I can read books level 1 pdf

📚 100 FUN 1st Grade Reading Level Books (Free Printable pdf)

Looking for a list of first grade reading books for your child to read by themselves? Here is a wonderful list full of over 100 1st grade reading books. We’ve picked a lot of classic and favorite books for 1st graders to engage grade 1 children so they will be excited about reading. The 1st grade reading books pdf has books listed in order of reading level. Simply print the 1st grade reading books pdf at the bottom of the post to take with you to the library.

1st grade reading books pdf free

It can be overwhelming to pick out first grade reading level books at the library. All the 1st grade level books are grouped together and kids can spend a long time opening up each cover to decipher the reading level just to discover the book that looked fun, was really for older kids! I don’t know about your kids, but mine get frustrated. Really frustrated! So I’ve created this list of 1st grade reading books arranged by reading level. Plus, I’ve put the list in a handy story books for grade 1 pdf so kids can keep the list in the book they are reading so when they are done, they simply check out the next couple first grade reading book. There are several grade 1 reading books pdf templates to choose from! Whether you are a parent, teacher, or homeschooler – you will love this level 1 reading books pdf!

Level 1 reading books pdf

Scroll to the bottom of the post, click on the TEXT LINK that says  >> _____<< and the 1st grade reading books pdf  will open in a new window for you to print and save.

Level 1 reading books pdf free

Here are some of the BEST books for 1st grade students to read themselves. First grade level books are listed from easiest to hardest with the Book Level used by most libraries in parenthesis for your convenience.

  Before and After by Joy Frisch-Schmoll (1.1) uses simple language to explore opposites in the world to explain the concepts of before and after.

  Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell (1.2) introduces readers to a young girl named Emily Elizabeth and her huge, red dog named Clifford.

  Baby Pandas by Bethany Olson (1.2) teaches kids about baby pandas through simple language and bright, colorful photographs.

  Puppy Mudge Finds a Friend by Cynthia Rylant (1.2) follows the adorable (and large) puppy named Mudge as he makes friends with a cat named Fluffy.

  Flying High by Nick Eliopulos (1.2) shows what happens when the DC Super Friends try to restore peace to Gotham after the Penguin gets his bird friends to help him rob a bank.

  Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman (1.2)  follows all kinds of dogs, big and small, as they run, roller skate and bike.

  Construction Kitties by Judy Sue Goodwin-Sturges (1.2)  follows a team of adorable kittens as they operate machinery on a construction site.

  The Berenstain Bears Ride the Thunderbolt by Stan Berenstain (1.2)  uses short, simple sentences to take readers on a trip to the amusement park with the Berenstain Bear family.

  Ballet Stars by Joan Holub (1.2) is an easy reader about young dancers who take ballet classes, practice their steps, and prepare for the big show.

  Mittens at School by Lola M. Schaefer (1.2) tells the story of Mittens, a little kitten who gets into trouble when his owner brings him to school for show and tell.

  I Like Bugs by Margaret Wise Brown (1. 2)  uses short, simple sentences to explore all kinds of bugs.

1st grade reading books pdf

  Too Many Dogs by Lori Haskins (1.2) celebrates all kinds of dogs through simple text and hilarious illustrations.

  Money, Money Honey Bunny! by Marilyn Sadler (1.2)  is a fun rhyming book about Honey Bunny Funny bunny and how she saves and spends her money.

  I Love Rocks by Cari Meister (1.2) is a fun introduction to rocks of all kinds for young readers.

  Great Day for UP by Dr. Seuss (1.3)  is an energetic book that celebrates the many ways that we use the word up.

  Richard Scarry’s Readers Cake Soup by Erica Farber (1.3)  follows Huckle Cat and Bridget as they try (and fail) to make a cake for Lowly Worm’s birthday.

  Honey Helps by Laura Godwin (1. 3)  uses simple words to tell the story of a dog named Happy and the little kitten named Honey who wants to help him bury his bone.

  Ink, Wink, and Blink Work Out! by Pete Whitehead (1.3)  follows three animal characters named Ink, Wink and Blink as they perform all kinds of physical actions.

  We Play on a Rainy Day by Angela Shelf Medearis (1.3)  celebrates the fun of a rainy day as a group of kids learn that a little rain doesn’t have to end their outdoor fun.

  See Me Dig by Paul Meisel (1.3)  introduces kids to a group of dogs who love to dig and have to find the perfect place to do it.

  Tiny Goes to the Library by Cari Meister (1.3)  follows Tiny, the large dog, as he and his best friend go to their favorite places, including the library.

  Beep! Beep! It’s Beeper! by Carole Lexa Schaefer (1. 3)  tells the story of Beeper, a friendly alien who likes to do a lot of the same things kids do.

  Follow Me, Mittens by Lola M. Schaefer (1.3)  is a story about a little kitten named Mittens who gets lost while out on a walk with his little boy.

  Listen to My Trumpet! by Mo Willems (1.3)  stars popular characters Gerald and Piggie. When Piggie tries to play her loud trumpet, Gerald struggles with what to say.

Story books for grade 1 pdf

  Noodles: No Kisses, Please! by Hans Wilhelm (1.3) follows Noodles the puppy as he tries to avoid getting kissed by Auntie Judy.

  Bears In the Night by Stan Bernstein (1.4)  uses very few words to share a story of the bear cubs leaving the tree house at night through a window.

  Sir Mike by Robyn Hood Black (1.4)  is a story about a young boy named Mike who is ready to fight the dragon he believes he is seeing.

  Cowboy Up! By Larry Dane Brimner (1.4) is a rhyming story that shares the life of a cowboy.

  Biscuit’s Day at the Farm by Alyssa Satin Capucilli  tells readers what happens when Biscuit the puppy heads to the farm for the day.(1.4)

  Cat Traps by Molly Coxe (1.4) uses short funny sentences to tell the story of what happens when a hungry cat sets a trap.

  Snug Bug by Cathy East Dubowski (1.4) follows a little bug as he gets ready for bed.

Grade 1 reading books pdf

  Put me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire (1.4) features Spot, an animal who wants to be in the zoo, as he explains all that he can do.

  Go to Sleep Dear Dragon by MODERN CURRICULUM PRESS (1.4)  follows a young boy into a dream medieval world where he finds a dragon egg.

  Garden Friends by DK Publishing (1.4)  uses simple words and bright illustrations to teach readers about insects who live in the garden.

  Tiny the Dog by Cari Meister (1.4)  is a story about a young boy and his large dog named Tiny, as they play in the snow.

  Hooper Humperdink…? Not Him! by Theo LeSieg (1.5) is a rhyming story about the kids the narrator wants to invite to a party.

  Thunder Doesn’t Scare Me by Lynea Bowdish (1.5)  addresses a common childhood fear of thunder through the eyes of a young girl and her dog who are trying to be brave.

  Green Eggs & Ham by Dr. Seuss (1.5) is a classic tale which follows the main character as he tells Sam-I-Am over and over that he will not try green egg and ham.

  The Chick that Wouldn’t Hatch by Claire Daniel (1. 5) tells the exciting adventure of Mother Hen’s unhatched egg, who rolls all over the farm.

  Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman (1.5)  follows a baby bird as he searches for his mother and meets all kinds of animals along the way.

  Five Silly Fishermen by Roberta Edwards  (1.5) explores counting with five silly fisherman heading out for a day of fishing.

  Happy Alphabet!: A Phonics Reader by Anna Jane Hays (1.5) is a rhyming trip through the alphabet, with a different character or object representing each letter.

1st grade reading books

  Freddie and Flossie at the Beach by Laura Lee Hope (1.5)  join twins Freddie and Flossie as they spend a day at the beach with their dog Snap.

  I Can Bowl by Linda Johns (1.5) is an introduction to bowling through the eyes of a young boy bowling with his mother.

  Pig Has a Plan by Ethan Long (1.5) takes the reader on a trip to the barnyard where Pig just wants to take a nap, and has to come up with a plan to avoid the noise his animal friends are making.

  The Ear Book by Al Perkins (1.5)  celebrates ears and all of the things that they can hear in the world.

  Sweet Potato Pie by Anne Rockwell (1.5) highlights how an entire family stops what they are doing when Grandma bakes her sweet potato pie.

  Morris the Moose by B. Wiseman (1.5) introduces readers to Morris the moose, and highlights the similarities between different animals.

  Velveteen Rabbit and the Boy by Maria S. Barbo (1.6)  follows the Velveteen Rabbit and his little boy as they play outside just before a big storm comes.

  The Bike Lesson by Stan Berenstain (1. 6)  joins the Berenstain Bear family as Small Bear learns about bike safety from Father Bear.

  A New Home by Tim Bowers (1.6)  tells the story of Matt, a squirrel who moves into a new home, but longs for a new friend.

  Monkey Play by Alyssa Satin Capucilli (1.6) follows a group of energetic monkeys as they jump, swing, and play in the jungle.

  How Many Fish? by Caron Lee Cohen (1.6) explores what happens when six little fish in the bay meet six little feet.

Books for 1st graders to read on their own

  Come Play with Me by Marie Hall Ets (1.6) touches on the importance of patience through the story of a young girl who wants to play with the animals in the meadow.

  Snowball Soup by Mercer Mayer (1.6)  joins Little Critter and his friends as they build snowmen outside, and decide to feed them some lunch.

  Messy Bessey’s Garden by Pat McKissack (1.6)  follows a little girl named Bessey as she works hard on her little garden.

  Richard Scarry’s Watch Your Step, Mr. Rabbit by Richard Scarry (1.6) is a hilarious tale that explores what happens when Mr. Rabbit gets stuck in cement and his friends have to get him out.

  Fire Trucks and Rescue Vehicles by Jean Coppendale (1.6)   is a nonfiction book that introduces young readers to different kinds of rescue vehicles.

  The Cow in the House by Harriet Ziefert (1.6)  tells the story of a man struggling with a noisy house as he goes to see a wise man for advice.

  Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems (1.6)  joins Piggy and Gerald as they meet a snake who wants to play catch with them.

  One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss (1.7) introduces the reader to silly characters and situations through colorful illustrations and rhyming words.

  Old Hat, New Hat by Stan Berenstain (1.7)  explores concepts with Brother Bear as he tries on all kinds of hats while shopping for a new one.

First grade reading stories pdf

  The Big Honey Hunt by Stan Berenstain (1.7) joins Small Bear and Father Bear on a quest to follow a honeybee to find his honey.

  Bill’s Bike by Andy Blackford (1.7) follows a young boy named Bill as he rides his new bike for the first time.

  Biscuit Visits the Big City by Alyssa Satin Capucilli (1.7)  meets up with the little yellow puppy as he visits a busy city.

  Mice on Ice by Rebecca Emberley (1.7)  uses simple language and colorful illustrations of adorable mice characters to celebrate winter fun.

  Peanut and Pearl’s Picnic Adventure by Rebecca Kai Dotlich (1.7)  follows two friends named Peanut and Pearl as they attempt to go on a picnic together and can’t find one another.

  I Shop with My Daddy by Grace Maccarone (1.7)  tells the story of a trip to the grocery store between a father and daughter.

  Who Stole the Cookies? by Judith Moffatt (1.7)  is a mystery story about an empty cookie jar and the animals who are trying to figure out who ate all the cookies.

  Loose Tooth by Lola M. Schaefer (1.7) follows the experience of a young boy with a loose tooth

  No Mail for Mitchell by Catherine Siracusa (1.7)  is a sweet story about a dog mailman who longs to receive mail himself.

  Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now! by Dr. Seuss (1.7) explores the many ways that the title character Marvin K. Mooney can leave once it is time for him to go.

First grade reading books

  Elephants Cannot Dance! by Mo Willems (1.7) follows Piggie and Gerald as they debate over whether or not elephants can dance.

  A Dozen Dogs: A Math Reader by Harriet Ziefert (1.7) joins a group of different dogs as they have fun at the beach.

  Sunshine, Moonshine by Jennifer Armstrong (1.8)  is a lyrical exploration of the sun and the moon shining down on the beach, through the eyes of a young boy.

  A Trip to the Zoo from DK Reading (1.8)  is a nonfiction book that joins two young boys on a trip to the zoo.

  Fall Leaves by Don L. Curry (1.8) uses simple sentences and vivid illustrations to explore the fun of fall leaves.

  Car Goes Far by Michael Garland (1.8) follows a happy car as he goes about his day getting dirtier and ends up needing a bath.

  Mouse’s Hide-and-Seek Words: A Phonics Reader by Kathryn Heling (1.8) makes wordplay fun by encouraging readers to find small words in bigger words.

  Corduroy’s Garden by Don Freeman (1.8) revisits the adorable stuffed bear as Lisa leaves him in charge of watching over the garden.

  The Mess by Patricia Jensen (1.8) tells the story of a young boy who thinks about all the things his friends are doing while he has to clean his room.

  Sam Gets Lost by Sam Labatt (1.8)  follows a dog named Sam who jumps out of the car to explore and ends up separated from his owners

  Dragon Egg by Mallory Loehr (1. 8) explores what happens when a dragon egg rolls out of the nest and draws lots of attention.

  Fox and His Friends by Edward Marshall (1.8)  is made up of stories about Fox wanting to play with his friends, but he keeps being interrupted by his responsibilities.

1st grade level books

  Mr Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss (1.8) is a fun rhyming book that explores different sounds and encourages the reader to make them too.

  Splish Splash by Sarah Weeks (1.8)  is a rhyming story about Chub the fish and his animal friends, all getting into the bath tub.

  A Fly Went By by Mike McClintock (1.9) follows the adventures of a frantic fly and the chase that ensues after a young boy asks him where he is going.

  Shoo, Fly Guy! by Tedd Arnold (1.9)  explores what happens when Fly Guy finds out that Buzz has gone on a picnic without him.

  Dinosaurs Don’t, Dinosaurs Do by Steve Bjorkman (1.9) uses simple language and adorable illustrations of dinosaurs to explain good manners to young readers.

  Carl and the Puppies by Alexandra Day (1.9) follows the adventures of Carl the dog as he attempts to watch over 3 energetic puppies.

  The Lion and the Mice by Gail Herman (1.9)  is a retelling of the Aesop fable through simple language and beautiful illustrations.

  A Smelly Story by Richard Scarry (1.9) follows Huckle Cat as he tries to recover the watch that got carried away in the garbage truck.

  Hello, House! by Linda Hayward (1.9)  is a retelling of one of the “Tales of Uncle Remus”, where Brer Wolf hides in Brer Rabbit’s house to try to catch him.

   Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy (1. 9) follows the adventures of little Mabel as she tries to save her baby brother as he floats all over town in a bubble.

  Pizza for Sam by Mary Labatt (1.9) tells the story of Sam the dog as he discovers all the amazing foods that people get to eat.

  There Is a Bird on Your Head! by Mo Willems (1.9) follows Gerald the elephant as he struggles with birds on his head, and his friend Piggie tries to help him.

1st grade reading books online

To make it east to find 1st grade level books for your new reader I made a printable from this list. There are 10 different styles to choose from in both color and black and white.

Just print the 1st grade reading list, fold in half, and laminate to make a convenient bookmark they can bring along to the library. They can go through them in order and check them off with a dry erase marker when they’ve read a book.

By reading books in order they will confidently read and be successful while gaining a lot of practice and exposure to a lot of vocabulary.

Book Recommendations

First of all, whether you stock up on books at your local library, have a robust home library, or not. You can still order books and have them conveninetly shipped to your house from Amazon. Wondering what should I read – we’ve got tons of great book recommendations for you! Click on the list you want to read and then you can conveninetly order from Amazon or print a book list to take to the library.

Free Printable Reading Logs

• Monthly Reading Log – this free printable has ‘traditional’ monthly themes
• Bookshelf Free Printable Reading Logs – super cute and fun for kids of all ages!
• Pencil Free Printable Reading Logs -print reading worksheet and color a pencil for each book you read
• Frozen Free Printable Reading Logs – kids will have fun tracking their reading and the books they’ve read with this motivating free printable for kids of all ages
• Princess Free Printable Reading Logs – students will have fun tracking their reading with these free printable reading logs
• Super Hero Free Printable Reading Logs – using a favorite theme of kids will encourage kids to read
• Cars Free Printable Book Logs – children will have fun tracking the books they’ve read with these clever free reading log
• Summer Free Printable Reading Logs – students will be motivated to read this summer with these ideas
• Reading Comprehension Bookmarks – this is a great tool for making sure kids are understanding what they are reading
• Reading Levels by Grade – how to pick the right books for every reading level and tons of printable book lists too

If you have a 1st grader and you are looking for more fun, hands on 1st grade Worksheets, games and activities to make learning fun – you will love these resources!

• 100 Books 1st Graders can Read Themselves with free 1st grade reading books pdf free
• Fun-to-Read Chapter Books for 1st Graders
• Free Printable 1st Grade Book Report template
• Kid favorite, FREE Cut and Paste Worksheets for a variety of subjects!
• Sight Words Printable List
• First Grade Word Search
• Fun, free printable punctuation games for kids
• Phonics Dab the th worksheets
• sh, ch, th word Digraph Games
• Ending Blends Worksheets with do a dot markers
• Cut and Paste L Blends Worksheets
• LOTS more free printable phonics worksheets and games

Free printable worksheets for 1st grade

Looking for even more grade 1 worksheets to review skills while having fun? Check out these resources:

• 1st Grade Reading Games – Reading the Easy Way 1st Grade
• Fun, hands-on Counting Coins Games
• Lots of fun, free money games for kids
• Over 500 pages of Kindergarten Writing Prompts Free
• Sentence Scramble Worksheets
• Princess Color by Sight Word Worksheets
• Time Puzzles make learning to use a clock FUN
• Gumball Math Worksheets to practice addition & subtraction
• Crack the Code Worksheets for practicing math while having fun
• Bingo Shapes Game
• Color the Coin Money Coloring Pages
• Addition and Subtraction Math Mystery
• Printable Addition Tic-Tac-Toe Game
• Free Hundreds Tens and Ones Worksheets
• Free printable 1st grade math worksheets

1st Grade Science

Dive into some outrageousl fun science with our hands-on experiments and first grade worksheets

• Solar System Worksheets Pack
• Life-size Human Body Project with free printable template
• EASY Lemon Battery Experiment
• 12 Hands-on Battery Experiment Ideas for Kids
• Mind-blowing Magnetic Slime for Kids
• Magnet experiments for Kids
• Balloon Solid, liquid, gas hands-on activities plus other projects
• Phases of the Moon for Kids – worksheets, activities, Oreo moon phases, and more
• Weather Unit with worksheets and hands-on weather activities for kids
• Learn the planet names with this Solar System for Kids Lesson plus tons of other Solar System Project  Ideas

Grade 1 Science

Plus don’t miss these worksheets for grade 1

• Learn about Animal Classifications for Kids with these free printable cootie catchers
• Lots of 1st Grade Science Projects
• HUGE Ocean Animals for Kids Unit
• Dive into the amazing world of botany with this plants for kids lessons
• Learn about LOTS of life cycles for kids (panda, spider, watermelon, bee, sunflower, spider, and more!)
• TONS of fun Human Body for Kids activities, expeirments, and free printables too!
• Free Scientific Method Worksheets

Free first grade worksheets

Help children learn about the great country of the United States with these free printables. Plus don’t miss all our fun, free, and immersive history lessons for kids and our other worksheet for grade 1

• Printable USA Presidents Coloring Pages
• Cute, Free Printable State Coloring Pages
• Free Printable States and Capitals Matching Game
• Free Presidents Worksheets – Learn about all the American presidents
• US States I Spy Worksheets
• Help kids understand where do I live with this clever printable activity
• Learn about American symbols with these Patriotic American Symbols for Kids
• How much do you know about USA for Kids? Color the flag, look at a map, discover famous landmarks like the statue of liberty,and more!
• American Symbols Worksheets
• Explore American History for kids including lots of fun, hands on activities and free printables
• 4 week lesson about Early Explorers for Kids
• The Colonial America for Kids lesson takes kids on a journey back to the first permanent settlement in America – Jamestown. Students will learn about colonial life with lots of hands on projects like eating Gruel, making a Wattle & Daub house, and creating a tin lantern will make the settlement come alive.
• We will make westward expansion for kids come alive for kids as they learn facts about the time period from about 1783-1898. In addition to learning about the Oregon trail, pony express, gold rush, transcontinental railroad, students will also learn to match animal trails, map the united states, and learn about North American animals too.
• Pennant History Posters to see US History At-a-Glance
• Learn about the Roaring 1920s for Kids – Printable Book to Read, Color, and Learn
• Rosa Parks for Kids Printable Reader to Color and Learn
• Martin Luther King Jr for Kids Printable Reader to Color and Learn
• Free Printable Maps including world map, continents, and country maps with and without labeling
• Ready to dive more in depth? Check out Country Study for Kids – look at 16 countries around the world up close
• Use Lego to explore famous landmarks in countries for kids
• Research and learn with these free Children around the World Worksheets
• Roll into Geography – Printable Geography Games
• You can find all our FREE printable country coloring pages covering over 36 different nations – or jump right to Spain Coloring Pages,  China Coloring Pages,  Italy Coloring Pages, Chile Coloring Pages, Germany Coloring Pages, and Costa Rica Coloring Pages
• Over 1+ million pages of Free Printable Worksheets

Looking for more fun, creative ways you can begin your free homeschool? We have over 1,000,000 pages of FREE Printable Worksheets including resources for: pre k worksheets, kindergarten worksheets, 1st grade worksheets, 2nd grade worksheets, 3rd grade worksheets, 4th grade worksheets, 5th grade worksheets, 6th grade worksheets, and more. Plus see our history lessons for kids, printable math games, language arts worksheets, sight word worksheets, free alphabet printables, and cvc word activities for kids of all ages!

First grade level books

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Early Reader - Free Kids Books

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Always be Nice is a short book for young children promoting kindness and manners and can be used as an early reader. The book is perfect for building confidence in reading with only 28 words most of which are simple words. This book also teaches kids ten important lessons about being kind to others. Each …

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Tracie Johansen Azpazaz bunch are back with an epic, whimsical, rhyming adventure in their Akroozer Flying Machines. Packed full of prepositions, adverbs, and adjectives along with the rhyme, this can be suitable for fun or as an early reader. Sample Text from Amazing Akroozer Flying Machines Are you ready to go on an adventure with …

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Meet Vern and all the animals at the Green Fern Zoo. This early reader introduces new decodable sounds in each chapter along with the interesting animals at the zoo. See more from the Core Knowledge foundation in our CKF publisher category.     

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A fun rhyming book for young children and a perfect early reader. Bookbot provides a series of decodable readers for children learning to read. See more of BookBots books at www.bookbotkids.com/phonics-books. or here on Free Kids Books below:    

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Always Be Good is a short simple book for young children, and beginner ESL readers, promoting important behaviours young children need to learn. This book teaches children ten important lessons about life skills and hygiene and actions that promote good behaviour and make Mum and Dad or Teacher happy. There are suggestions for lessons supporting …

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Tutul wants to give her friend some chocolate for her birthday. But nobody in her family is ready to help her! Tutul needs a new plan! Can her clever idea convince the shopkeeper to give her some birthday chocolate? Find out in this short book ideal for early readers with lots of repetition. Sample Text …

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The Peacock Who Wished to Fly – The Peacocks Tale and how the peacock got it’s feathers. Tausi the Peacock live in peace with other birds, admiring how other birds can fly far and wanted to fly far also. But he cannot even fly far in order to collect food and the other birds mock …

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The Sea is a story about a girl and her family who go to the beach to escape the heat. She soon realizes how much fun it is playing with waves. This book has a lot of repetitive words with illustrations perfect for young children learning to read to learn new words. This book is …

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In Mama Antelope’s House we see lots of repetition which makes it a great early reader, or just a fun story for young children. Hare plays a trick on the other animals, can they get into Mama Antelope’s House? Who is making all the noise? Find out more, learn a lesson in manners, and have …

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In A Very Busy Day a little girl goes to the shops with her Mama, they visit a great many places, groceries, shoes, and more. The text also explores opposites as descriptors, the predictability and repetition make it nice for an early reader. Sample Text from A Very Busy Day Today is a very busy …

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European system of levels of foreign language proficiency - Department of Foreign Languages ​​

The article was prepared on the basis of the monograph "Common European Framework of Reference for Foreign Languages: Study, Teaching, Assessment", the Russian translation of which was published by the Moscow State Linguistic University (http://www.linguanet.ru /) in 2003

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment

The document of the Council of Europe entitled "Common European Framework of Reference: Learning, Teaching, Assessment" reflects the result of the work begun back in 1971 years of work by experts from the countries of the Council of Europe, including representatives of Russia, to systematize approaches to teaching a foreign language and standardize assessments of language proficiency levels. "Competencies" in an understandable form define what a language learner needs to master in order to use it for communication purposes, as well as what knowledge and skills he needs to master in order for communication to be successful.

What is the main content of this project carried out within the framework of the Council of Europe? The participants of this project tried to create a standard terminology, a system of units, or a common language to describe what constitutes the subject of study, as well as to describe the levels of language proficiency, regardless of what language is being studied, in what educational context - which country, institute, school , in courses, or privately, and what methods are used. As a result, a system of levels of language proficiency and a system for describing these levels using standard categories. These two complexes create a unified network of concepts that can be used to describe any certification system, and, consequently, any training program, in the standard language, from setting goals - learning goals to the competencies achieved as a result of training.

Language proficiency system

When developing the European level system, extensive research was carried out in different countries, assessment methods were tested in practice. As a result, an agreement was reached on the issue of the number of levels allocated for organizing the process of learning the language and assessing the degree of proficiency in it. There are 6 major levels, which represent lower and higher sub-levels in the classic three-level system, which includes basic, intermediate and advanced levels. The level scheme is built on the principle of sequential branching. It begins with the division of the level system into three major levels - A, B and C:

The introduction of a pan-European system of language proficiency levels does not limit the ability of various pedagogical teams to develop and describe their own system of levels and modules of education. However, the use of standardized categories when describing one's programs contributes to the transparency of courses, and the development of objective criteria for assessing the level of language proficiency will ensure recognition of the qualifications obtained by students in examinations. It can also be expected that over time the system of levels and the wording of the descriptors will change as experience accumulates in the countries participating in the project.

Language proficiency levels are summarized in the following table:

Table 1

When interpreting a level scale, keep in mind that divisions on such a scale are not the same. Even if the levels appear to be equidistant on the scale, they take different times to reach. So, even if Waystage is halfway to Threshold Level, and Threshold is on the level scale halfway to Vantage Level, experience with this scale shows that that it takes twice as long to progress from "Threshold" to "Threshold Advanced" as it takes to reach "Threshold". This is due to the fact that at higher levels the range of activities is expanding and an increasing amount of knowledge, skills and abilities are required.

More detailed description may be required to select specific learning objectives. It can be presented as a separate table showing the main aspects of language proficiency at six levels. For example, table 2 is designed as a self-assessment tool to identify your knowledge and skills in aspects:

Table 2

A1 (Survival level):

Comprehension	Listening	I can understand single familiar words and very simple phrases in slow and clear speech in everyday situations where people talk about me, my family and the immediate environment.
	Reading	I can understand familiar names, words, and very simple sentences in advertisements, posters, or catalogues.
Speaking	Dialogue	I can take part in a dialogue if my interlocutor repeats or paraphrases his statement at my request in slow motion, and also helps to formulate what I am trying to say. I can ask and answer simple questions about topics that I know or are interested in.
	Monologue	I can use simple phrases and sentences to talk about the place where I live and the people I know.
Letter	Letter	I can write simple postcards (for example, congratulations on a holiday), fill out forms, enter my name, nationality, address on the hotel registration sheet.

A2 (Pre-threshold):

Comprehension	Listening	I can understand certain phrases and commonly used words in statements about topics that are important to me (for example, basic information about myself and my family, about shopping, about where I live, about work ). I understand what is being said in simple, clearly spoken and small messages and announcements.
	Read	I understand very short, simple texts. I can find specific, predictable information in simple everyday texts: advertisements, brochures, menus, timetables. I understand simple personal letters.
Speaking	Dialogue	I can communicate in simple, typical situations that require direct exchange of information on topics and activities that are familiar to me. I can carry on an extremely brief conversation on everyday topics, and yet I do not understand enough to carry on a conversation on my own.
	Monologue	I can, using simple phrases and sentences, talk about my family and other people, living conditions, studies, current or previous job.
Letter	Letter	I can write simple short notes and messages. I can write a simple letter of a personal nature (for example, to express my gratitude to someone for something).

B1 (Threshold):

B2 (Threshold Advanced):

C1 (professional level):

Comprehension	Listening	I understand extended messages, even if they have a fuzzy logical structure and insufficiently expressed semantic connections. I can almost fluently understand all television programs and films.
	Reading	I understand large complex non-fiction and fiction texts, their stylistic features. I also understand special articles and long technical instructions, even if they do not relate to my area of ​​work.
Speaking	Dialogue	I can express my thoughts spontaneously and fluently, without experiencing difficulty in choosing words. My speech is distinguished by the variety of language means and the accuracy of their use in situations of professional and everyday communication. I can accurately formulate my thoughts and express my opinion, as well as actively support any conversation.
	Monologue	I can explain complex topics clearly and in detail, combine parts into a single whole, develop individual points and draw appropriate conclusions.
Letter	Letter	I can express my thoughts clearly and logically in writing and explain my views in detail. I can describe complex problems in detail in letters, essays, reports, highlighting what seems to me the most important. I can use the language style appropriate to the intended recipient.

C2 (Excellent):

Comprehension	Listening	I can easily understand any spoken language in direct or indirect communication. I can easily understand the speech of a native speaker speaking at a fast pace, if I have the opportunity to get used to the individual characteristics of his pronunciation.
	Read	I am fluent in all types of texts, including texts of an abstract nature that are compositionally or linguistically complex: instructions, special articles, and works of fiction.
Speaking	Dialogue	I can freely participate in any conversation or discussion, and I am fluent in a variety of idiomatic and colloquial expressions. I speak fluently and can express any shades of meaning. If I have difficulties in using language tools, I can quickly and imperceptibly paraphrase my statement.
	Monologue	I can express myself fluently and with reason, using appropriate linguistic means depending on the situation. I can structure my message logically in such a way as to capture the attention of the listeners and help them note and remember the most important points.
Letter	Letter	I can logically and consistently express my thoughts in writing, using the necessary language tools. I can write complex letters, reports, talks or articles that have a clear logical structure that helps the addressee note and remember the most important points. I can write summaries and reviews of both professional and artistic works.

In practice, one can focus on a certain set of levels and a certain set of categories, depending on specific goals. Such detailing makes it possible to compare training modules with each other and with the system of common European competencies.

Instead of identifying the categories that underlie speech activity, it may be necessary to evaluate language behavior on the basis of individual aspects of communicative competence. For example, table 3 was developed by to assess speaking , so it focuses on qualitatively different aspects of language use:

Table 3

A1 (Survival level):

RANGE	Possesses a very limited stock of words and phrases that serve to present information about oneself and to describe specific private situations.
ACCURACY	Limited control over the use of a few simple grammatical and syntactic structures memorized.
FLUENESS	Can express himself very briefly, utter individual statements, mostly made up of memorized units. Makes many pauses to find the right expression, pronounce less familiar words, correct mistakes.
ACTION	Can ask personal questions and talk about himself. Can respond elementarily to the speech of the interlocutor, but in general, communication depends on repetition, paraphrasing and correcting errors.
CONNECTIVITY	Can connect words and groups of words with simple linear conjunctions such as "and", "then".

A2 (Pre-threshold):

RANGE	Uses elementary syntactic structures with learned constructions, collocations and standard expressions to convey limited information in simple everyday situations.
ACCURACY	Uses some simple structures correctly, but still systematically makes elementary mistakes.
FLUENESS	Can express himself intelligibly in very short sentences, although pauses, self-corrections, and reformulation of the sentence are immediately evident.
ACTION	Can answer questions and respond to simple statements. Can show when he/she is still following the interlocutor's thought, but very rarely understands enough to carry on a conversation on his own.
CONNECTIVITY	Can connect groups of words with simple conjunctions such as "and", "but", "because".

B1 (Threshold):

RANGE	Has sufficient language skills to take part in a conversation; vocabulary allows you to explain yourself with a number of pauses and descriptive expressions on topics such as family, hobbies, hobbies, work, travel and current events.
PRECISION	Fairly accurate use of a set of constructs associated with familiar, regularly occurring situations.
FLUENESS	Can speak clearly, despite the fact that pauses for searching for grammatical and lexical means are noticeable, especially in statements of considerable length.
ACTION	Can initiate, maintain, and end a one-on-one conversation if the topics of discussion are familiar or individually meaningful. Can repeat previous lines to demonstrate understanding.
CONNECTIVITY	Can link several fairly short sentences into a linear text consisting of several paragraphs.

B2 (Threshold Advanced):

C1 (professional level):

C2 (Excellent):

The levels assessment tables discussed above are based on a bank of "illustrative descriptors" developed and tested in practice, and subsequently graded by levels during the course of a research project. Descriptor scales are based on a detailed to the category system to describe what language proficiency/use means and who can be called a language proficient/user.

The description is based on the activity approach . It establishes the relationship between language use and language learning. Users and language learners are considered as subjects social activities , i.e. members of the society who solve tasks (not necessarily related to language) in certain conditions , in a certain situation , in a certain field of activity . Speech activity is carried out in a wider social context, which determines the true meaning of the statement. The activity approach makes it possible to take into account the entire range of personal characteristics of a person as a subject of social activity, primarily cognitive, emotional and volitional resources. Thus, any form of language usage and its studies can be described in the following terms :

• Competencies represent the sum of knowledge, skills and personal qualities that allow a person to perform various actions.
• General competencies are not linguistic, they provide any activity, including communication.
• Communicative language competencies allow you to carry out activities using language tools.
• Context is a spectrum of events and situational factors against which communicative actions are carried out.
• Speech activity is the practical application of communicative competence in a certain area of ​​communication in the process of perception and / or generation of oral and written texts, aimed at performing a specific communicative task.
• Types of communicative activity involve the implementation of communicative competence in the process of semantic processing / creation (perception or generation) of one or more texts in order to solve the communicative task of communication in a certain field of activity.
• Text - is a coherent sequence of oral and / or written statements (discourse), the generation and understanding of which occurs in a specific area of ​​communication and is aimed at solving a specific problem.
• Under the sphere of communication refers to a wide range of social life in which social interaction is carried out. In relation to language learning, educational, professional, social and personal spheres are distinguished here.
• Strategy is a course of action chosen by a person to solve a problem.
• Task is a purposeful action necessary to obtain a specific result (solving a problem, fulfilling obligations, or achieving a goal).

Concept of multilingualism

The concept of multilingualism is central to the approach of the Council of Europe to the problem of language learning. Multilingualism arises as a person's linguistic experience expands in the cultural aspect from the language used in the family to mastering the languages ​​of other peoples (learned at school, college or directly in the language environment). A person “does not store” these languages ​​separately from each other, but forms communicative competence on the basis of all knowledge and all language experience, where languages ​​are interconnected and interact. According to the situation, the individual freely uses any part of this competence to ensure successful communication with a particular interlocutor. For example, partners can move freely from one language or dialect to another, demonstrating the ability of each to express an idea in one language and understand in another. A person can use multilingualism to understand text, written or spoken, in a language they did not previously know, recognizing words that sound and are spelled similarly in multiple languages ​​in a "new form".

From this point of view, the goal of language education is changing. Now the perfect (at the level of a native speaker) mastery of one or two, or even three languages, taken separately from each other, is not the goal. The goal is to develop such a linguistic repertoire, where there is a place for all linguistic skills. The latest developments in the language program of the Council of Europe are aimed at developing a tool with which language teachers will contribute to the development of a multilingual personality. In particular, the European Language Portfolio is a document in which the most varied experiences of language learning and intercultural communication can be recorded and formally recognized.

REFERENCES

A Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​Learning, Teaching, Assessment
Full text of the monograph in English on the website of the Council of Europe

Gemeinsamer europaischer Referenzrahmen fur Sprachen: Lernen, lehren, beurteilen
German text of the monograph on the website of the German Goethe Cultural Center

English from scratch. Learning to read

What is the first thing a child is taught when he comes to school? Of course, the alphabet, and then reading and writing. Any teaching of a foreign language begins with the same. Is it possible to speak English without mastering the literacy? Yes, if you completely immerse yourself in the language environment. But even under such ideal conditions as living in an English-speaking country, you will still feel like a child in the company of adults. Without a decent knowledge of English, it is not easy not only to live in an English-speaking country, but also to travel the world. Even the airport is much easier to navigate for those who know how to read English.

So, it is clear that in order to master the language, you will definitely need to learn how to read. Any foreign course is built in such a way that in the first lessons you learn the alphabet and pronunciation. At the initial stages, of course, you will need to make an effort to remember how certain letters and letter combinations are read. But having mastered English literacy in the first lessons, you can easily voice any text, even filled with unfamiliar words.

How to learn to read English correctly. Some Tips

There are many ways to learn to read English. Someone resorts to the help of transcription. Others write down the pronunciation of English words using Russian letters. There are people who like to read aloud a lot. And someone focuses on audio files. In fact, all methods are good in their own way. When learning to read, it is not enough to learn letters, diphthongs and remember all the rules. In this matter, constant practice is important. Here are some tips to help you develop your English reading skills:

• Learn to listen to English. Oddly enough, but the ability to hear what the British and Americans say directly affects our ability to read. At the initial stage, adapted books are very useful, provided with discs with audio recordings of the texts themselves. Having before your eyes the text that the announcer reads, you learn to read correctly on a subconscious level.
• Try to read every day. Make it a rule to read English books for at least 20-30 minutes every day. Choose books according to your level of language proficiency. At the initial stage, you can read fairy tales and short stories. And in order to develop spoken language skills, it is also useful to occasionally look at English-language periodicals and blogs.
• Get used to writing in English. As you know, reading and writing are directly related. One follows from the other. If a person reads English at a decent level, then he will most likely state his thoughts on paper very competently. Getting to know native speakers is one of the most affordable and effective ways to improve your reading and writing skills. Communication in modern society is often based on correspondence in chats and social networks. Therefore, having met a native speaker, you yourself will not notice how correspondence in English will become part of everyday life. Introverts can be advised to keep a diary, which will be filled with entries in English.
• Learn English tongue twisters and poems. For example: Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not. Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot. We'll weather the weather whether we like it or not Tongue twisters help to work out the pronunciation of complex sounds. Poems enrich vocabulary.
• Practice pronunciation. Spend time practicing those sounds that are unusual for Russian speakers. For example, the combination th is not given to every student the first time. And, of course, the easiest way to learn the correct pronunciation is to listen to the dialogues and monologues of native speakers. Modern TV series with English subtitles help to deliver the correct speech.
Reading in English . Alphabet

Suppose you want to learn to read English from scratch. In this case, you will have to start from the very beginning, that is, from the alphabet, consisting of 26 letters.

English alphabet (alphabet)

English has 20 consonants and 6 vowels. Vowels include letters: A, E, I, O, U, Y.

In order to learn the alphabet faster, you can turn to children's songs. Bright cards with letters also help a lot.

There are a few letters in the English language that "behave" differently from the rest. So, almost all consonants in English make one sound. But X is an exception. This letter conveys two sounds at once [ks]. It is also worth paying attention to the last character in the English alphabet. The pronunciation of Z depends on whether we are dealing with the British or American version of the language. In the first case, the letter is read as [zed], in the second - as [zi:].

The pronunciation of the letter R is also very different between the Americans and the British. In the UK, this is a long sound a [a:]. In the American alphabet - ar [a: r].

Transcription

Reading English will be much easier if you learn the transcription, which is a system of signs used to record sounds. Since this or that letter may sound differently depending on what signs surround it, it can be difficult for a foreigner to read some words correctly without transcription. However, recently many students refuse to memorize the symbols of English phonetics. Indeed, thanks to the Internet, today you can easily listen to how the right word is read.

How to read consonants

It's easy enough to remember how to read consonants in English. The fact is that you can easily find analogues in Russian for many consonant sounds. For example, the English Mm is, in fact, the familiar M [um]. And in the word lemon, the pronunciation of the consonant L is similar to the Russian L. Also, analogues in our language can be found with the consonants N, B, F, Z.

The pronunciation of the letter C depends on which characters it is adjacent to. If C is followed by the vowels I, E, Y, then it will be read as [s]. For example, in the word cinema (cinema). Before other vowels, C reads like [k]: come (come), camel (camel), cake (cake).

The consonants T and D in English are very similar to Russian T and D, only they are most often pronounced with a breath. But the letter Q will always be accompanied by a vowel U. The letter combination Qu is pronounced as [kw]. For example, in the word queen (queen). The consonant G before the vowels I, E, Y will be read as [j] - [dʒ]. For example, orange (orange), badge (icon). Before all other letters, G is pronounced like [g]: game (game), gale (storm).

Another unusual letter for the Russian language is Jj, which is always pronounced as [dʒ]. This consonant is very common in the names of representatives of English-speaking countries: Jack (Jack), James (James), Jane (Jane).

Below we provide a list of all English consonants with transcription:

Bb - [b]

Cc - [s] or [k]

Dd - [d]

Ff - [f]

Gg - [dʒ] or [g]

Hh - [h]

Jj-[dʒ]

Kk - [k]

Ll - [l]

mm - [m]

Nn-[n]

Pp - [p]

Qq - [kw]

Rr - [r]

Ss - [s] or [z]

Tt - [t]

Vv - [v]

Ww - [w]

Xx - [ks] or [gz]

Zz - [z]

Vowels

Reading in English for beginners is usually complicated not by consonants, which are often read the same way as they sound in the alphabet, but by vowels. There are only 6 vowels in English, but the problem is that each of them, depending on the position in the word, can have several reading options. Much is determined by whether the letter is in stressed or unstressed position. For stressed vowels, there are 4 types of syllable in English:

1. An open syllable is a syllable ending in a vowel or a consonant (except R) followed by a silent E. A stressed vowel in an open syllable is pronounced as it is pronounced in the alphabet. For example, plane (plane), placement (room), he (he).
2. A closed syllable is a syllable that ends in one consonant (excluding r) or several consonants. The stressed vowel in such a syllable is transmitted in a short and clear sound. The vowel A is pronounced as the middle between e and a [æ]. For example, cat (cat). The letter O in stressed position in a closed syllable sounds like [ɒ] in the word dog (dog), E - like [e] (for example, ten - ten). Vowels Y and I in a closed syllable are pronounced as [i] (little - small, myth - myth). Finally, the stressed letter U will resemble a somewhat slurred short sound and [ʌ] (cut - cut).
3. If a stressed vowel is followed by the consonant R alone or in combination with other consonants, then the vowels will be read as follows:
• a [ɑː] - long Russian sound a - park (park)
• o [ɔː] - lingering long Russian sound o - sport (sport)
• e [ɜː] - resembles the Russian sound ё in the word "honey" - fern (fern)
• y [ɜː] - byrd (bird)
• i [ɜː] - first (first)
• u [ɜː] - burn (burn)
4. If a stressed vowel is followed by a consonant R in combination with any vowel, then the syllables are divided into diphthongs or triphthongs (complex sounds consisting of two or three letters pronounced as one). In this combination, the vowel A sounds like [ɛə]. For example, in the word fare (fare, fare). The vowel O in the fourth type of syllable will be pronounced as a long Russian sound O [ɔː]. An example here is the word more (more). The vowel E under stress is pronounced as something of a fusion between Russian I and A [ɪə], for example mere (only). Y and I with the fourth type of syllable are read as [aɪə]. For example, in the words fire (fire) and tire (tire). The letter U turns into the sound [jʊə] (during - during).
Learning to read consonant diphthongs

At the initial stages of learning a foreign language, students will also need to find the answer to the question of how to read diphthongs in English. This term refers to combinations of two letters that give one sound.

Table of English diphthongs. Consonants

How to read different combinations of vowels?

If you are seriously wondering how to learn to read in English, you will also have to study diphthongs with vowels. Here is some of them:

1. ai, ay, ei, ey - [ei] - aim (goal, task)
2. ai - [eə] - air (air). Before consonant R
3. ae - [ɪ:] - aegis (protection, aegis)
4. au - [o] - autumn (autumn)
5. ea, ee - [ɪ:] - meal (food). Only if the vowel is not followed by the letter R
6. ea, ee - [ɪə] - dear (dear). In position before R
7. ie - [ɪ:] - field (field).
8. oa - [ou] or [o:] - boat (boat)
9. oi, oy - [oi] - enjoy (enjoy)
10. oo [u:] or [u] or [uə] - moon (moon), book (book), poor (poor)
11. ou - [au] - ground (earth). In the middle of a word
Silent consonants

Those who have been reading English for quite some time rarely remember all the rules for pronouncing diphthongs. And even more so in the process of reading, not everyone pays attention to the fact that some consonants are dumb. But at the initial stage of learning, it is important to remember that the following letters are not read in English:

• G and K before N at the beginning and end of a word. Foreign (foreign)
• B and N after M.

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