Independent (“Just Right”) Reading Descriptions Level A Characteristics of Level A Books Simple books with one line of one to six words per page, easy-­‐to-­‐see print, and ample space between words. Children can focus on print and gradually increase their control over words. Most of the books in Level A focus on topics familiar to children. Characteristics of Readers at Level A • • • • • Recognize and apply repeating language patterns Awareness of left-to-right directionality Awareness of 1-1 matching Able to distinguish and identify many letters according to their distinct features Developing an understanding of the connection between sounds and letters, especially first and last sounds Can recognize a few easy, high-frequency words (eg: the, to, my, is, are, like), and can locate them in text Sample Texts Level A All-Star Examples: Big and Little Berger & Chanko Games Berger & Moreton I Can, We Can Curry In the Woods Gibson Kittens Curry Let's Go! Mann My Color Mann School Pinnell We Can! Pinnell What Bears Like Cherrington