Launchpad hero

Create confident readers —
one Reading Academy
level at a time.

This 5-level guided reading system helps kids master verbal, reading, and writing skills — starting at any level. Every app, storybook, and video has been hand-selected to help kids gain the knowledge they need to transition from learning-to-read to reading-to-learn.

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5-Level Guided Reading System

Reading Academy makes it easy for kids to jump in at their current reading level and advance from there. Parents and teachers can evaluate current skills, choose a Reading Academy Launchpad at that level, and watch kids master those skills and more.

1
Pre-Emerging
2
Emerging
3
Early Developing
4
Developing
5
Independent
Verbal Skills
  • Forms 3 to 4 word sentences
  • Can talk and carry on conversation
  • Continues to grow vocabulary
  • Asks questions to confirm understanding
  • Knows letter sounds
  • Asks questions to clarify uncertainty
  • Participates in collaborative conversation
  • Can recount a story with descriptive detail
  • Asks for clarification when needed
  • Will explore ideas for discussion
  • Engages in conversation
Reading Skills
  • Listens to stories, simple songs, and nursery rhymes
  • Recognizes letters & letter sounds
  • Knows most letter sounds
  • Recognizes basic sight words
  • Identifies patterns of text with picture support
  • Understands print concept of left to right
  • Understands the organization of print
  • Distinguishes long vowel vs short vowel words
  • Starts to decode unknown long vowel words
  • Reads text with accuracy
  • Reads with understanding and purpose
  • Reads and comprehends literature proficiently
Writing Skills
  • Early letter writing
  • Connects thoughts to pictures
  • Spells short vowel words and blends
  • Uses drawing, dictating and writing to compose text
  • Write text with simple facts
  • Begins to spell long vowel words with patterns
  • Writes using a topic
  • Will spell more complex, long vowel words
  • Constructs text in an organized manner
  • Uses transitional and link words

Increasing complexity over time.

Reading Academy levels align with universally adopted letter system and lexile levels.

Fountas & Pinnell Conversion

Decodable books - AA

Lexile Conversion

BR40L - 70L

Ages

3+

Fountas & Pinnell Conversion

A - C

Lexile Conversion

BR40L - 160L

Ages

4+

Fountas & Pinnell Conversion

D - J

Lexile Conversion

160L - 510L

Ages

5+

Fountas & Pinnell Conversion

J - M

Lexile Conversion

510L - 660L

Ages

7+

Fountas & Pinnell Conversion

N - P

Lexile Conversion

660L - 820L

Ages

8+

launchpad packs

Packs at each level are created equal.

There are multiple Launchpads at every reading level. Using a variety of apps, storybooks, and videos, each tablet is made to complement the others at that level and give kids a variety of ways to acquire new skills. Patrons can borrow one and then move to another in any order. Advancing from one Reading Academy level to the next can take up to a year.

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Once students reach fourth grade, most of the information they need is given to them in textual format where the focus changes from learning to read, to reading to learn.

The Access Center (2007)