Anonymous wrote:^^ DRA level is 38. (DD is only 7.5)

did your child skip a grade?

Anonymous wrote:I know I can look this up...how do I find books at my DC's reading level? It there an indicator on the book or a website for titles.

Use the Scholastic Book Wizard at Scholasticbooks.com

Anonymous wrote:DD isn't an avid reader. She reads to herself books that are at her level or a little below. I read books to her that are above her level where we can talk about new vocabulary.

This is totally appropriate. The challenging reading should be done with adult guidance and support.

Thank you. So if my rising 3rd grader received a 38F that means he passed the fiction section, but not the non-fiction?

That is correct. The teacher might have tried NF which tends to be a bit more challenging in regards to comprehension and your child might have scored instructional on that level therefore making him or her independent 38F.

Anonymous wrote:Not trying to hijack, but my DS is right at the level expected for his grade. Should I pick out books at his level or a little above? He doesn't enjoy reading.

If the child doesn't enjoy reading then choose book on his or her reading level. The child will be challenged to read on a higher level with teacher support during guided reading and book clubs when he or she returns to school in the fall. Reading for pleasure is the goal and struggling with decoding and comprehension is no fun.

It depends. If your child is reading several levels above grade level, they will stop testing at a certain point. The teacher is not allowed to go further than a prescribed point.

This statement is not necessarily true. If the teacher has the time he or she will test to see how how the student can go. If not they will stop at the EOY benchmark. I have never worked at a school that told me stop at a certain point.

If your child doesn't really like reading, let him pick some easier books. When you curl up on the couch with a People magazine, you are probably way below your ability level, but you are just enjoying yourself. Everyone needs to adjust their reading level to the purpose. If you were reading an article for your job, you would treat it much differently than a fun magazine.

Try comic books, like Garfield. I had a whole class of reluctant readers this year, and they loved Garfield and then branched into other comics. Try graphic novels. And audiobooks or ones that you read aloud. Reading a book aloud is so important as a family activity and as a way for kids to stop and question vocabulary.

Also, humor often hooks reluctant readers (hence the success with Garfield). Most of all, model that you are reading!

Anonymous wrote:I know I can look this up...how do I find books at my DC's reading level? It there an indicator on the book or a website for titles.

(She is 38 and going into 3rd grade. I suggested Harry Potter which her friends were reading last year in 2nd grade, but she doesn't think it would be interesting.)

All the Roald Dahl books are fun, interesting, and my guess is right around that DRA level. My rising 3rd grader is at DRA 38 and loves them. The Warriors series is also very popular.

Anonymous wrote:I know I can look this up...how do I find books at my DC's reading level? It there an indicator on the book or a website for titles.

(She is 38 and going into 3rd grade. I suggested Harry Potter which her friends were reading last year in 2nd grade, but she doesn't think it would be interesting.)

Get the audio version of Harry Potter, American or English- both are excellent.