Fry's Readability Graph

Have you ever wondered the easiest way to find the level of the text that your child is reading? Check Fry's Readability Graph. It is simple to use, but it does take a little time. Here's how to use it.

1. Select three 100-word passages near the beginning, middle, and end.
2. Count the total number of sentences in each 100-word passage (estimating to the nearest tenth of a sentence). Average these three numbers.
3. Count the total number of syllables in each 100-word sample. Average these three numbers. Plot the two averages on the graph. Here is a website with a good graph. http://www.idph.state.ia.us/health_literacy/common/pdf/tools/fry.pdf

I have found this to be a great way to find out the true reading level of a book.