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Three Methods for Leveling Texts

​Method A :Easy, Medium, Hard
​Method B: Use Professional Resources
Method C: Use Benchmark Texts
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  • Start with 3 bins: easy, medium, and hard.
 
  • Begin to sort books into the three bins. Keep in mind these books that you refer to often as benchmarks for each level.
 
  • Revisit the easy bin and begin to sort into 2–3 piles (easier and harder) according to the following text characteristics:
    • print features
    • illustrations
    • text structure
    • sentence complexity
    • vocabulary
    • content and themes
    • dialogue
 
  • Use the same text characteristics to sort the “medium” and “hard” bins into two more defined piles.
 
  • You should now have 6–8 different piles of books ranging from easiest to hardest.
 
  • Choose a benchmark book for each level and identify key descriptors for each level. This benchmark book will serve as a future reference to sort other texts.
 
  • Remember that leveling is NOT an exact science and you will need to move some books based on your students’ responses. There will also be variances within each level.
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  • Use a professional resource to look up the level of each text.

  • Most publishers of educational texts now provide accompanying lists of titles with reading levels. CAUTION: Different publishers’ levels do not align! Check for the “Guided Reading Level” (based on Fountas & Pinnell) to be sure the levels are correct. The Guided Reading level may also be found on publishers’ websites and other online resources.

  • If you choose this method, it is still important to spend time and understand why books are assigned different levels. Understanding the demands that particular levels place on readers informs instruction; this understanding helps you match students to appropriate text for independent reading and strategy instruction.
 
  • Remember that leveling is NOT an exact science and you will need to move some books based on your students’ responses. There will also be variances within each level.










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  • Use a professional resource to identify a benchmark text for each level.
 
  • Use the benchmark books as references to sort other texts.
 
  • Remember that leveling is NOT an exact science and you will need to move some books based on your students’ responses. There will also be variances within each level.












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