The Fry readability formula is a method used for determining the reading level of books. It is based on the number of syllables and the number of sentences in the book, and 100 word passages are used as samples to find an average score. The score is then plotted on the Fry Readability graph, and a grade level is determined. For more information, on the Fry readability formula, feel free to explore this link.
I have used the Fry readability formula to determine the grade level for the two featured books on our site, The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns and illustrated by Gordon Silveria and Sir Cumference and the First Round Table by Cindy Neuschwander. I used the Fry readability formula to evaluate both books. I chose three 100 word samples from The Greedy Triangle and averaged the number of syllables and the number of sentences. My averages were 142 syllables and 6.6 sentences, which places this book at a seventh grade reading level. This may sound extremely high, but I believe that the large math vocabulary, such as triangle, pentagon, hexagon, and octagon, make this book score a lot higher on the scale. I believe that the content and the other word choice throughout the book would place it at a much lower reading level, and that your children would probably be able to read sections of this book as long as they were introduced to the math vocabulary beforehand. Even if your child does not read this book alone, it is a great book for a read aloud between you and your child. Read alouds are fantastic because they help your child build fluency through hearing complex vocabulary, they help your child develop a more complex vocabulary, and they expand your child's content knowledge.
I chose three 100 word samples from Sir Cumference and the First Round Table. After averaging the scores of my three samples, the book had 7.7 sentences and 130 syllables per 100 word sample. Those scores places the book at about a fifth grade reading level; however, it can still be appropriately used in our second grade class. While I would probably not have the students read this book independently, because it would be too difficult, I would use this book during a read aloud, especially to introduce our math vocabulary. It can be very effective for students to hear books as read alouds, because it builds their listening and speaking vocabulary. I would recommend that if you buy this book, or if you watch the youtube video of this book, that you do it with your child, so that you can pause and answer questions, explain illustrations, and help them pronounce the larger words. There are also other books about Sir Cumference by this author, so if you and your child enjoy reading this story together, feel free to look into finding her other books as well!
I have used the Fry readability formula to determine the grade level for the two featured books on our site, The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns and illustrated by Gordon Silveria and Sir Cumference and the First Round Table by Cindy Neuschwander. I used the Fry readability formula to evaluate both books. I chose three 100 word samples from The Greedy Triangle and averaged the number of syllables and the number of sentences. My averages were 142 syllables and 6.6 sentences, which places this book at a seventh grade reading level. This may sound extremely high, but I believe that the large math vocabulary, such as triangle, pentagon, hexagon, and octagon, make this book score a lot higher on the scale. I believe that the content and the other word choice throughout the book would place it at a much lower reading level, and that your children would probably be able to read sections of this book as long as they were introduced to the math vocabulary beforehand. Even if your child does not read this book alone, it is a great book for a read aloud between you and your child. Read alouds are fantastic because they help your child build fluency through hearing complex vocabulary, they help your child develop a more complex vocabulary, and they expand your child's content knowledge.
I chose three 100 word samples from Sir Cumference and the First Round Table. After averaging the scores of my three samples, the book had 7.7 sentences and 130 syllables per 100 word sample. Those scores places the book at about a fifth grade reading level; however, it can still be appropriately used in our second grade class. While I would probably not have the students read this book independently, because it would be too difficult, I would use this book during a read aloud, especially to introduce our math vocabulary. It can be very effective for students to hear books as read alouds, because it builds their listening and speaking vocabulary. I would recommend that if you buy this book, or if you watch the youtube video of this book, that you do it with your child, so that you can pause and answer questions, explain illustrations, and help them pronounce the larger words. There are also other books about Sir Cumference by this author, so if you and your child enjoy reading this story together, feel free to look into finding her other books as well!