The SRA assessment packet uses the number of correct answers to assign a starting level to each child. This works OK. You can also approximate a starting level by noting during your assessment how well the child reads words, rather than by the number of correct answers. If the child has trouble with all sounds or knows no letters or sounds-picture level would be appropriate as well as the phonics booklets in the white boxes. If the child struggles with most sounds or can only sound out short words with difficulty. – picture level and the phonics picture books are still the most appropriate starting point. If the child can read some short words and is starting to sound out a few longer words – start them out with the preparatory level booklets and supplement with phonics picture books. If the child is sounding out most short words with some confidence and gets a few longer words – put them in level A booklets. If the child only has trouble with longer words—level B booklets should work OK. If the child does well with all words, but is a little slow reading sentences - C level should work well. If the child is fluent and reads sentences fluently and fluidly, start them with the level D or E booklets and read some of the magazines, news articles, or encyclopedia articles with them.
If you are a little unsure of the book that is appropriate for your child, use this list to get an idea and go get the phonics booklet for that level and have the child work with it for a couple of minutes to see how they do. If they struggle at all, start them at the next lower level. I do this with everyone, just to be sure they get off to a good start.
If you work with a child and see them struggling at the chosen level, put a note in the tutor notes and change the starting level on the primary assessment sheet.
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PICTURE LEVEL – PHONICS PICTURE BOOKS - preK |
Child is not literate, or just knows some letters and sounds and can sound out no words or only a few short words slowly. Read to these children in the phonics picture books and use the sra picture level booklets. |
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PREP LEVEL - kindergarten |
Child knows the alphabet and the sounds of most letter combinations but struggles sounding out most words.. Gets some short words and a few longer words. |
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LEVEL A - grade 1 |
Child gets most short words but is hanging up with many longer words. |
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LEVEL B - grade 2 |
Sounds out short words with confidence, but hangs up on multisyllable words. |
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LEVEL C - grade 3 |
Reads all words well, but sentences are wooden or slow. |
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LEVEL D - grade 4 |
Reads full sentences with ease. Mix in outside reading materials as well with these children. |
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LEVEL E-F - grade 5-6 |
Reads full paragraphs with ease. Use the SRA booklets to improve reading comprehension and vocabulary. Add in all outside sources for a variety of contenet and experience. |