[Reprinted from the book Special Needs Advocacy Resource Book by Rich Weinfeld and Michelle Davis; copyright © 2008 by Prufrock Press. Published by Prufrock Press.]
Want to determine the readability level of your child's schoolwork? Evaluate your child's reading and writing levels by following the steps below:
1. Scan or type in several 100-word passages (or passages of shorter length if needed) into a Microsoft Word document. You also can have your child type or write the passage.
2. Configure the options in Word spelling and grammar check to "Check Readability" or "Calculate Readability Statistics."
3. Click the grammar and spelling check to get the grade level at which hte passage is written or at what grade level your child is writing. This is called the readability level.
4. Utilize the information below and determine the readability level of text.
Your child is reading independently if he is able to read 98-100% of the words correctly, and answer at least 90% of comprehension questions correctly. Your child is reading at the frustration level if he is unable to read at least 90% of the words aloud and cannot answer at least 50% of comprehension questions correctly.
Independent Level Activities:
- Homework
- Directions on worksheet
- Leisure reading
Instructional Level Activities:
- Classroom activities with teacher assistance
- Textbooks
Frustration Level Activities:
- None, very few
- At times, reading aloud to child
