#63: Teaching a Class with 4+ Reading Levels? Here’s How to Make It Work
Feeling Overwhelmed by a Wide Range of Reading Needs?
If the words “four reading levels in one classroom” make you want to lock yourself in the bathroom during recess—you’re not alone. One student is still learning letter sounds. Another is decoding digraphs. A third is ready for blends. And the last one? They’re breezing through chapter books. Sound familiar? You’re in good company, and thankfully, there is a system that works.
The ACED Framework: Your Roadmap to Sanity
The secret to managing multiple reading levels without burnout? It’s all about working smarter, not harder. The ACED method breaks it into four simple steps:
1. A is for Assess
Before you group or plan, you need to know where each student stands. A quick phonics screener or skill check helps you figure out what students already know and what they’re ready to learn next. This ensures you’re not wasting time reteaching mastered skills.
2. C is for Create Groups
You don’t need 25 individual lesson plans. Group students by similar skill needs—just like sorting Skittles by color. One group may work on letter sounds, another on digraphs, and so on. This makes your small group instruction manageable and meaningful.
3. E is for Every Group Gets an End-of-Year Goal
Meet students where they are—not where the curriculum says they “should” be. Think of reading progress like climbing a staircase. Some kids start on step one, others on step twenty. Set realistic end-of-year goals for each group based on their starting point, and focus on one step at a time.
4. D is for Design a Year-Long Plan
Now work backward. If your goal is for a group to read silent E words by May, map out the prerequisite skills by month: digraphs in February, CVC words in January, letter sounds in the fall. This reverse planning gives your instruction structure and purpose.
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
- Why having 4+ reading levels in one class is more common than you think.
- How to assess quickly and accurately without the overwhelm.
- A simple method to group students by need (and save your sanity).
- Why customized end-of-year goals are key to student growth.
- How to map out your phonics instruction for the entire year—step by step.
Bringing It All Together
Teaching a class with multiple reading levels doesn’t have to mean chaos. With the ACED framework, you can simplify your planning, meet students where they are, and watch them grow—without working around the clock. It’s not about doing more; it’s about doing what works.
Want More Support? Join The Science of Reading Formula
Need ready-made phonics lessons, decodable passages, and planning templates? They’re all waiting for you inside The Science of Reading Formula. Hit print, plan your month, and support every reader in your room—without the Sunday night stress.
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