05 Aug Reading Levels and Scores Explained
The start of a new school year can mean many different things. Back to school shopping, new teachers, new classes, and new reading level tests and scores. There are many different scoring systems. Most commonly used are Accelerated Reader (AR), Guided Reading Level (GRL), Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA), and Lexile Measurements. Of course, they’re all wildly different scoring systems with have no obvious correlation with each other. Some use letters to define reading level while others use numbers. It can be hard to navigate what they all mean!
At the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library, we most frequently put the AR level labels on our books. These are usually pink labels that can be found on the spine of books or on the inside cover. AR levels for books can also be found on the AR website.
This may not be the system that your school uses. Thankfully, Scholastic has a website to help find the reading level of books in the GRL, DRA, and Lexile level systems!
As you and your child select books, it’s important to remember that reading levels and scores are a tool and suggestion to help make finding books that your child can read easier. Some schools may require that they read a certain amount of books at their scored reading level, but don’t let that restrict their reading. Encourage them to read books above their reading level if it’s something that interests them! Allow them to read below their level sometimes if that’s where their interests lie. Some reading scores can be hard to find books in, let alone books that interest your child. At the end of the day, the goal of all these different scores is to get kids reading and to help them grow in their reading skills!
Written by Hope M., Youth Services Library Assistant
