Customer Reviews

Leveled Books for Readers, Grades 3-6: A Companion Volume to Guiding Readers and Writers

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there are problems. Fountas and Pinnell are the leading gurus of the "guided reading" approach used in many language arts elementary school classes across the country. The first section of the book, like their K-3 book MATCHING BOOKS TO READERS: USING LEVELED BOOKS IN GUIDED READING, K-3, is a rehash of their best-selling GUIDED READING. The rest of it, the most useful part of it, is the leveled book list to which their system can be converted to other reading systems. Unfortunately, books of this nature have to be updated often because of the sheer number of children's books published each year. Many are left out, so the teacher must take the time to level the books using his or her own judgment. Furthermore, listing the books by title and also by reading level are merely confusing, and some books are not listed in both sections. I would scrap the leveled list in future editions. Listing all of the books by title with their level is all that is necessary.

This is a very useful tool to learn to level books, but only if you have not read their previous books. In my opinion, the best part is the listing of already-leveled books in the back, even though I don't always agree with their levels. But they're the experts. Also, I found a great website that offers a bunch of leveled books, www.whoossmart.com It's easy to use and they have great stuff!

Using this book and the Guided Reading book, along with minimal help from my co-workers, I have leveled many books in my classroom. I still have to check, but am having to look at the guide less and less as I get a sense of the leveling guidelines. I have found it very helpful and the kids find guided reading fun! I really enjoy it too. We all feel very successful.