Purple (Pu)

What is a Pu Reader?

Purple readers should demonstrate proficiency in at least six very different kinds of text. Proficient Purple readers are comfortable in realistic/contemporary fiction (horror, adventure, sports, friendship), animal stories, science fiction, poetry, informational writing, biography, a variety of traditional tales, and fantasy. In Purple-level text, the vocabulary demands are increasing, with 11–15 words on a typical chapter book page not familiar from everyday speech. Purple-level readers already know most of these literary words from their extensive reading at the earlier levels. Purple readers should finish a Purple-level chapter book, or its equivalent, each week.

Standards-based Objectives for Pu

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 reading for long periods of time in school (30 minutes–1 hour)
• Chooses to read both fiction and nonfiction and demonstrates comfort in at least six 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 comfortably and with expression, demonstrating an understanding of both content and punctuation
• Reads with 98–100% word accuracy in Pu-level texts and self-corrects all errors that interfere with meaning

Vocabulary and Background Knowledge

• Is able to use context clues to generate sensible definitions, examples, restatements, synonyms, or contrasts for literary words encountered
• Has a literary vocabulary of 4,500–8,000 words

Comprehension of Informational and Literary Text

• Identifies types of poetry and structural elements (stanza, verse, rhyme scheme, line breaks, rhythm, alliteration)
• Identifies and explains the effects of literary devices, figurative language, and sound techniques in prose and poetry using examples from the text
• Discusses underlying, recurring themes across various texts
• Identifies and evaluates the author’s use of various organizing structures
• Recognizes and evaluates author’s use of persuasive strategies and propaganda techniques