Writing for ABE Grade Level
Overview
We are frequently asked for suggestions of how to find (or write) materials appropriate for the grade level of the learners targeting in a particular lesson. Leecy Wise on our subject matter expert team offers the following advice.
Leecy's Advice
I don't know of materials on OER Commons that provide samples at low-reading levels for adults. However, I would suggest that designers:
- Go to any of the K-12 reading sites, such as http://www.readworks.org/books/passages Links to an external site., and see samples of what readings look like for kids. There are oodles of other resources for kids, as well.
- Then, write for adults using the same tones and strategies.
In addition, the following site will assess the reading level of a passage online and interpret it from different formulas: http://www.readabilityformulas.com/free-readability-formula-tests.php Links to an external site.. There are other sites that accomplish the same assessment, such as https://readable.io/ Links to an external site. (submitted by a course participant).
I always recommend short everything for low-level readers, including short sentences, words, the length of the passage, etc. Here are the basics for writing below 6th-grade reading levels, where there is the greatest gap for adult content:
- Focus on simple versus compound or compound/complex sentences:
- Simple- __________. ___________. _____________.
- Compound: _________, and________. _________, but,_______. _______; however, ____
- Compound/Complex: If_______, and when_______, unless_____, should there______, then ______, depending on __________ and ___________...... (Ugh!)
- Regarding words, if a word is long and difficult, define it within the passage, and repeat it at least three times in the passage.