In the classroom, your child is reading books at both the “independent” and “instructional” guided reading levels, but more emphasis is spent on the instructional level. At home, you can create a lifelong habit of reading by making it enjoyable for your child. It should be relatively easy, which means that you should provide more books at the independent level. Practicing reading books at their independent reading level, where they won’t need much help, will improve reading fluency. Giving your child opportunities to read books at his/her instructional reading level will also benefit your child’s reading, but beware that frustration can cause many unnecessary problems. Scroll down for book lists. Please remember that this reading time should not be in place of your special read-aloud time, where a parent reads higher-level books to the child. 

Reading Levels Defined by the University of Utah Reading Clinic: Explanations of the terms independent, instructional, and frustration reading levels.

Fountas & Pinnell Parent Resources: Parent brochures for each reading level

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Grade Level Expectations
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I want to stress that reading levels are not a competition and should not be treated as something on which your child needs to score higher.

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Resources for Finding Books at Your Level

You probably already have books at home that are just right for your child. Before you buy anything, try typing some of the titles in Book Wizard to find out the Guided Reading Level.

A Guided Reading Level Book List: www.themeasuredmom.com

​Book Wizard: Scholastic's site that provides you with the guided reading level of many books

Scholastic: Guided Reading Book Lists for Every Level

Fountas and Pinnell: Books by reading level