This blog entry is devoted to a disguised system for labeling leveled readers with shapes and colors. The shapes, as well as the colors in this chart, are in alphabetical order. By being in alphabetical order, teachers can remember levels. See all printable pages, below, to print. The colors in alphabetical order are: blue, green, orange, red, yellow. The shapes in alphabetical order are: circle, heart, hexagon, square, then star. The charts of single colors and shapes may be printed, cut apart, and taped onto leveled books so children are unaware of the level number of the book. Teachers could decide whether or not to reveal the chart to parents. The children will be aware of the increased difficulty of books, but this is not as obvious as using a numbered system. I found baskets that matched the colors, too, at REALLY GOOD STUFF. I found paper punches of the shapes at CREATIVE MEMORIES. I’m sure other options are available.
Parents won’t be able to do much bragging about their child’s reading level as they will by mystified by this system! Kids can’t put each other down about who is a better reader by naming number or letter levels. But once understood, the teacher will have no difficulty knowing the reading levels. Clever!
Here are the labels for the book baskets: BASKET LABELS all PDF
Happy disguised reading, Carolyn
ALL Reading Shape and Color Chart PDF (single page)
The entire system on one 26 page PDF: Entire shapes and color label system on one PDF
Or, print individual PDF pages, below:
Thanks for writing! Oh, my goodness, there are so many wonderful free book leveling systems and so much free help online. Good luck! Thank you so much, Carolyn
I really appreciate what you did here with the reading level system. I inherited most of the books in my classroom, and didn’t know how to tell what their levels were, except to look through the pages to see if it is was suitable for a particular child. Thank you, this will make the process much easier.
Dear Nancy Jones: Scholastic Books has a book “leveling” system, but you could really use any system you want. Here is the link for their book wizard: https://www.scholastic.com/bookwizard/ I also have used a paid membership on the Fountas and Pinele but it costs money: https://www.fountasandpinnellleveledbooks.com/ And here is a comprehensive list of all the online sites that help level books, many are free: https://classroom.jc-schools.net/pohlmanr/levelingbooks.html
I hope you find what you are looking for! Teachers and parents can check book levels! Thanks, Carolyn
I was wondering how you determine what level to put the books in. Do you have a system or do you use someone else’s? I have my books leveled but not very systematic and want to do a better job of it.
Thanks,
Nancy Jones