Children enter kindergarten with a wide range of alphabet recognition and reading skills. Some know the alphabet and how to spell some words, such as their own name. Others can read simple sentences or short texts.
All of this is normal. Young children grow and progress on different developmental timelines. No matter where your child starts kindergarten, the goal is for them to end the year as a reader. There are a number of things you can do to prepare for this and to support your budding reader’s skills throughout the year.
When your child enters a new grade, they are often assessed and assigned a guided reading level — a popular leveling system used by teachers. Guided reading levels range alphabetically from A to Z (with A being for beginners), and allow a teacher to work closely with students on reading skills by introducing increasingly challenging books based on their level.
In kindergarten, many children begin at guided reading Level A and work up to Level D. Books at these levels feature plenty of pictures for support, repetitive sentences and words, limited text, and large font.
If your child is not ready for independent reading, be sure to still fit in plenty of family read-aloud time. Children are more likely to become avid readers by having a reading role model. You can encourage your child to practice reading by discussing your their interests and sharing your own favorite topics to read about.
As you prepare your child for kindergarten, the following Level A-D reading resources and beyond will help support their growing skills as you're reading together at home.
Find more expert-approved kindergarten books and tips at our guide to getting ready for kindergarten. It's full of valuable resources, including details on how to practice social skills for kindergarten.
Shop leveled reading resources for kindergarteners below now! You can find all books and activities at The Scholastic Store.
