Okla. State Dept. of Education Update / Reading Sufficiency

Students scoring Unsatisfactory on the third-grade reading Oklahoma Core Curriculum Test are not yet reading on the Lexile level of Dr. Seuss’ “Horton Hears a Who.”  A fourth-grader reading on grade level, however, is reading chapter books on the level of “Little House on the Prairie.”

Progression of Grade-Level Reading

Pre-Kindergarten students can identify letters and sounds

               m          p           t          s           d

By the end of the year, they begin to blend sounds to make words

               S + at = sat

Average kindergartners can read short sentences and put together several sentences.

               I am a seed. 

               See the big jet. It can lift off.

Average first-graders can read 53 words per minute with 98 percent accuracy. They can blend words and answer questions from the reading passages

               Sam is a tan ram. Matt is a fat rat. Matt sat on Sam and they ran and ran. They ran to
               dig. Then they sat on a mat. The fat rat and the tan ram sat and sat. Matt and Sam are
               pals. 

Third-graders reading on grade level are reading multi-syllable words and paragraphs of information. They are not just reading, they are learning information from the text. They can answer questions and build arguments.

                                              Safe Streets for Everyone

             Almost everyone is familiar with traffic signs. They help drivers, bikers, and walkers stay
             safe on the streets. For years, our leaders have worked on ways to improve these signs. By
             using certain colors and shapes, they have created signs that give exact messages.

             Red signs mean to stop or to use caution. A red sign with eight sides means stop. A three
             signed red sign means to slow down and be ready to stop. It is called a yield sign. This sign
             used to be yellow. Its color was changed to red to stress its importance.

             Yellow signs with black letters or pictures mean that a dangerous area is ahead. Roadways
             with special rules also are marked with yellow signs.

             Orange signs with black letters or pictures mean that roadwork is ahead.

             Green signs with white letters show directions or distances to certain places.

             Blue signs show helpful information. Routs to hospitals or camping areas are shown on blue
             signs.

             Whether you walk, ride a bike, roll on skates, or drive a car, traffic signs keep you safe. By
             checking and obeying these signs, you will stay out of harm’s way.