Testing Your Child’s Reading Level: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents

Understanding your child's reading level is crucial for ensuring they are on track with their development. This guide will help you understand various reading level systems, methods for testing, and ways to support your child's reading journey.

Part 1: Understanding the Testing Methods

Knowing the reading level of your child is essential for providing appropriate reading materials and support. There are several systems used to assess reading levels:

Reading Level Systems: Several systems are used to evaluate reading levels. Some are popular in certain regions, such as the Accelerated Reader (AR) and the Guided Reading Levels (GRL). Below is a detailed breakdown of each system:

1. Find out which reading level system is used in your area.
There are a variety of reading level systems, some of which are more popular in certain regions than others. To test your child's reading level, it is important to know which system is used in your area. You can obtain this information by asking your local school district or school to find out and provide more information. Reading levels can be converted from one program to another, so check with your local librarian or child's teacher to see how their skills correlate to another program.

2. Explore the Accelerated Reader (AR) system.
AR is a popular program used in many public schools, available as both a desktop and web-based version. Children take a test through the program, which then recommends books at or slightly above their reading levels. AR levels are arranged by numbers, such as 2.0, 2.1, etc. The first number correlates with your child's grade level, and the second number with what month in the school year the book is standard. For example, a book labeled level 2.3 would be at the level of a typical second grader in their third month of school.

3. Familiarize yourself with Guided Reading Levels (GRL).
GRLs are arranged on an alphabetical scale, with level A being the easiest and level Z the most advanced. GRL tests are typically administered at the beginning of each school year by having the child read individually to their teacher from a book considered standard for the grade. The teacher may ask follow-up questions to test vocabulary and comprehension, then uses her judgment and the GRL Reading Record to calculate a reading level.

4. Learn about the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA).
DRAs are tested similarly to GRLs, with a child reading a book aloud to their teacher at the beginning of the school year. The child will then retell the story to their teacher and be scored on a variety of skills, including accuracy and fluency. DRA books start with level A and switch to numbers 1-80 for more difficult books.

5. Investigate Lexile Measures.
Lexile measures are often given through a Scholastic Reading Inventory assessment or from standardized tests. Use a child’s standardized test reading scores to covert the scores into a Lexile measure. Lexile uses more quantitative measures, such as sentence length and number of syllables in a word, instead of qualitative measures, such as analysis or comprehension. The scale runs from 0L to 2000L.

Part 2: Testing Your Child’s Reading Level at Home

Knowing your child's reading level can help you provide them with appropriate reading materials and support their development. Here are some methods for testing your child's reading level at home:

Examine your child's favorite books.
A simple way to find your child's reading level is to look at the back of their favorite books. Towards the bottom of the back cover, near the price and barcode, you should find a number such as RL:1.2, which means the book is an average book for a first grader. Take a handful of your child's current favorites and average the reading levels to get a fairly good idea of his actual reading level. Participate in an online test.
There are many free online tests that can help you understand your child's reading level. These tests involve lists of words, and you should have your child read each word in the list out loud. If they get to a point where they can't read 4 or 5 words in a row or become too frustrated to continue, stop and use that stopping spot to measure the reading level. Online word tests are fairly accurate for determining reading level but do not test comprehension or contextual reading. Consider paying for the DORA exam.
For a more comprehensive test, you may consider paying for the Diagnostic Online Reading Assessment (DORA) exam, which costs around $20. DORA and similar diagnostic reading tests evaluate a child's ability in multiple reading skill sets, such as word recognition, spelling, and oral vocabulary. The exam is available through various educational resources.

Part 3: Testing Your Child’s Reading Level at School

Understanding how your child's reading level is tested at school can help you support their progress:

Know that your child will be tested each year.
If your child is in school, they will likely be subjected to school reading tests each year. These results should be accessible by parents and open for discussion with your child's teacher. Understand school testing based on regulations.
How a school tests a child's reading level depends on state regulations and the procedures of the school district. Some states use annual standardized tests, while others test children individually at the beginning of the school year. These tests can be offered in person or on the computer and generally draw their questions from the school's corresponding reading level program. Stay updated on your child’s reading progress.
Maintaining an open relationship with your child's teacher is crucial for understanding their reading level and progress. Ask about your child's reading level during parent-teacher conferences and for recommendations for books or reading activities that you can implement at home. You could also have a periodic call or email with your child's teacher after reading assignments or reading groups to see how they are progressing.

By following this guide, you can effectively test and support your child's reading level at home and at school. Remember, regular assessment and support are key to ensuring your child's success in reading.