Reading A to Z Correlation Chart

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In Reading A-Z, there is a level correlation chart where it illustrates how Learning A-Z levels approximately correlate to other leveling systems which are commonly found in leveled reading materials. As explained on the Reading A-Z site, objective (quantitative) and subjective (qualitative) leveling criteria are used by the Learning A-Z Text Leveling System in English and Spanish to measure the complexity of text.

Teachers are required to use their professional judgement of additional qualitative criteria along with reader and task considerations to determine whether an individual book at a given level is suitable for a student or not.

According to the Reading A-Z site, here is the level correlation chart.

Learning A-Z Text Leveling SystemGradeAgesLexileAccelerated Reader (ATOS)DRAFountas & PinnellReading RecoveryPM Readers
aaK4 – 6BR70L – 10L0 – .9A-1A1Starters 1
AK4 – 6BR70L – 10L0 – .9A-1A1Starters 1
BK4 – 6BR40L – 160L0 – .92B2Starters 2
CK4 – 6BR40L – 160L0 – .93-4C3-43-4 red
D14 – 7160L – 310L1 – 2.46D5-65-6 red/ yellow
E16 – 7160L – 310 L1 – 2.48E7-87-8 yellow
F16 – 7300L – 450L1 – 2.410F9 – 109 – 10 blue
G16 – 7300L – 450 L1 – 2.412G11-1211-12 blue/ green
H16 – 7430L – 530L1 – 2.414H13-1413-14 green
I16 – 7430L – 530L1 – 2.416I15-1615-16 orange
J16 – 8430L – 530L1 – 2.418J1717 turquoise
K27 – 8510L – 620L2.5 – 3.518J1718 turquoise
L27 – 8510L – 620L2.5 – 3.520K1819 – 20 purple
M27 – 8530L – 810L2.5 – 3.524L1921 gold
N27 – 8530L-810L2.5 – 3.528L2022 gold
O27 – 8600L – 850L2.5 – 3.528M2022 gold
P27 – 8600L – 850 L2.5 – 3.528M2822 gold
Q38 – 9660L – 930L3.6 – 4.230N3023 silver
R38 – 9660L – 930L3.6 – 4.230N3023 silver
S38 – 9790L – 940L3.6 – 4.234O3424 silver
T38 – 9790L – 940L3.6 – 4.238P3825 emerald
U48 – 11820L – 1030L4.3 – 4.940Q4026 emerald
V49 – 11820L – 1030L4.3 – 4.940R4026 emerald
W49 – 11820L – 1030L4.3 – 4.940S4027 ruby
X59 – 11890L – 1080L5.0 – 5.540S4028 sapphire
Y59 – 11890L – 1080L5.0 – 5.540T4029 sapphire
Z59 – 11890L – 1080L5.0 – 5.550U-VN/A30 sapphire
Z15+9 – 11+920L – 1120L5.6 – 6.360W-XN/AN/A
Z25+9 – 11+920L – 1120L6.4 – 6.970+Y-ZN/AN/A

Criteria for Leveling Reading A-Z Books

According to the Reading A-Z site, here are the criteria for leveling Reading A-Z Books.

    • Word count
    • Number of different words
    • Ratio of different words to total words
    • Number of high-frequency words
    • Ratio of high-frequency words to total words
    • Number of low-frequency words to total words
    • Ratio of low-frequency words to total words
    • Sentence length
    • Sentence complexity
    • Predictability
    • Language pattern and repetition
    • Print size, spacing and number of words per page
    • Illustration support
    • Concept load
    • Topic familiarity

More About Learning A-Z Text Leveling System

As explained on the Reading A-Z site, the proprietary Learning A-Z Text Leveling System was developed over ten years with input from teachers and instructional experts. There are thousands of books which range in difficulty from simple sentences to complex novels and academic texts which were put into the system to make developmentally suitable levels for students.

The leveling criteria which are used by the Text Leveling System accurately and reliably measure the complexity of text to be able to support differentiated instruction. The Text Leveling System at Learning A-Z follows the guidelines for determining the complexity of text which is outlined in national  and state standards.

The Standards demand an evaluation of student reading materials in three areas of text complexity. Those are qualitative measures, quantitative measures, and reader and task considerations.

Also, as we know that in Raz-Kids, there are resources in Spanish. So, how about the Spanish Text Leveling System? It considers the unique features of the Spanish language. To create accurate levels for students learning to read in Spanish, the leveling criteria was adjusted and modified accordingly.

Now, how are texts leveled? According to the Reading A-Z site, every text assigned a Learning A-Z level goes through a strenuous review process. It is done to ensure accurate and reliable leveling results.

    • 1st Step
      The first step is that a Leveling Expert reviews the text and the applicable qualitative measures.
    • 2nd Step
      In the second step, the text and qualitative measures are inserted into the Learning A-Z Text Leveling System which scores the quantitative and qualitative measures.
    • 3rd Step
      In this step, a Leveling Expert reviews the results.
    • 4th Step
      In the 4th step, the results are confirmed by a second, and sometimes third, Leveling Expert.
    • 5th Step
      In the 5th step, the text is assigned a Learning A-Z level officially.

That’s the explanation about the Reading A-Z leveling system. You can read more about it by accessing the website of Reading A-Z.

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