2. Resource For:
• Placing students on the Fontas and Pinnell A-Z
Text Gradient
• Assessing and Understanding Students’
Reading Performance
• Connecting Reading to Instruction
3. Assessment Set(s) Include
• Benchmark Books
– Set 1 levels A-N (K-2)
– Set 2 levels L-Z (3-8)
• Assessment Guide
• Assessment Forms
• Optional Assessments
• Data Management CD-Rom
• Assessment Forms CD-ROM
• Professional Development DVD
• Fontas and Pennell Calculator
4. What do we get?
• Provides:
– a means to observe students reading behavior
– independent and instructional reading levels
– reader’s accuracy and self-corrections
– provides details about a reader’s thinking within
and beyond the text at levels A–K;
and within, beyond, and about the
text at levels J–Z
– a rubric for assessing fluency
– other optional assessments
5. How do we get it?
• Through a reading conference:
– use word list to determine starting point
– students orally read from a leveled book while
teacher completes running record
– using comprehension conversation teaches can
assess students understanding of what they read
– students are asked to write about what they read
– recorded notes provide information on fluency
• Conference can take from 15 to 40 minutes
depending on length of the book
6. Impact on Instruction
• Teachers can use information to initially
establish reading groups
• Determining an appropriate instructional level
where students can learn most effectively
• Resource book outlines learning activities
• Provide parents with a range of books
appropriate for independent reading
