Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Research the book and use the Internet
• Method 2 of 4: Using the Flesch-Kincaid scale
• Method 3 of 4: Try the SMOG system
• Method 4 of 4: Using reading levels

The reading level of books varies greatly. Some books are more difficult and others are for beginners or young children. That is why it is important for parents and young readers to know the reading level of a book. This way you and your children can read books that are suitable for your level. By using tools such as the Flesch-Kincaid scale, the SMOG readability formula, advice lists, apps and other measurement systems, you can better determine the reading level of a specific book.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Research the book and use the Internet

1. Check if the reading level is indicated on the book itself. In many books, especially children's books, the reading level is indicated somewhere in the book. Ultimately, this is perhaps the easiest way to find out the reading level of a book. Please check:
   • The front of the book
   • The back of the book
   • The first pages of the book
2. Check the content of the book for complexity. Scan a few pages to get an idea of ​​the level of the book. Longer words indicate a higher reading level, as do complex sentences. Look for words that suggest a specific audience.
   • Rhyming sentences may indicate that the book is for younger children, while words related to school suggest that the book is for school children.
   • Use your previous reading experience to estimate how difficult sentence structure is.
3. Download apps that allow you to determine the reading level. There are several apps for your phone that you can use to determine the reading level of a book. These apps scan a book's ISBN and then compare it against various databases targeting reading levels. Simply do the following:
   • Search your app store for apps that determine the reading level and download an app.
   • Some apps, such as Levelit and Literacy Leveler, allow you to scan a book's ISBN and then view the book's Lexile score, level equivalent, and other details. For Dutch books this is the AVI provision (http://users.skynet.be/aginfo/AVI-bepaling.htm).
4. Consult book lists aimed at a child's specific age or level. There are a wide variety of book lists available on the internet that are geared towards your child's age and level. While not every book is on every list, many lists are quite extensive. Consider:
   • Everyone Reads https://www.iedereenleest.be/over-lezen/de-praktijk/waar-vind-ik-geschikte-boeken-voor-kinderen
   • Advice lists on Boekenopschool.nl http://www.boekenopschool.nl/advieslijst
   • Book lists on https://hetbestekinderboek.nl/
5. Determine the Lexile level or for Dutch books the AVI level. The Lexile level of a book is a measure of the reading level. To determine the Lexile level of a book, you can use the search function on Lexile.com. Do the following:
   • Visit https://www.lexile.com/ or for Dutch books http://users.skynet.be/aginfo/AVI-bepaling.htm
   • On lexile.com, enter the title, author or ISBN of a book in the "Quick Book Search" box in the top right corner of the website. Then click on "search". Or download the program from http://users.skynet.be/aginfo/AVI-bepaling.htm for Dutch books.
   • The website will then give you different versions of the book, as well as an age range of the book and the Lexile reading score.
6. Use the "Accelerated Reader" search. Accelerated Reader is a database in which you can enter the title of a book and relevant information, such as the reading level of that book. To access it, do the following:
   • Go to http://www.arbookfind.com/default.aspx
   • Enter the title of the book in the "Quick Search" box and press enter.
   • The website then provides information about the book, including the book's Interest Level, reading level and Lexile level of the book.

Method 2 of 4: Using the Flesch-Kincaid scale

1. Choose three passages from a book. After viewing the number of pages in the book, randomly choose three pages. Choose pages from different parts of the book. Then check that every page has at least one full paragraph. If not, choose a paragraph from the next page.
   • For example, if the book has 80 pages, you can select pages 5, 25 and 75. Any page number works. Note that each page has a full paragraph. If page 25 is an image, use a paragraph starting on page 26.
2. Retype the three paragraphs in Microsoft Word. Do this slowly and accurately. It is important that you include all three paragraphs, as you need to provide a good example to get an accurate idea of ​​the reading level of the book.
3. Check your text for spelling errors. After typing the three paragraphs you selected, you need to use the spell checker in Microsoft Word. When you use the spell checker, Word checks your spelling and then generates statistics about the passages typed. Read through the list until you see "Readability." Below that you can see the Flesch-Kincaid level.
   • If your version of Word does not show the Flesch-Kincaid level, go to File, to Options, click Proofread, and then click the box that says "Show readability statistics". Now when you use the spell check feature, Word displays the level of what you typed.

Method 3 of 4: Try the SMOG system

1. Choose 30 sentences from a book. Make sure to choose 10 at the beginning, 10 in the middle, and 10 at the end of the book. It is important that you choose sentences from all parts of the book, as that will give you a much more accurate picture of the reading level.
2. Circle and count any word that has 3 or more syllables. Check your chosen sentences and circle all words that have three or more syllables. You recognize these words by saying them out loud and seeing how many separate sounds you hear. You can also put your hand under your chin as you say the word and feel how many times your chin goes down. This contains repetitions of the same word. Add up these words. Tel:
   • Hyphenated words as one word.
   • Written out long numbers.
   • Written out abbreviations.
3. Calculate the square root of the three-syllable words. Take the total number of three-syllable words in the 30 sentences you selected and calculate the square root. Round the square root to the nearest whole number.
   • To give you an example, if the 30 sentences had 45 three-syllable words, the square root would be 6.7. Round this to 7.
   • You calculate the square root by means of mental arithmetic or with a calculator. Find an online calculator here: http://www.math.com/students/calculators/source/square-root.htm
4. Add 3 points to the root. After you round the square root to the nearest whole number, add 3 points. This will give you the SMOG level (reading level) of the book.
   • For example, if you had 45 three-syllable words with a square root of 6.7, you would round that to 7 and then add 3 points. This gives you a SMOG level of 10. This means that the book is suitable for children in the 10th grade, or first grade in high school.

Method 4 of 4: Using reading levels

1. Approach your child's reading level. Have the child read a passage in a book that is at his or her level. Then ask your child to explain what the passage means. Ask it questions about the passage. If the child understands the passage and can answer most of the questions, then your child is reading at the right level. If the child has difficulty understanding it, they are better able to read lower-level books. If the child has a good understanding, he can read books from a higher level.
   • You might ask, "What do you think Sarah is going to do now?" Or "Why do you think Sarah refused to help her friend?"
   • If you suspect the child is reading at a higher level, you can repeat this process with a more difficult selection.
2. Have children read above their established reading level if they can. Not everyone reads at the same level, and it is normal for some people to read at a higher level than their classmates. In this case, a book of a higher reading level may be more suitable for that child.
   • Ask the child to explain what they are reading to determine if it is a suitable book.
   • Check the books your child chooses to make sure they don't have content that is inappropriate for the child, such as adult themes.
3. Choose books at a lower reading level for children who are struggling. It's normal for some kids to read below their level, and that's okay. If your child has trouble reading, help them find a book that is at the right level.
   • Read More
   • Reading is important for language development and that is essential for a school going child.
   • Give your child books on a topic they love, such as sports or horses.