Reading level test for high school
How to Test Reading Level Online: The Ultimate Guide
I decided to start hunting for a reading level test for my kid during my first year of homeschooling.
I had a first grader who had completed her phonics curriculum, but wasn’t really interested in chapter books. She loved for me to read to her, but was not interesting in reading very much herself – which stressed me.
As a frazzled, first-time homeschooler, I wanted to test her reading level to see if she needed more reading instruction, more practice, or if she was right where she needed to be.
I have tried a number of online reading tests over my homeschooling years and have found that they are not all created equally.
In this post I am going to share with you everything you wanted to know and more about giving your kid a reading level test.
But First, Avoid Reading Level Tests If…
Your kid is still going through a high quality phonics program, such as All About Reading, Explode the Code, or Primary Phonics.
Let your kid finish the program before worrying about what grade level they may be at.
Most reading tests do not assume that the child is learning phonics (since most kids aren’t) and will rely more heavily on sight words they think the child should have learned by a certain grade.
Taking a reading test with a kid who hasn’t finished their phonics reading curriculum is probably not going to be helpful to a parent or child.
Do Take a Reading Level Test If…
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You have just started homeschooling and have no idea where your kid should be placed for reading.
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You have finished a phonics program, but are still unsure if your kid is where they need to be.
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You think your child might be gifted reader and want to see what level they are testing at.
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You want to make sure your student is progressing, even though they’re not reading aloud to you anymore
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You need to make sure you are buying the right level books for your child to read.
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You want to see if your kid is smarter than someone else’s kid and you want proof.
These are all great reasons, well except for that last one. Definitely do not test your kid for homeschooling glory.
Hopefully that gave you a laugh, so let’s dive in!
4 Tips for Getting the Best Results When You Test Reading Level
1.Take the Reading Test Yourself
I took a lot of time to explain how the test runs below, but it would be helpful to run through the test yourself first. Make sure you know how to administer the test and confirm that the reading assessment is a good fit for your kid.
2. Administer the Reading Test at the Best Time
Make sure that your kid takes the test when they are their best. Is that first thing in the morning, in the evening, or right after lunch (probably not)?
Ensure your kid has plenty of energy, isn’t hungry, and is in a comfortable environment with minimal distractions.
3. Prep Your Kid Mentally
If you are giving a reading assessment to your kid, there is a good chance that your kid is already a little insecure about reading. Do not put the pressure on them that this test evaluating them.
I have given several reading tests and I make a point to tell them it is no big deal, but I do need them to do their best. I go on to say that I need to evaluate our curriculum. Depending on how they do on the test, I will make decisions about what books I need to buy for the next school year.
This takes the pressure off of them.
The are not being evaluated – the curriculum is being evaluated.
4. Do Not Share Their Results with Them
When the reading level test is complete, tell them they did well and that you are happy with their effort.
If the score is less than you were hoping for, you don’t want to destroy their confidence. If it’s really high, you don’t want them to be prideful and brag about it.
Either way, tell them they worked hard and you’ll use the scores to make the best decisions for their education.
This also helps if you plan to test their reading in the future. They will go into the assessment with no expectations – positive or negative.
3 Free Ways to Test Reading Level Online!
1. MacMillian Reading Level Test
The MacMillian Reading Level test seems to be one of the most popular and trusted reading level tests out there.
I used it with my daughter a couple years ago and I recently tested my own reading level to refresh myself on their process.
How the MacMillian Reading Level Test Works
Everyone starts at the easiest level. You are provided a picture and a fill-in the blank question. There will be 4 multiple choice options to choose from.
As you answer questions you progress through the levels until you have missed a certain number. Then you are immediately told what level reader you are – Starter, Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, or Advanced.
Interestingly, I found the questions to be a bit slanted towards an understanding of grammar and reading comprehension.
Here is an example of a grammar question. Your kid may be able to read all the words, but does he understand the correct verb agreement?
Pros and Cons of MacMillian Reading Level Test
The benefits of this online reading level test are that it is free, simple to use, and provides you an answer right away (no need to wait for an email).
It is also a great test for a kid who can read, but struggles with comprehension.
The negatives to me are that it seems to be testing more than reading and the results do not provide a grade level. You may not know what to do with an “Elementary Level” result. It is kind of a broad answer.
One More Thing to Know About MacMillian Reading Level Test
The test does not tell your child when they miss a question. I intentionally missed questions in order to see what would happen and it just went to the next question.
This might help if your kid would be stressed by a reading level test – no big red X when they make an error.
2. San Diego Quick Assessment
I have also used this reading level test with my kid – twice actually – and it lives up to its name!
It really is quick!
How the San Diego Quick Assessment Works
Go to this online PDF and print off the four pages.
You will see grade level words in columns from Pre-Primer through 11th grade. There are 10 words in each column.
Give your child the student portion and ask them to start reading down the first column. Use your grader sheet to check off if they read the word correctly or not.
The test helps you break down the results in terms of Independent Level, Instructional Level, and Frustration Level.
Pros and Cons of San Diego Quick Test
The benefits of this online reading level test is that it does give a quick and free snapshot of your kids reading level. No lengthy test that your child gets bored with.
It is also on paper, which many kids do better with than reading off a screen.
The test doesn’t have any context or pictures to help your child. It will really tell you if they can read or sound out the word or not.
Parents will also like that they get a solid grade level result – a little easier to understand and work with.
The only con I have is that determining grade level with just 10 words is pretty arbitrary. You child may know many other grade level words, but not necessarily the ones on this list.
3. Pioneer Valley Reading Test
This is the most recent online reading level test we’ve used and by far my favorite. I found it to be much more comprehensive and I felt the results were a much more solid reflection of my daughter’s true reading skills.
How the Pioneer Valley Reading Test Works
This online reading assessment is broken into two parts.
Part One: High Frequency Word Reading
The first part consists of words coming across the screen for your child to read. The words are simple at first and then get more complex. The parent sits with the child and clicks “Correct” or “Incorrect” as the child reads each word.
Once the child misses two words, she is moves on to the next step.
Part Two: Reading
You will be asked to sit with your child while they read through an interesting story. Make a mark on a piece of a paper every time your child misses a word in the story.
At the end of the story you will be prompted to record the total number of words your child missed and whether or not they struggled to complete the story. Based on those results your child will either move forward or backward on a scale of A-Z. Eventually your child will be assigned a Letter Level and you will see a chart that corresponds to a grade level:
Pros and Cons of Pioneer Valley Online Reading Assessment
I thought this was much more involved and thorough than other tests we have tried.
Even if your child encounters words he doesn’t know in the first part of the assessment, there are still many other chances in part two to show their reading skills.
Other benefits include: it is free, the stories were interesting to read, and there was an option to test reading comprehension after each story.
Cons for me would be that the scale does not go beyond 6th grade. It just says 6 grade +. I would have liked to see a scale that goes into high school level.
Other Free Online Reading Level Tests to Try
There are many other resources to try out there to test your kid’s reading level!
Here are some other tests that might be the perfect fit for you and your kid:
Red Cat Level Reading Assessment
Oxford Owl Online Reading Test
Oxford English Reading Test
Good and the Beautiful Reading Level Assessment
Wide Range Reading Test
Not Happy with Your Kid’s Reading Level Test Results? Try these ideas!
1. Take a Different Reading Assessment
It is possible that the test you chose just didn’t jive with your kid. If you are unsure about the results, don’t be shy about waiting a day or two and then doing another reading test with your child.
2. Think about what they struggled with the most during the the Reading Level Test
These reading level tests are excellent tools to help you pinpoint exactly where your child needs help.
Did your child struggle because of any of these issues:
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Sounding out
When your child came to an unfamiliar word, did he freeze up, melt down, or give ridiculous guesses? If so, consider working with your kid on their phonics.
A high quality, low cost phonics program we love is Explode the Code. These simple workbooks are known for giving kids confidence and raising reading levels.
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Vocabulary
Did your child manage to sound out a word, but have no idea what it meant? As your kid climbs the reading levels, increasing their vocabulary is crucial.
Some simple ways to increase vocabulary are reading aloud to your child regularly, using higher levels of vocabulary around the house, and including vocabulary curriculum in your homeschool.
I recently bought Word Roots for my 4th grader and we are so excited about it. It teaches the Latin roots of English words so that kids can break down AND understand a large number of difficult words.
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Comprehension
Is your kid reading beautifully, but has no earthly idea what he just read? Many parents would be jealous of the beautiful reading, but the comprehension is just as important – if not more so.
Providing your kids with a continuous flow of interesting books that spark their imagination will help a lot in this area. And I hate to say it, but decreasing their screen time will also dramatically help.
If your child continues to struggle with comprehension, consider looking into the Reading Detective series. We have added this workbook to our homeschool curriculum and I think it has really stretched my daughter. The workbooks teach children how to analyze a short story while answering multiple choice questions AND citing the paragraph or sentence number that proves their answer.
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Fluency
Did your child painstakingly struggle through sounding out just about every word? Even the short vowel words?
The best thing for fluency is a high quality phonics program as mentioned before and practice, practice, practice.
I am a huge fan of easy phonics readers and keep multiple sets around the house. Here are some of our absolute favorites:
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Bob Books
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I Can Read It! Books
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Primary Phonics Readers
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Now I’m Reading! Books
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Tug the Pup Books
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Usbourne Phonics Readers
Recap Reading Level Test Guide for Kids
Remember above all else that a reading level test is a tool to help you customize your kid’s education and help them succeed.
It is not a grade for your parenting.
Or a grade for your homeschool.
You are not necessarily a failure or a success no matter how your child scores.
Use these free online reading tests to drive you forward and you can’t go wrong!
Have you tried an online reading test that isn’t mentioned here? Please share in the comments!
Do you want to make sure you save all this information for later – smart thinking! Just pin this article to your favorite Pinterest post and definitely share with your friends and followers!
Read Next:
Reading Level Tests for Calculating Grade, Competency, & Level
So, you're looking for free reading level assessment tests? You've come to the right place! As you may already know, there are a large variety of tests that can determine reading level, reading grade level, reading comprehension level, and phonetic ability.
I've compiled the most useful tests into what I hope will be an easy online format.
Quick Reading Level Calculator to Determine Grade Level
Below is the 40L's Quick Screen Reading Grade Level Test. This reading level test will approximate a grade for 1st-12th grades. The test uses a quick word list and requires a medium level of test "administration." The instructions should load below.
Scoring the Quick Screen Reading Test
To score the test, count the number of words read correctly and divide that total by 10 to get a decimal score of reading grade level. For example, a student who missed the word “mope” in line 1, “pause” in line 2, then “noisy, ledge, alike, grackle, and partook” in line 3 would have missed 5 words in a row on line 3, so you stop the test. There are 10 words in each numbered line (5 on top and 5 on the bottom), so the student missed 7 of 30 words read. 30 – 7 = 23 words read correctly. 23/10 = 2.3, so the student would be reading at a grade level of 2.3.
Click here to download the printable PDF.
San Diego Quick Assessment of Reading Ability
This San Diego Quick Assessment test is another easy way to connect the dots between reading ability and grade level. The test places students into levels preprimer to eleventh grade.
The test measures the student's recognition of words out of context. The theory is that proficient readers can read accurately no matter the context of the material. The test is comprised of 13 graded word lists. Weak readers rely too much on context to identify words.
Grading the Test:
- 1 error = Independent Level
- 2 errors = Instructional Level
- 3 errors = Frustration Level
Student Reading Level = The last grade-level word list in which the student achieves an Instructional Level (misses no more than 2 words.)
Test administration requirements: Low - easy to administer.
Click here to view, download, and print the San Diego Quick Reading Level Assessment Test PDF.
Grade Level from Reading Passages & Phonetic Code Proficiency
The National Right to Read Foundation has two excellent tests for grade level and proficiency. However, I recommend taking the tests in the reverse order they are listed in. Part one is for phonetic code proficiency and part two is for grade level assessment. I suggest taking the grade level assessment first.
The grade level test is not based on a random word list, but uses short reading passages to accomplish a similar task. This test only measures grades 1-6.
Test administration requirements: Low - easy to administer.
Click here to take the NRRF tests online.
An Informal Reading Assessment
This test is an informal reading inventory. The test utilizes grade specific word lists (25 words each) for preprimer through 8th grade. One set of these graded passages can be used to assess students’ oral reading, and the other can be used to assess silent reading.
Test administration requirements: Medium/High - Long PDF of 50+ pages.
Click here to view, download, and print the Jennings Informal Reading Assessment PDF.
Reading Test to Determine a Need for Phonics Instruction
The Miller Word Identification Assessment is the most powerful free reading test that can assess if the test-taker would benefit from phonics instruction.
Test administration requirements: High - grading the test requires a very high level of involved and measurement.
Click here to view, download, and print the MWIA test.
Advanced Written Comprehension
Students in middle school, high school, and college may benefit from taking our free written comprehension test. The test measures English language comprehension at a more advanced level of logic. Unlike many placement tests that rely on vocabulary or pronunciation, this test focuses on English equivalencies and reasoning.
The test is scored, but does not offer "placement."
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90,000 Detailed norms for reading speed at school. Reading speed standards. How to test reading skills at home.
Pass the reading speed test
Reading is a speech process of perception of recorded information, which has two sides:
- cognitive or semantic, aimed at understanding and understanding the content of the text being read;
- mechanical or technical, which determines the speed, correctness and expressiveness of reading.
Comprehension of the text means that the reader:
- understands the meanings of words used in the text, both literally and figuratively;
- is aware of the content of each of the sentences that make up the text, and also traces the semantic relationship between them;
- emotionally perceives the content of the text and forms his attitude to what he read.
Reading accuracy is to avoid mistakes or unintentional substitution of certain words or endings. For example:
- substitutions, omissions, permutations, additions, distortions, repetitions of letters (sounds), syllables and words;
- correctly or erroneously emphasizes the words of the text being read.
Reading expressiveness manifests itself in the ability to color the text intonation, as well as correctly pause, based on the psychological and rhythmic content of the text, for example, when reading poems.
The need to make a logical and psychological emphasis, to find the right intonation, partly suggested by punctuation marks. The diction of the reader also plays an important role.
Reading speed (rate) is a quantitative characteristic showing the reader's ability to perceive a certain number of words per minute. Reading speed is divided into:
- reading aloud is when the reader reproduces what has been read in parallel with the process of perceiving the text. The speed of text reproduction when reading aloud is limited by the development of the articulatory apparatus and reaches its limit of 250 words per minute;
- silent reading is when the reader mentally pronounces the text without using the articulatory apparatus, while he is able to imagine the sound of the words as if they were spoken aloud. The determining factor in reading speed is the ability to retell the content of what has been read.
Reading speed depends on the reading method:
- syllabic reading,
- smooth syllabic, when the syllable is read together, and not broken by letters),
- fluent syllabary with single word reading,
- reading whole words and groups of words.
To encourage a child to develop reading speed, it is necessary to naturally teach him to move from simple recognition and pronunciation of individual letters and their combination to syllabic fusion, and only then move on to monosyllabic words. In the future, the child should also be systematically encouraged to read the whole word and groups of words. Violent reading methods can lead to rejection of the acquisition of reading skills, skipping the sequential transition from letters and syllables to words, as well as loss of understanding of the read text.
The key to further successful education in middle and high school is not only the development of reading techniques, but also the comprehension of the read text. It is believed that the optimal reading speed is the speed of speaking, which is 120-150 words per minute. It is to this speed that the human articulatory apparatus has adapted over many centuries.
According to V.N. Zaitsev, General Director of the National Library of Russia, the most important factor influencing academic performance is reading. As evidence, he gives the following example: in grades 6-7, homework for one day averages about 8 pages of a textbook (all subjects), or about 6500 words. At a reading speed of 100-120 words, reading textbooks will take approximately 65-55 minutes. To assimilate the material, many students need to read it 2-3 times, this will already be from two to three hours. Also add the time required to complete written assignments. Even if the student copes with written assignments in 1 hour, then daily homework will take 3-4 hours. If we add to this the 6-7 hours during which the student was at school, it turns out that the working day of the average student is, at best, 9and even 11 o'clock. Thus, many schoolchildren are doomed to failure until they learn to read elementarily.
Thus, based on simple calculations given by V.I. Zaitsev, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of reading lessons.
The development process is directly related to the development of reading speed and the ability of our brain to perceive encrypted information. Those children who read a lot are always more successful among their peers, because in the process of reading they improve the stability of attention and the amount of RAM, which in turn leads to the development of mental performance.
Reading skills are usually developed in elementary school. Therefore, it is so necessary to strive to ensure that the speed of reading corresponds to the level of reading comprehension. By the end of schooling, most students have a reading speed of at least 110-120 words per minute, but the question remains how conscious, correct and expressive their reading was.
In the process of testing "reading technique", the teacher relies on indicators such as:
- awareness of reading, both aloud and silently. Thus, the child must not only read, but also understand what he read;
- reading method - syllabic reading of words, reading with a whole word, fluent reading;
- expressiveness of reading - the correct setting of stresses, observing pauses and intonations when reading;
- reading speed - the number of characters read in a certain period of time;
- reading errors - errors in reading words and stuttering.
Thus, reading speed is just one of the indicators of reading technique. The very same reading technique, in addition to speed, includes a number of indicators such as fluency, expressiveness and correct reading of the text. Therefore, it is important for parents of first-graders and those who prepare a child for school to focus not only on the speed of reading, but also on its awareness. It has been proven that simple texts are better perceived and contribute to the development of reading technique. Especially at the initial stages, the child will try to read some fairy tale correctly and with expression, but very slowly and syllable by syllable will read about the construction of rockets or some technical text on repair.
It is important to remember and understand that the horizons and vocabulary of the child expands due to the volume of the text read, and not from speed. The more the baby reads, the more he learns and remembers many new words.
Reading speed standards
Parents are always interested in reading speed standards. However, it is worth remembering that they may differ depending on the curriculum of different schools, for example, in a gymnasium school, the standards will be significantly higher than for correctional classes.
Pass the reading speed test
The Federal State Educational Standard for Primary General Education, abbreviated GEF NOO, is as follows:
Norm of reading technique 1st grade
- end of 1st half 15 — 20 wpm
- end of 2nd half 25 - 40 wpm
Reading technique standard 2nd grade
- at the end of the 1st half of the year 50 - 70 wpm
- end of 2nd half 60 - 80 wpm
Norm of reading technique 3rd grade
- end of 1st half 70 - 90 wpm
- end of 2nd half 80 - 100 wpm
Reading technique standard 4th grade
- end of 1st half 85 - 105 wpm
- at the end of the 2nd half of the year 90 - 110 wpm
Reading technique standard 5th grade
- end of 1st half 100 - 110 wpm
- end of 2nd half 110 - 120 wpm
Norm of reading technique 6th grade
- end of 1st half 110 - 120 wpm
- end of 2nd half 120 - 130 wpm
Norm of reading technique 7th grade
- end of 1st half 120 - 130 wpm
- end of 2nd half 130- 140 wpm
Norm of reading technique 8th grade
- end of 1st half 140-150 wpm
- end of 2nd half 150- 160 wpm
Norm of reading technique 9th grade
- end of 1st half 160- 170 wpm
- end of 2nd half 170- 180 wpm
How to test reading skills at home
To check the reading technique, you need to take a stopwatch, a calculator and a text that is unfamiliar to the child, but will be clear to him, for example, an adventure story. So for 1-2 minutes using a stopwatch, you measure the number of words read by the child. Next, divide the number of words by the amount of time measured in seconds, then multiply the result by 60. In other words, the number of words read is divided by the volume of perceived characters per second, and then multiplied by 60, which corresponds to the value read per minute.
Or use the reading technique test on our website - it will do all these actions automatically.
Pass the reading speed test
Particular attention should be paid to the font size and sentence structure. For first-graders, these should be short, simple sentences, without a lot of commas, colons, dashes, and other characters complicating the text. It is better that the text be without illustrations that distract the child from the reading process and dialogues, where it will be necessary to switch attention to reading by roles. In the process of reading, the child will be more comfortable if his eyes move calmly along the line without jumping, so the text should be on one sheet.
In the process of reading, be guided by the fact that the child reads calmly, you should also not correct it or repeat words, but it is worth marking for yourself where the child stumbled or made a mistake. Therefore, in order to understand whether the reading was meaningful, you will have to ask the child a few questions to the text.
If a child shows different results each time they are tested, this is not a cause for concern. Perhaps the child's fatigue, his desire to read, his mood and state of health affect him. The reading technique can be checked several times, for example, in the morning and in the evening, but read different texts each time. If you see the child's nervous state, then postpone or reschedule the test for another time. It will also be useful to check the reading technique in the form of a game, when the child does not suspect that he is now being tested.
Teaching English to read at the senior level of education
It is known that high school students attitude towards the subject "foreign language", his motivation is noticeably reduced study.
A significant part of high school students sincerely deluded that in their later life no foreign language is required. They don't see a perspective worth pursuing foreign language. According to them, foreign language is not one of the important subjects.
Decreased motivation to study a foreign language language is also due to too slow progress of students in mastering a foreign language. In high school after 5-6 years learning a foreign language, students begin understand the elementary nature of their skills and abilities. Established in the minds of students uncertainty about the end result of the study foreign language generates a very sharp decreased motivation to study it, especially on senior stage.
In turn, the marked instability skills and abilities in foreign language types communicative activity is determined the absence of a natural need for communication on foreign language, the necessary systematic work to improve acquired skills and abilities. All this entails purely formal attitude to the subject "foreign language". That is why it is so important in this period "reverse" mental attitude high school students, convincingly and conclusively show the importance and value of a foreign language, create psychological readiness (installation) for serious and conscious work to master ability to read in a foreign language.
Suspend the development of the downward trend the authority of the subject "foreign language" in senior high school - a very important and actual task.
It can be concluded that at the senior stage schools the main goals and objectives of learning reading will prepare students for further education and reading literature on specialties.
Obvious relevance of the topic and its statement force us to study and describe reading mechanisms.
Types of reading
Reading is a special kind of speech activity, it is process of simultaneous perception and understanding written text. It's deep inside the process of interpreting a text which implies verbal, subject and semantic understanding. Text comprehension is based on subject and language competence [13, c.50].
Compared to listening (once, lack of time), when reading a person can perceive the text as many times as it need.
Depending on communication tasks, which the reader puts before him, and reading techniques corresponding to them are divided into studying, introductory, viewing and search.
Skimming reading aimed at evaluating and selecting material from the point the needs and interests of the reader. Wherein The reader initially solves the following particular tasks: definition of the topic and object of description, degree novelty of textual information, areas of application information that can be obtained from the text, breadth and depth of description, accessibility presentation. These particular tasks are solved with the help of certain actions and operations: topic and object descriptions are identified, first of all, by interpretations, titles, highlights and interpretations the keywords, terms and the concepts they express. In this case, useful exercises such as identifying and translating basic terms of the title, their commenting. In addition, to clarify the topic (object) of the description it is advisable to resort to a quick look text to get acquainted with the main semantic line of content. Here is a useful search and selection of phrasal units containing the most concentrated information. Thereafter subjective assessment becomes possible novelty and significance of textual information. The availability of the presentation is checked by a selective reading two or three "medium" in difficulty fragments, which should be given in the form pretext exercise. Review Reading usually ends in one of two outcomes: either the reader refuses to read this text, or shifts to another kind of reading.
fluent reading, aimed at identifying and mastering the main content of the text in those aspects that are of interest to the reader.
Introductory reading sent to reception the information itself, to familiarize yourself with the content text. However, the specifics of reception with this type reading is that it is carried out selectively, and the reader performs self-regulation regarding content coverage (Attention is focused on only a few fragments) and depth of perception-understanding (certain limits apply to completeness) spanning the meaning of what is being read). Thereby typical for introductory reading are "leaps" of both spatial and tempo character: reader "jumps" over separate parts text and then speeds up, then slows down the process itself. Reading unfolds, as it were, within the framework, within which there are fluctuations in the levels of understanding - from fragmentary at a glance to more deep insight into the meaning of individual parts. In fact, introductory reading, being specific view, reading and having their own own information tasks, with operating point of view, includes elements of both viewing and thoughtful.
Thus, the value of an introductory reading is a combination of informativeness with economy, as it allows the reader omit separate semantic blocks and details text that, for whatever reason, is not deserve attention. Studying ( thoughtful - close reading) reading aimed at as much as possible complete and accurate understanding of the main content text, with details and details preserved. It proceeds with a focus on all major aspects of the content and usually accompanied by his analysis, critical assessment, generalization, that is, the extraction of the main ideas, formulation of conclusions, conclusions, recommendations. Solving these problems requires increasing the role of logical-discursive thinking, associated with the activation of inner speech, internal translation as a means of overcoming linguistic and semantic difficulties on the way to achieving understanding. Another task is as well as the formation of a trainee's skill overcome difficulties on their own understanding of the text being studied. object "learning" in this kind of reading is information contained in the text, but not language material. Learning reading is different more regressions than other types reading, - re-reading parts of the text, sometimes with a distinct pronunciation of the text by analysis of linguistic forms, deliberate selection the most important theses and repeated speaking them out loud for the better memorizing content for later retelling, discussion, use in work. FROM point of view of communicative-cognitive values the most important type is thoughtful reading. It is also the most difficult requiring a lot of exercise. Types and speed readings are interrelated. Each type requires certain "average" speed. Fluent text review is feasible at a fast pace, but this is impossible with thoughtful reading. Viewing reading usually takes place with speed of 400-500 words per minute, introductory - 180-200, thoughtful - 50-60. From a comparison of these data It can be seen that viewing reading can proceed in 10 times faster than thoughtful. It is quite clear that behind such a difference in pace is a significant the difference in committed linguistic and mental operations.
Thus, depending on the purposes that puts the reader in front of him, reading is divided into studying, introductory and viewing. Reading is a receptive form of speech activities aimed at extracting information contained in the written text (speech work).
When teaching any kind of speech activity should clearly set the goals and objectives of training, which will be different at different stages learning.
Methods of teaching learning reading
Features of learning to read high school students
Mastering the technology of reading is carried out in as a result of the execution of pre-text, text and post-text exercises. Reading presents much greater opportunities for development of intelligence and, consequently, more corresponds to the psychological characteristics high school students. However, it is necessary to take into account a number points that contribute to the effectiveness of training reading and improving his general education values. For more or less free reading learners should have a fairly large volume of vocabulary. It is necessary to provide and more careful repetition of the vocabulary that learners should know in accordance with program. According to statistics, 11th grade students recognize no more than 70% of words from lexical minimum 5-9classes. it occurs because in recent years, work with little is said as a separate word and is even considered contrary to modern methods. Indeed, the word functions and manifests itself in a phrase, this is how it should be introduced and exercise most of the time, but for memorizing vocabulary, storing it in memory personal dictionaries of students are absolutely necessary, with which they must work constantly. Otherwise this would be the case if there was an abundant speech practices when all vocabulary is constantly would be repeated in speech activity. AT reality is far from the case. Work with vocabulary is more appropriate in that it corresponds one of the features of high school students, namely their desire for concrete knowledge, desire achieve real academic achievement. Constant and visible growth of lexical stock brings therefore trainees satisfaction and desire to expand knowledge, while while the formation of skills and abilities is not enough felt by the students. In the same time it is advisable to work more with vocabulary in order to creating a common understanding among students about vocabulary of a foreign language, its characteristics, with particular attention to difference in semantic volumes of words with similar meaning, international words (this work is currently underway), idiomatic phrases. For reading to become true informative, necessary part class time for self-study devote to reading individually, followed by reading information. This kind of work should also stimulate the development of interest in language.
Intensification of learning is the most important condition for improving the effectiveness of educational process. The intensifying factor in this should be all-round integration of all kinds foreign language classes aimed at strengthening the skills and abilities that make up communicative reading skills. This and the lessons compulsory course, and electives, and extracurricular activities, and foreign language circles.
Adequacy of training exercises. This methodological regularity refers to learning any kind of speech activity, including including the ability to read. In order to be sufficient all aspects of reading skills were developed, exercises are needed that are adequate to the component composition of this communication skill. A task is to carefully study all components of a complex communication skill read in a foreign language and, accordingly, in development of exercises adequate to their skills composition.
Excellence in technical reading skills. Perfect, or, shall we say, close to perfect reading technique as a component of reading ability forms and expands the scope of the reading field, increases the angle of perception, due to which the most important quality of this skill is achieved - reading fluency. It has been established that between reading speed and comprehension read there is a direct relationship. Obviously, without the speed acquired at school (fluency) reading genuine communicative ability to read is impossible.
Thus, training in technical skills reading aimed at providing a full understanding of the texts, it is necessary to all stages of the development of this skill.
All-round enrichment of the receptive vocabulary. Methodology involves teaching students how to self-determination of the meanings of words, vocabulary enrichment through words common root, internationalisms. Axiomatically: the richer the receptive vocabulary, the more productive reading. There is an assumption what can be learned by reading in a foreign language only those linguistic phenomena that already existed in speech experience of the reader. The complexity of the enrichment task receptive vocabulary just is purposeful learning. learners to independently understand in the course reading words, phrases that were not previously was in their speech. Systematic and prolific reading . Reading can only be learned by as a result of training in this type of activity. This position is of particular relevance sounding in conditions of acute shortage of educational time. The latter must be compensated abundant and systematic independent reading outside of class.
As a result of constant practice in reading the most important components are being improved communicative reading skills, and turn such private skills as conjecture (contextual, semantic, etc.), anticipation the content of the texts being read. And the student gradually moving from beginner to experienced readers.
Optimum combination of analytical and synthetic forms work on the text. Outside the language environment, in conditions of shortage of study time, in training reading is necessary to observe the optimal combination of analytical and synthetic forms text work. Important differentiated a reasonable approach to teaching various linguistic difficulties.
Appropriate position in basic education communicative reading at the senior level should take a communicatively directed lexico-grammatical analysis, but not how end in itself, but as a means of extracting information from text. Lexico-grammatical analysis with bright pronounced communicative orientation is kind of microscope students penetrate into the depth, completeness and subtleties of the content of the text and subtext.
Sustainable use bilingual dictionary and other reference literature. Skill training use of the dictionary and the ability to rationally use a dictionary is indispensable a component of the process of forming the foundations communicative reading. Access to a dictionary reading, as well as lexico-grammatical analysis, is an additional and reliable means extracting information from readable texts, means of overcoming lexical difficulties understanding. It is important, however, that the use vocabulary in the process of reading would be rational and communicatively conditioned.
Informative reading. Essence this pattern is mainly determined reading requirements. To extract information from the text, it should be in it laid down. Teach communicative reading possible only on the basis of informative texts, the content of which would correspond the age and interests of the students. Most suitable for these purposes are texts of a popular science nature, simple in linguistically, interesting and informative by content, written in a general scientific style.
Methodologically justified application of various types of TSS. The richest arsenal of modern TSS should be an essential component of learning for all stages of developing reading skills foreign language. However, their effectiveness application increases significantly if the most important principle is observed: "TCO is not for the sake of TSO". Particularly wide opportunities using TCO in teaching reading technique, however, any use of them must be methodologically expedient and comprehensive prepared (in organizational, technical, methodological and content.
Thus, the basic premises stated unified school and university system and rational methods of teaching reading in high school are the starting points for further development key challenges in building strong foundations communicative ability to read in a foreign language language (minimum task) and development of reading skills profile-oriented literature in non-linguistic universities (task-maximum).
Requirements for texts in teaching learner reading
The most significant components in the process learning types of reading are: text selection, the formulation of the task and the form of control.
There are a number of requirements for texts, using which students develop reading skills. Texts that are used in the educational process, must correspond communicative and cognitive interests and the needs of students, as well as the degree of difficulty their language and speech experience in their native and foreign languages, contain interesting information for students of a particular age groups. This text should be taken students as a carrier of content information.
Pragmatic texts provide new information, others - affect feelings and opinions students on their behaviour. This speaks to the importance appeals to substantive aspects texts used.
Suggested texts at each stage of training should reflect their communicative function in communication. With their help, students create an objective image of the country under study language and form an idea of life peers abroad.
When selecting text for a particular view readings play an important role in its volume, logical-compositional structure, complexity language material.
Texts are chosen for studying reading, volume which are several times less texts for introductory reading, as a rule, small (1-1.5 pages). Most commonly used texts descriptive type, texts from fiction, popular science and socio-political literature. These texts must contain certain difficulties in linguistic and extralinguistic (informational) levels. Such texts are read with a dictionary (as in audience, and outside the classroom), but the exact and their full understanding is controlled by translation into Russian. In the audience in the process of reading and translation of such texts trained under the guidance of the teacher carry out the analysis various linguistic and information phenomena. So that in further in the study of a foreign language, they learned to overcome these difficulties on one's own.
Basic training tasks studying reading
Mastering the technology of reading is carried out in as a result of the execution of pre-text, text and post-text assignments.
Pre-text tasks are aimed at modeling background knowledge required and sufficient for the reception of a particular text, on elimination of semantic and linguistic difficulties of its understanding and at the same time to the formation reading skills and abilities, developing a "strategy understanding." They take into account lexico-grammatical and linguistic features of the text to be read.
In text tasks, students are offered communication settings that contain indications of the type of reading (studying, introductory, viewing, search), speed and the need to solve certain cognitive and communicative tasks in the process reading [23, p. 263].
In addition, trainees perform a series of exercises with text, providing the formation appropriate reading skills and skills.
Post-text assignments are intended for checking reading comprehension, to control the degree of formation of reading skills and possible use of the information received in future professional activities.
The most appropriate job assignments over teaching learning reading are:
Asking / Answering Question (question and answer exercises) involves asking for and giving the necessary information.
Categorizing linguistic or semantic elements according to designated categories or the definition of these categories.
Close - restoration / gap filling - method of working with connected text, in which deliberately omitted every nth word (n ranges from 5 to 10). The task of the students restore deformed text, pick up missing words according to the meaning, based on the context or habitual combination of words.
Completing based on a passage of text or series unfinished sentences that need to be finish using the information obtained from read text.
Correction - definition and correction of language or content violations in the text.
Gap - filling - filling in gaps / gaps - reception work based on the methodology addition or restoration of missing language elements.
Information Transfer - information recoding - reception work involving the transfer of information from one form of its presentation to another, for example, non-verbal transformation (picture, gesture, etc.) or vice versa.
Jig - saw reading (listening) - “mosaic” - reception of work, based on the division of the "bank information", i.e. text to read or listening. After becoming familiar with a particular part of the information, students share it and restore the general content of the text.
Matching work to recognize verbal and non-verbal elements, for example, between a picture and a sentence, a word and its definition, the beginning and end of a sentence, etc.
Mind - mapping - drawing up a semantic map - presentation of the main concepts of the topic under discussion / problems in a graphically ordered and logically related.
Multiple choice correct answer from the given options.
Reordering (Sequencing) - logical rearrangement / resequencing - redistribution of the proposed material in logical sequence or according to plan. The result of the work is a recreated connected text, a series of pictures, etc.
Translation - the expression of an idea on another language. At the same time, students should take attention linguistic and cultural features of the language into which the translation is being made. Translation can be oral and written.
It would be rational to quote the text intended for learning reading, and a set of exercises compiled for it. Text selected in accordance with the requirements for this kind of reading. The material is taken from modern youth magazine Lettermag for young. Articles of this magazine are authentic texts that is not only a valuable material in content, but also linguistically.
Can our intelligence be measured?
English Albert Einstein, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Steven Hawking - names we all know. Their success in physics, literature and science makes them part of the history of our world. But that is not the only thing they have in common…
These persons have an exceptionally high intelligence quotient (IQ), which is why they are / were so successful. On the other hand, these super brains don't really matter. Mostly the speed at which we recognize, understand, process and learn things - in other words: how intelligent we are - is inborn.
Scientists believe that Einstein had an intelligence quotient of 160 to 180 - he personally refused to take IQ tests of any kind. Goethely supposedly had an IQ of 210, which makes him something of an intelligence monster, and the famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking scored 160 in an IQ test. Such super brains are few: nearly 2.2 per cent of the whole population of the world has an IQ of 118 or more. Most people living on this planet have an average IQ of between 85 and 115.
No need to worry, however: people with a high IQ are better at some things than at others. For example, they can remember geometric forms or numbers much more easily, learn vocabulary by heart relatively quickly, solve difficult problems in next to no time or have a good ear for music. But that has nothing to do with how clever you are. We all have to work to acquire knowledge. People with a high IQ may have it easier, but they still have to work hard when it comes to learning new things.
It may be nice to have a high IQ and boast about it, but children with a high IQ often don't have it easy at school, and among their classmates. unfortunately, children of above average intelligence often do not feel they have any motivation to learn, or are not accepted by their classmates. Sometimes they are even made fun of for “being clever”. They sometimes end up getting worse marks at school than other kids with a “normal" IQ. It is easy to misuse the results of such tests by classifying people as “below average" and thus excluding them from educational opportunities - apart from the fact that intelligence tests reduce measuring our skills to the way we think. thing as social intelligence: the ability to understand how people feel, to communicate, and to be creative and open for new experiences. This kind of intelligence is responsible for the way we master our own lives. There are lots of pages on the Internet where you can find out more about intelligence tests.
Don't take such tests too seriously, whatever result you might get. There is no need to be discouraged if you find you don't do so well in certain subjects at school. Never give up - Einstein never got good marks for maths in school.
Pre-reading Tasks
1. Look at the title of the article. How would you define intelligence? Try to answer to the question in the title. (in 4-6 sentences)
2. Practice the pronunciation of the words from the article. When in doubt refer to the dictionary.
Success, science, intelligence quotient, astrophysicist, score, geometric, acquire knowledge, accept, opportunity, reduce, measuring, misuse, discourage
Vocabulary and Grammar Tasks
1. Find in the article the English for:
hand, presumably intellectual monster, much lighter, relatively fast, gain knowledge, brag about something, higher average, the ability to understand, find out, build your life, give up.
2. Use one of the words or word combination in an appropriate form to fill each gap.
To be good at, classify, success in, to live, discourage, master.
1) Their ______ physics, literature and science makes them part of the history of our world.
2) Most people ______ on this planet have an average IQ of between 85 and 115.
3) People with a high IQ _______ some things than at others.
4) It is easy to misuse the results of such tests by _______ people as “below average"
5) This kind of intelligence is responsible for the way we ______ our own lives.
6) There is no need ______ if you find you don't do so well in certain subjects at school.
3. Choose the right word
But that is not the only thing they have _______
in common /in general take IQ tests of any kind.
denied/ refused/ rejected
4) They can remember geometric forms or numbers much more easily, learn ______ by heart relatively quickly.
Vocabulary/ dictionary
Children don't have it easy at school, and ______ their classmates.
between/ among
There are lots of pages on the Internet where you can find out more about intelligence tests.
Sheets/ leaves/ pages
4. Say the opposite of: failure, understand, agree, better, fortunately, above, responsible, give up.
5. Translate the italicized paragraph into Russian using the dictionary.
Reading Comprehension and Discussion Tasks
1 Answer the following questions:
Which famous scientists do you know? What did they have in common?
What average level of IQ do the people have?
At what things are persons with a high level of IQ better?
How can people misuse the results of the tests?
What is the social intelligence?
What problems can children with high IQ level have at school?
Discuss the following:
The author of this article says that intelligence and our skills are inborn qualities. Do you agree with the author? Is it possible to train our memory and some other skills?
There is also such a thing as social intelligence. Which kind of intelligence do you consider is more important now?
Have you ever seen IQ tests? What do you think of intelligence tests?
These tasks are optional, they are may vary depending on the text, suggested for reading. However, it should not forget that tasks should be arranged according to degree of difficulty. Also, special attention should be paid attention to control when teaching the learner reading.
Methods of control during training studying reading
system-structural education is monitoring the results of its activities, and, therefore, the success of learning to read, as well as any kind of speech activity, is determined the presence of effective ways to control the degree its formation and the search for such ways.
The attention of teachers to the test methodology is growing control. This interest is quite understandable - in the very test organization has a number of features that give reason to see in their application one of ways to improve the effectiveness of training process.
Importance of testing comprehension content of a foreign literary text consists, in our opinion, as follows:
kind of problematic, mental, cognitive, speech-productive tasks, which activates mental activity of students.
Tests stimulate interest in the process of reading on foreign language, create positive emotions thanks to the visual illustration of achievements every student.
These tasks provide an opportunity for everyone the student, when working with text, to engage in at his own pace and complete tasks at in the manner that is most convenient for him.
To control the understanding of literary texts in the process of reading in a foreign language in method is usually used mainly tests for recognition in their following varieties:
tests for choosing the correct answer from two proposed;
tests for choosing the correct answer from several proposed options;
fact grouping tests;
tests for deletion of superfluous words and a number of others.
Analyzing existing species classifications tests for reading, despite their diversity, found that most of them were formal, purposeful and functional features. In terms of content, control and test tasks focused on reading with full understanding the content of the object of control refers to tests that measure the formation speech skills, and in the direction of test assignments are discrete tests. Data classifications are not detailed enough and need to be expanded. Based on this, we a typology of test types was compiled according to meaningful features, where they were highlighted the following types of tests:
comprehension tests emotional-volitional information;
tests aimed at controlling the logical information;
Literary comprehension tests information;
tests for understanding the structure of the text, meanings words;
summarization tests;
tests for extracting information.
Each type of test according to this classification aims at different skills studying reading, which become objects of control.
Most acceptable and flexible in learning understanding of a literary text should read multiple choice tests with procedure for choosing one of the alternatives, with cross selection, including double, and on grouping. Tests must control understanding of logical information, emotional-volitional, explicitly and implicitly expressed, understanding of the topic, ideas of artistic text, as well as include tasks for analysis titles, etc.