Silver (Si)

What is an Si Reader?

Silver-level readers can manage books that present experiences and ideas at the conceptual level. Books use terms such as “monotheism” or “land reform,” and Silver-level readers must be able to go beyond the definition of such words to the broader historical and sociological implications of such references. Comfort with the 21–25 literary words per typical chapter-book page requires extensive experience as a reader. Silver-level readers should be prepared for the marathon reading sessions (2–4 hours) required by college entrance exams.

Standards-based Objectives for Si

Wide Reading and Motivation

• Can sustain reading for long periods of time required by college entrance exams (2–4 hours)

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 Si-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
• Uses knowledge of word origins to determine the meaning of specialized vocabulary
• Has a literary vocabulary of 7,500–12,000 words

Comprehension of Informational and Literary Text

• Uses knowledge of organizational structures to assist comprehension
• No longer answers “What is the book about?” with a plot summary, but with an analysis of the text’s theme and purpose
• Identifies the theme (meaning, message, moral, lesson, or comment on life) of the text and supports this interpretation with textual evidence
• Discusses the author’s perspectives, cultural background, and historical context, and how these might influence the text
• Identifies poetic forms such as ballad, sonnet, couplet, ode, saga, and epic
• Identifies how an author’s choice of words and imagery sets the tone and contributes to the theme