Benchmark Books and Indicators - Kindergarten:SPRING

Wake up, Dad
By Beverley Randell
Red Level
DRA Level: 3

Font is large, usually printed in black on a white background.
Usually two or three lines of print on most of the pages.
Text is patterned and somewhat predictable. Patterns tend to change a couple of times throughout the story.
A simple story, with a beginning, middle, and end.
Words are still supported by illustrations, but students need to search more in the picture to find help in reading the words.
Pages are more apt to begin with a single high frequency word and then include words that require picture support and attention to first letters.
Words are consistently placed in the same area on the page, preferably top left or bottom left.
Sentences are more varied, resulting in texts that include a full range of punctuation.

Gets mouth ready for the initial sound of a word.
Uses left to right directionality as well as a return sweep to another line of print.
Uses picture cues.
Locates one or two known words on a page.
Monitors for meaning: checks to make sure it makes sense.