Driving Reading

instruction based
on NWEA Scores
DEVELOPING INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL GROUPS

NWEA: The
Classroom
Breakdown
Reports
The class falls into natural
leveled groups based on
this report.

TRANSLATING DATA INTO READING LEVELS- GRADE EQUIVILANCES

Using data

Determine the number and range of reading levels

Determine the number of students in each group

Then, translate data to grade levels using chart.

Determine age appropriate and grade level appropriate texts for

instruction.

Continue instruction
with relevant texts

This example from English12 shows books

that partner with Scratch Beginnings by
Adam Shepard.
The books range from 5th grade through
college reading levels.

Stick with topics being taught in class.

This will help readers make connections
and find textual support that parallels
classroom reading.

How to determine reading levels?

Scholastic

Readability levels

Level it

The Scholastic app, Book

Wizard, allows the user to type
or scan books- then presents
the reading level. However,
this app is somewhat limitedcovering mostly elementary
texts.

This is a more time-consuming

but accurate process that uses
the website, ReadabilityScore.com. Within this site, the
user types in a passage from
the book and the site uses
formulas to find the reading
level.

The app, Level It, also allows

the user to scan or type in
queries regarding reading
levels of books.

Simple tips to remember during

instruction
Higher Level

In this activity, point out the

structural differences. For
example, footnotes in
Outliers

Allow the student to wrestle

with words before offering
the word.

Stay positive, many pieces

will be new.

In collaborative classrooms,
Support these students with
the general education
teacher.

Use data collected

Middle Ranges

Take a walk through the

book and have students
pick out structural pieces
and formatting. Encourage
them to ask questions and
discuss.

Low Ranges

Allow wait time before

offering words when
reading.

Initially, establish the

teacher as the lead.
Students should not be
allowed to correct one
another until sessions are
modeled several times with
reading instruction.

When stuck, have students'

look for base word, prefixes
and suffixes that are familiar.

Allow a short pause before

having student look for
familiar chunks.

Stay positive and carefully

offer suggestions

In a collaborative situation,
a literacy specialist or sped.
Ed. Instructor the best
person to facilitate this
group.

Literacy is not a luxury, it is a right

and a responsibility. If our world is
to meet the challenges of the
twenty-first century we must
harness the energy and creativity
of all our citizens.

Bill Clinton on International Literacy Day

Supportive strategies
to use when
frustrated

"I phrases."

I feel frustrated for you because I can see you

hesitate but I'm confident you know the________.

Time

I can see we are getting off task let's stretch and

refocus.

I'm feeling _________, let's take a _____ minute break

and come back to this.

I see how hard we are working. Let's break for ______

minutes and regroup to continue/finish work.

How to use reading group data

throughout curriculum

Build word walls

Create flash cards to encourage visual recognition

Use in scaffolding and differentiation

Develop personal dictionaries

To create supportive multi leveled groups for non-fiction and fiction

group work

To facilitate and develop successful roles and supports that

emphasizes each students' strengths for group activities

What else can we do in leveled

reading groups?

Teach strategies!

1)

Close reading

2)

Talking to the text

3)

Mark-it up strategies

4)

Making connections

5)

Finding main ideas

6)

Think aloud

7)

Question the Author- QtA

How will this positively

affect our classroom
and instruction?

Increase positive student collaboration

Increase reading, comprehension, and fluency

Generates data to improve instruction

True instruction for ALL learners