Hello All,

I wanted to answer some questions regarding the leveled readers that your child will be bringing home.  We use the Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System.  The kit has levleed readers with a form for rating the reader.  We look for accuracy, self-corrections, and most importantly, comprehension.  As the students progress we also look at their fluency.  When we test the children, we use a formula based on the assessment that will determine the instructional reading level. 

You may notice the stories that your child brings home seem very easy, and they sometimes are simple.  We are teaching the students how to tackle unknown words using strategies that they will use throughout their education.  They are very simplified, but necessary building blocks.  Remember too, that you are hearing your child read a familiar story that we have dissected earlier in the day.  When we test the children we are using a "cold read".  We don't explain the text in any way so that they will be using only their ablilities to date.  We do weekly cold reads in order to gauge whether or not the students are ready to move to the next level of books.  Your child will rotate between six different teachers and we monitor the student groups, changing groups according to like ability.  Our grade level, with the Title I teacher will meet weekly to discuss progress.

We will begin our reading groups after the Thanksgiving holiday.  If you have any other questions about our reading groups or anything else, please let me know!