How to Determine the Reading Level of a Book

Learn the Reading Level Codes of a Book

• 1

  Familiarize yourself with the commonly used initials for a grade level. You will see 'K' on a number of books (usually K with a corresponding number). For instance, K-2 means that a book is for kindergarten level through second-grade students.

• 2

  Explore the websites of educational publishers. This is a good way to determine the reading level of books since most companies have a system in place for categorizing them.

• 3

  Visit the Scholastic Publisher's website to determine how books are sorted. You'll find some books are sectioned by grade as well as reading level (see Resources below).

• 4

  Understand the term 'lexile.' This is a measure identifying the level of the text and the level of the reader. Text should be matched to a student's reading ability so that a book is a perfect fit for his stage of comprehension.

• 5

  Know related categorizations. Some books have a reading level called Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA). This is a method for assessing and documenting students' development as readers over time within a reading program.

Know Places to Find Age-Appropriate Reading Books

• 6

  Navigate your local library to help you determine the reading level of books. Libraries are divided into sections: preschool (Pre-K), toddler, by specific grade-level, teens/young-adult and then the standard adult-level sections.

• 7

  Follow suggested reading materials from a teacher. Most teachers assign reading materials for the year. Ask a local school district staff member what are the appropriate books for your child's age and stage of learning.