Determining Student Reading Fluency Level
It is important to know how well your students are reading. Assigning reading that is too hard can be discouraging and assigning reading that is too easy won't challenge them to grow in their skills. It is best to select materials at the student's independent reading level for content areas such as history, science, etc. In reading, however, where you are specifically working to develop reading skills, it is best to target the instructional level.
Method -
It is much easier to do this with a 100 word passage so that the math will work out without the need to scale up or down, so select a 100 word section from a passage where you know the reading level. Place a light pencil mark to show the start and finish point if you need to. Though not necessary, it is helpful if you have a copy fo the passge that you can mark up as your student reads so you have notes on what they struggled with. Note what words your student misreads or skips and use the information for the next section.
Scoring -
Independent Reading Level:
Missed 2 or fewer words (2% or less)
Comprehension questions - no greater than a 10% error rate
Instructional Reading Level:
Misses 3 to 5 words (3 to 5% error rate)
Comprehension Questions - no greater than 25% error rate
Frustration Level:
Misses 6 or more words
Comprehension: Greater than 25% error rate
Method -
It is much easier to do this with a 100 word passage so that the math will work out without the need to scale up or down, so select a 100 word section from a passage where you know the reading level. Place a light pencil mark to show the start and finish point if you need to. Though not necessary, it is helpful if you have a copy fo the passge that you can mark up as your student reads so you have notes on what they struggled with. Note what words your student misreads or skips and use the information for the next section.
Scoring -
Independent Reading Level:
Missed 2 or fewer words (2% or less)
Comprehension questions - no greater than a 10% error rate
Instructional Reading Level:
Misses 3 to 5 words (3 to 5% error rate)
Comprehension Questions - no greater than 25% error rate
Frustration Level:
Misses 6 or more words
Comprehension: Greater than 25% error rate
Expectancy Level Determination
Chose two passages of identical reading difficulty. With one have the student read silently to themselves. With the other you read aloud to the student. Ask comprehension questions for both passages. If the student scores higher on the one that was listened to than on the one where they read silently, check for problems with phonics, sight word recognition, attitude, vision, and give more practice time reading.
Tools for finding the reading level of a book
Lexile.com has a great system and database for determining reading difficulty of books. Use their search tools to find a book that you want to see the reading difficulty of or enter the Lexile range you want to have book suggestions for. Here is a Lexile number to grade level chart to help you connect to the grade level of your child's reading ...