Orange (Or)

What is an Or Reader?

Orange readers should demonstrate proficiency in at least five very different kinds of text (e.g., realistic/contemporary fiction (adventure, sports, friendship), horror, animal stories, science fiction, historical fiction, poetry, informational writing, biography, and a variety of traditional tales). In Orange-level text, the vocabulary demands are increasing, with 6–10 words on a typical page not familiar from everyday speech. Orange-level readers already know most of these literary words from their extensive reading at the earlier levels. Orange-level readers should finish an Orange-level chapter book, or its equivalent, each week.

Standards-based Objectives for Or

Wide Reading and Motivation

• Has established an academic reading lifestyle, reading at least 30 minutes a day, or 100 hours per school year
• Has established a home reading habit and reads for at least 30 minutes each night
• Can sustain silent reading for long periods of time in school (30–45 minutes)
• Chooses to read both fiction and nonfiction and demonstrates comfort in at least five genres

Decoding/Word Solving Strategies

• Uses rules of syllabification and other word-attack strategies to approximate the pronunciation of any word
• Is able to use diacritical marks to help with pronunciation of unfamiliar words

Fluency

• Reads with 98–100% word accuracy in Or-level texts and self-corrects all errors that interfere with meaning
• Silent reading is rapid and efficient

Vocabulary and Background Knowledge

• Able to use context clues to generate sensible definitions, examples, restatements, synonyms, or contrasts for literary words encountered
• Identifies and explains the meaning of figurative language, including personification, similes, metaphors, and idioms

Comprehension of Informational and Literary Text

• Distinguishes among common forms of literature and types of poetry
• Identifies organizational structures (e.g., compare/contrast, pro/con, cause/effect, chronological and logical order) used in text
• Explains cause and effect
• Explains how the literary elements of a story influence each other and how they affect the theme or tone of the story
• Compares literary elements across stories
• Identifies and describes the intended effects of persuasive strategies