Crestview follows the DRA leveling system. When children are given the DRA test they receive a number score. This number also correlates with a colored dot. To assist children in finding "Just Right" books they look for their DRA level's dot. Blue dots correlate with DRA levels A -4. Yellow dots correlate with DRA levels 5 - 12. Red dots correlate with DRA levels 13 - 28. Green level dots correlate with DRA levels 28 and higher.
Each child entering Second Grade should be reading at a Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) level of 18.
During Reader's Workshop it is important for children to learn the skill of silent reading. We have time during the Reader's Workshop for each child to practice reading independently. Each child should be able to read silently for a period of atleast fifteen minutes.
After the DRA is given, Guided Reading Groups are developed. Children work with the teacher at their "Just Right" level. Reading and comprehension skills are developed and strengthened. These groups also change often according to skills certain children are needing. Children will complete written assignments as well as computer discussions after reading portions of text.
During the Reader's Workshop children also experience one on one conferences with the teacher. The Reader's Workshop Conferences are designed to monitor a child's progress in choosing "Just Right" books, Sustained Silent Reading, Comprehension of what is being read and the basic skills of reading.
Each child has been given his or her own colorful bag to hold "Just Right" books. Each child is allowed to choose eight "Just Right" books from the Classroom Library. My classroom library consists of over 2,000 books. I have the books organized in baskets according to subject. The books within each basket are labeled with dots to help children find "Just Right" books. After conferencing with the teacher children are able to select new books for their bags.
It is very important that each child is reading at his or her level. Children have been taught how to find books that are "Just Right". Testing for a "Just Right" book is simple if you follow this procedure: 1. Select a book. 2. Find a page that has a lot of words. 3. Read the page. 4. When you come to a word you don't know, or a difficult word, put out a finger. One to two fingers means this book is too easy. Three to four fingers means this book is "Just Right". Four to five fingers means this book is too difficult.