Monday, June 25, 2012

On-Level Readers

Finding appropriate books at Tessa's reading level is a challenge. I am finally understanding the various early reader numbering systems, so I thought I would share. I may end up creating a separate page with an ongoing list. I don't really know what Tessa's current reading level would be classified as, but she has completed Hooked on Phonics: Kindergarten and Hooked on Phonics: First Grade, Level 1. She will start First Grade, Level 2 this week. I have provided the chart below for those not familiar with Hooked on Phonics. Helper Words are simply sight words. I teach Tessa Helper Words before they pop up in her lessons, so she has learned all Helper Words through First Grade, Level 2. All levels of Hooked on Phonics: Kindergarten and First Grade use short vowels only, although I have taught Tessa how to decode some long vowel words on my own.

Hooked on Phonics: Kindergarten


Level 1 - Word Families
-at, -an, -ap, -ad, -am, -ag, -ab, -ig, -id, -it, -ip, -im, -in, -ix, -ill, Add -s

Level 1 - Helper Words
he, a, the, no, and, has, is, on, she, what, this, they, go, have, do, look

Level 2 - Word Families
-ot, -op, -ox, -ob, -og, -ug, -un, -ut, -ub, -up, -ed, -en, -et, -eg, -ell, -ck, Compound Words

Level 2 - Helper Words
here, that, for, see, are, I, like, to, me, who, my, of, said, was, with, you, then, be

Hooked on Phonics: First Grade


Level 1 - Blends
ch-, sh-, th-, wh-, sl-, sn-, sm-, sp-, sc-, sk-, sw-, st-, fl-, gl-, cl-, bl-, pl-, gr-, fr-, br-, cr-, pr-, dr-, tr-, qu-, Two-Syllable Words

Level 1 - Helper Words
play, come, his, over, says, now, ride, blue, there, very, could, we, little, some, out, down, those, all

Level 2 - Digraphs
-ch, -tch, -sh, -th, -mp, -nd, -ng, -nt, -nk, -st, -sp, -sk, -ft, -lk, -lt, -ing, -er, -ly, -es, -ed, Two-Syllable Words

Level 2 - Helper Words
make, goes, want, first, begin, her, too, one, or, say, friend, know, were, so, would, saw, your, old

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Step Into Reading: Step 1, Ready to Read

I really like this series. The numbering system seems appropriate, consistent and useful.

Step 1, Ready to Read (Preschool-Kindergarten): Big Type and Easy Words - Rhyme and Rhythm - Picture Clues - For children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading.

There are many, many more Step 1 books in the series, but these are some that Tessa can currently read with little help from me.

Big Egg Cat Traps 

Jack and Jill and Bill Dog Bill I Like Bugs


I Can Read!: My First Shared Reading & 1 Beginning Reading

I am sorely disappointed with this series. I cannot imagine any true beginning reader being able to read many of the My First Shared Reading or 1 Beginning Reading books. Some My First Shared Reading books border on being o...k...a...y, but just aren't as well thought out as the Step into Reading ones above. The 1 Beginning Reading books are way too long for new readers. A child would need to be reading fluently to make it through them in one sitting.

To give an idea, I flipped through I Can Read!: My First Shared Reading, Little Critter: Just Helping My Dad by Mercer Mayer. Some highly questionable words, in my opinion, include: home, today, things, work, sleepy, breakfast, myself, mower, sorry, something, nails, parking, and great.

My First Shared Reading: Basic language, word repetition, and whimsical illustrations, ideal for sharing with your emergent reader.

1 Beginning Reading: Short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts for children eager to read on their own.

I plan to try the following I Can Read! books soon with Tessa, but I know I will have to help her a good bit more than I did with the Step into Reading books above.

Go Away, Dog Mittens

Splish, Splash! Biscuit's Big Friend


Holiday House: I Like to Read

My husband discovered this new series at the library just this past weekend. I am so very excited about it. Finally, a company who understands the needs of emerging readers! Holiday House is recruiting quality author-illustrators to create some really cute picture books.

I Like to Read books are picture books designed for the newest readers, featuring short texts, familiar vocabulary, repetition to reinforce learning, and illustrations that are designed to be a part of the learning experience.

Run to your library now and look these up! Tessa read See Me Run by Paul Meisel today and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Download Holiday House I Like to Read full-color brochure and/or press kit.

I Will Try

Michael Garland


A Rookie Reader

This series has potential. The stories and illustrations are cute and the text length for the Level A and Level B readers are about right. Unfortunately, I don't think Tessa is quite ready for them. They will be better for her after she completes Hooked on Phonics: First Grade and gets into Hooked on Phonics: Second Grade. They look ideal for a reader who knows how to sound out more complex words but who isn't reading fluently yet.

Next to an Ant Cowboy Up!


Other Readers

This post feels as though it's getting a bit long, so I'm going to wrap it up for today. Other early readers to keep an eye out for are Scholastic Reader Pre-Level 1 books, the new Scholastic Reader Bob Books series and books by Mo Willems (An Elephant & Piggie Book, and Cat series).

Gus Makes a Friend Cupcake Surprise

We Are in a Book! Cat the Cat Who is That?

1 comment:

  1. Our family used the step into reading level reading to get the ball rolling as well. We also added in the Biscuit books. These in conjunction with the 'old' Leap Frog phonics videos and both of our two growing blessings were reading by the age of three. We do have a story time every evening though, to this day and they are eight and six now. *smile* They are both avid readers so now it's a matter of quality of books in addition to the length of books to stay one step ahead of them. We enjoy the Christain Light Publication readers as well. *smile* Have a great day. Sincerely, Mommy of two growing blessings & so much more!

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