Beginning this week I will be reviewing two books a day published by Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc. I heard of this company through my mother who is a teacher’s aid for kindergarten. I was not familiar with the Fountas and Pinnell leveling system until speaking with Richard, of Richard C. Owen Publishers, so I decided to read up on it to see what it was all about.
While doing the research I found mountains of information. In fact there was just too much information to put in one blog post. I am going to try my best to explain the system in its simplest form but here is a link to the information so you can read up on what may seem vague: Fountas and Pinnell
In the most basic of descriptions the F/P leveling system is an alphabetical system that assigns specific letters to specific texts for specific grades. This is an assessment form used to assess the progress of the children while using Learned Literacy Intervention or LLI: Instructional Level Expectations (PDF) and here is a Grade Level Equivalence Chart: Grade Level Equivalence Chart (PDF) to help equate the system to your child’s grade.
I will be reviewing books from level WL (wordless) through O or Kindergarten through 3rd Grade according to the above chart. Remember, this is not scientific. Different kids have different understandings of language and progress at different rates.
Here is my review schedule for the week:
- Monday:
- Noon – Best Friends by Rhonda Cox (Level WL)
- 3PM – Pigs Peek by Rhonda Cox (Level C)
- Tuesday:
- Noon - My Box by Eve Bunting illustrated by Susan Banta (Level D Spanish and English versions)
- 3PM – Old Bumpy Alligator by Pat Blanchard and Joanne Suhr illustrated by Jason Wolff (Level E)
- Wednesday:
- Noon - Water Water Everywhere by Hal Schmid illustrated by Kenneth Pollock (Level F)
- 3 PM - The Lid by Michael P. Di Gennaro illustrated by Bruce MacDonald (Level G)
- Thursday:
- Noon – Mama Cut My Hair by Lisa B. Wilkinson pictures by Ann Barrow (Level H Spanish and English versions)
- 3PM – At the Lake by Alvin Robert Cunningham illustrated by Heather Daylight (Level I)
- Friday:
- Noon – Pat and Pea Soup by Billy Mark Stegall illustrated by Matthew Archambault (Level J)
- 3PM – Moonbeam Cow by Sharma Krauskopf illustrated by Naomi Howland (Level K)
- Saturday:
- Noon – Jump the Broom by Candy Grant Helmso art by Joanne Friar (Level L Spanish and English versions)
- 3PM – Dream Catcher by E. Barrie Kavasch pictures by Gay W. Holland (Level M)
- Sunday:
- Noon – Hidden in the Midden by Martha S. Campbell illustrated by Chad Wallace (Level N)
- 3PM – Haiku for You by Pat McAlister illustrated by Lynda Cohen (Level O)
I hope you join us everyday for this journey through some of the books in the Richard C. Owen catalog. I look forward to your feedback.
Here are some additional links that may interest you.
For a limited time you can purchase five Books for Young Learners (BYL) at a special price of $17.95 plus free shipping.
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- Picture Book Round-Up #5 (csilibrarian.wordpress.com)
- Children’s Books : Elephants in the Room (nytimes.com)
