1.5
The Standard
The student reads grade-appropriate texts independently. The student is expected to self-select text and interact independently with text for increasing periods of time.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students choose a book they can handle and want to read. They read on their own, stay focused, and gradually read for longer periods.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student chooses a book that is interesting and manageable without relying on the teacher. The student stays engaged for the agreed time and can share a detail from the reading.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may pick books that are too difficult because the cover looks interesting. They may also think independent reading means flipping pages quickly or asking for help with every unfamiliar word.
How to Assess It
- Give students three books and ask them to choose one, read alone for eight minutes, then draw and label one event or fact.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Set out labeled book baskets, let students choose one book, and use a timer to build quiet reading from five to ten minutes.
Ask students to complete the prompt, “I chose this book because...” and share their reason with a partner.
Play Book Match by having students sort sample books into too easy, just right, and too hard piles.
Create a classroom library checkout routine where students select a book to read during arrival time or at home.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- 4.5
The student reads grade-appropriate texts independently. The student is expected to self-select text and read independently for a sustained period of time.
- 5.5
The student reads grade-appropriate texts independently. The student is expected to self-select text and read independently for a sustained period of time.
- K.4
The Kindergarten version of this standard.
- 2.5
The student reads grade-appropriate texts independently. The student is expected to self-select text and read independently for a sustained period of time.
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