Choosing the right graded readers for young learners 

Rachel Wilson
A child and a adult reading a book together in a library
Reading time: 4.5 minutes

Picking out the right graded readers for your young learners takes a little thought. There are thousands and thousands of stories out there. Not only do you have to find the right level but also a range of books that will keep them captivated as they learn to read.

In this brief guide, I’ll be helping you to choose the right Disney Kids Readers for your students, so they can participate in guided and independent reading in class and at home.

Let’s delve in.

First, what’s the difference between guided and independent reading? 

Guided reading

In class, students typically read aloud in a small group with a teacher. The teacher supports the children as they decode the words, navigate elements of pronunciation, and make sense of the meaning. At home, a child reads aloud to a parent or caregiver. This is a terrific way to involve parents in a child’s path toward reading fluency.

Independent reading

Independent reading, on the other hand, is when students read silently to themselves. These students are already reading with some confidence. They can decode common words and have a good handle on sight words. Their reading speed is fluent enough to focus on the meaning of the text.

Graded readers can help with leveling

So, how do you know which reader to choose for your students? Well, graded readers are already organized by level. They also often provide metrics to help teachers make informed decisions about what reading level a child is at. 

Let’s take a look at Disney Kids Readers as an example: 

Age and level-appropriate stories

Disney Kids Readers have six levels. The number of words per page and the number of pages per story are consistent in each level.

For example, Level 3 stories have up to 40 words per page and 20 pages per story. As a child moves up through the reading levels, the books become longer and more complex.  

Word lists

To write the stories, authors use lists of common, high-frequency words. Level 1, for example, has a word list of 200 words. Level 6 has a word list of 1,200 words. These are called “headwords.” 

In this way, the vocabulary load is manageable for learners. Even better, learners come into contact with the same words again and again throughout the readers, which builds their vocabulary.

Of course, it’s difficult to write an engaging story for children using only headwords. So, the readers also include a few low-frequency, high-interest words, like “lantern” or “tower.” These words then go in a Picture Dictionary or Glossary at the back of the book to support student understanding. 

From Level 3, Disney Tangled, Picture Dictionary p. 23

Grammar syllabus

The authors write using a grammar syllabus for each level. For example, regular past simple is introduced in Level 3 readers, around the same time that students are learning this verb tense in their general English lessons. As children read, they see examples of the regular past simple within the stories.

Teachers can use the Disney Kids Readers’  Scope and Sequence to see which language structures are covered at each level.

Lexile® measure

Every Disney Kids Reader is assigned a Lexile® measure. This is a global standard for measuring text complexity. Generally, longer sentences and more low-frequency words in a text lead to a higher Lexile® measure. This gives teachers and parents a way to compare these readers against any other book with a Lexile® measure.

It also means that you can arrange the graded readers from the lowest to the highest score. You can be confident that the readers you choose are gradually becoming more complex as your young learners become more skilled at reading.  

Global Scale of English

The Global Scale of English (GSE) is a standardized, granular scale from 10 to 90 that measures English language proficiency. It’s aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). 

Every level of Disney Kids Readers sits within a band on the GSE. For example, the range for Level 1 is 16–27, while Level 6 is 36–48. If you know the GSE or CEFR level of your students’ general English coursebook, you can match the graded readers to the same level.

Each reader includes a handy chart on the back cover. 

C is for “comfortable”

Independent reading: Reading the text should be easy—with almost every word familiar to the student. In this way, they can focus on enjoying and understanding what they’re reading. Paul Nation, a leading expert on teaching and learning vocabulary, suggests that two new words for every 100 words is the right fit for comfortable, independent reading.

Guided reading: Reading the text should help the student practice the reading skills they’re learning, such as using context to understand words, language structures, letter-sound relationships, and reading comprehension. 

Tips for working out the comfort level: 

  • Make an estimate of a child’s reading level based on what you already know about their abilities, and use the tools available to you in the graded reader. Then start at the level below that. It’s safer to start low and go up, than the other way around. 
  • Have the child read a passage out loud to you from a book at this level. Aim for them to read about 100 words. As they read, make a note of the number of errors they make so that you can get a rough idea of whether they are hitting a target of about 90% accuracy.

E is for “enjoyable”

We want reading to be enjoyable for our young learners. If they are given books that they can understand and that they find interesting, there’s a much better chance that they’ll develop a love of reading.

Tips for making reading enjoyable:

  • Never refer to reading books as “homework” 
  • Let children pick books that interest them once they know their reading level
  • Include a range of fiction and non-fiction reading material in the library
  • Encourage children to read all kinds of material: poetry, graphic novels, articles, plays, profiles, in addition to stories. 

Whether you’re a seasoned school owner, teacher, or parent, you can use these tips to get your children reading with confidence and developing a love of reading to last a lifetime. What could be better than that?

Visit our young learners Readers page for more information

References

Extensive Reading and Vocabulary Learning, Paul Nation, Victoria University of Wellington, YouTube, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlJj8vpJxfE                                                                                                                         

More blogs from Pearson

  • A woman studying in a library writing in a book
    Setting boundaries and avoiding burnout as a language learner
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Learning a new language can be exciting. It can also be challenging. Many language learners feel pressure to study every day, learn quickly and reach fluency as soon as possible.

    This pressure can lead to burnout: a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. When you are burned out, studying becomes difficult, stressful and less enjoyable. The good news is that setting healthy boundaries can help you continue learning while protecting your wellbeing.

    What are boundaries?

    Boundaries are limits that help you take care of yourself. They help you decide how much time, energy and attention you can give to something.

    For example, a boundary might be:

    • Studying for only 20 minutes at a time
    • Taking breaks when you feel overwhelmed
    • Saying no to extra language activities when you are tired
    • Not comparing your progress to other learners

    Boundaries are not signs of weakness. They are tools that help you learn in a sustainable way.

    Understand your energy levels

    Many people experience changes in energy and focus throughout the day. Some days you may feel highly motivated. On other days, even a simple lesson may feel difficult.

    Instead of forcing yourself to follow the same schedule every day, try paying attention to your energy levels.

    Ask yourself:

    • When do I focus best?
    • How long can I study before I feel tired?
    • What activities give me energy?
    • What activities drain my energy?

    You may discover that listening to a podcast feels easy, while studying grammar for an hour feels exhausting. This information can help you create a learning routine that works for you.

  • Children sat around a teacher holding a book
    8 children's book ideas for language teachers
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Every year, events like Children's Book Week, World Book Day and others offer excellent opportunities to celebrate reading, imagination and learning. Books enable children to explore new ideas, expand their vocabulary and develop a love for language. For teachers and educators, they offer an opportunity to make reading both fun and memorable.

    Whether you teach young learners, English language learners or multilingual students, you can bring your classroom together through stories. Here are some simple activities to try.

    1. Story reading circle

    Choose a children's book that matches your students' language level. Read the story aloud and encourage students to listen carefully. Use pictures to support understanding and ask simple questions during the reading.

    For example:

    • What do you think will happen next?
    • Who is your favorite character?
    • How is the character feeling?

    This activity helps students practice listening skills and learn new vocabulary in context.

    2. Character drawing and description

    After reading a story, ask students to draw their favorite character. Then have them write a few sentences describing the character.

    Younger learners can use sentence starters such as:

    • My character is...
    • They have...
    • They like...

    This activity combines creativity with reading and writing practice.

    3. Create a new ending

    Invite students to imagine a different ending for the story. They can write a short paragraph, create a comic strip or discuss their ideas in pairs.

    This promotes creative thinking and allows students to meaningfully engage with language.

    4. Book-themed vocabulary hunt

    Choose 10 to 15 key words from the book and create a vocabulary hunt. Students can search for the words in the story and match them with pictures, definitions or translations.

    You can also ask students to use the new words in their own sentences.

    Vocabulary activities help learners remember language more effectively by connecting words to a story they have enjoyed.

    5. Storytelling with pictures

    Select several pictures from the book and display them in a random order. Students work individually or in groups to put the pictures in the correct sequence and retell the story.

    This activity develops speaking skills, sequencing skills and confidence in using language.

    6. Dress as a book character

    If possible, organize a simple book character day. Students can dress as their favorite character or create a paper mask.

    Ask each student to introduce their character to the class by answering questions such as:

    • Who are you?
    • What do you do in the story?
    • Why are you important?

    This is a fun way to practice speaking and presentation skills.

    7. Create a classroom book

    Work together to create a class story. Each student contributes one page with a sentence and an illustration. When all the pages are finished, combine them into a classroom book.

    Students are often proud to see their work become part of a real book. It also helps them understand how stories are created.

    8. Book recommendations wall

    Encourage students to share books they enjoy. They can write a short recommendation and add it to a classroom display.

    Here's a simple template with questions for pupils to complete:

    • What's the book title?
    • Who's your favorite character?
    • Why do you recommend this book?

    This activity promotes reading while giving students a purpose for writing.

    Celebrate the joy of reading

    Book-related events go beyond just celebrating books. They are a means of curiosity, creativity and language learning. Simple activities can motivate students to read more, discover new ideas and gain confidence in their language skills. By nurturing positive reading experiences, teachers help students develop lifelong habits that support their learning journey. Regardless of learners' age or language proficiency, a good story can unlock a world of opportunities.

  • A teachr standing by students in a classroom holding a tablet up
    Assessment Evolved ELT edition: Supporting English language assessment in the age of GenAI
    By Mike Mayor
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    The conversation around generative AI in education has moved quickly.

    For English language teachers, though, the reality in classrooms has often felt more complicated than the headlines suggest.

    AI tools are already being used by students. Teachers are trying to understand where these tools help, where they create challenges and what this means for learning moving forward.

    One thing educators continue to raise is the need for practical support. Not just discussions about AI itself, but guidance that connects to real classroom experiences and day-to-day teaching.

    That is part of the reason behind the ELT Edition of Assessment Evolved: Formative Assessment in a Generative AI Era.