How to Determine the Reading Level of Textbooks
Sometimes you need to know the reading level of a textbook or novel your students are required to read. It is possible to determine a book's readability level yourself. This can be accomplished by computer or manually, using a variety of tools.
Instructions
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To Begin
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Choose 3 passages to analyze Select 3 different passages from the book you want to analyze. Each passage should be about 100 words long.
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Decide if you want to analyze reading level by computer or manually.
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Proceed to the section that applies to your choice.
Analyze by Computer
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Computers are the easiest way Type the passages into a program that will calculate the book's reading level. If you have access to Microsoft Word you can use it to do this. Or you can use one of several other calculators from websites dedicated to this activity.
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If you use Microsoft Word, enter the program the way you normally would.
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Choose "Word Options" then select "Proofing" from the "Options" menu.
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In the "Proofing" dialog box, select "Check Grammar With Spelling" then choose "Show Readability Statistics."
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Instruct the computer to complete its grammar check. Readability scores will be determined and reported to you according to the Flesch-Kincaid system.
Analyze Manually
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It can be done manually Determine reading level manually using word and syllable counts. In "Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators," Schrock advises that you take the previously selected passages and calculate the average number of syllables and the average number of sentences per 100 words.
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Plot these numbers on the Fry's Readability Graph (found online) in order to determine the readability level of the material.
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Remember that just because your student is reading a book written at a readability level appropriate to their skills, that does not mean that they have the life experience to truly understand or appreciate certain works.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Books image by JenJen from Fotolia.com Green Highlighter on a white paper background. image by BengLim from Fotolia.com notebook computer image by Lisa Eastman from Fotolia.com fountain pen and calculator image by Maciej Mamro from Fotolia.com
