and synonyms.
• A visual guide to synonyms can be found at Lexipedia.com. Matches to searched words are displayed in a visual graph. Words are color-coded by parts of speech, so this tool reinforces grammar skills!

Reading Level

• Accelerated Reader is a program which many schools use to determine students’ reading levels. The Points Scan App created by Straight Path Apps is a great tool for determining what AR level a given book is. Alternatively, AR Book Find is a website that can be used to search for a book based on topic, title, or grade level.
• Scholastic has a reading level chart that is different from the AR program. https://shop.scholastic.com/teachers-ecommerce/teacher/guided-reading-leveling-chart.html

Reading Comprehension

• Here’s a list of 35 charts put together by teachers. The charts list skills for beginning and intermediate readers. They range from tips for decoding words to engaging a reader in deeper understanding of a text.
  https://www.weareteachers.com/anchor-charts-that-teach-reading-comprehension/