It’s difficult to read at a grade level above the reading level you are at. If you want to improve, it’s not very helpful to read at a reading level that is too low, or much below your actual reading level. You want to read at a level that’s neither too easy, nor too difficult. You want to read at a level that you can understand, yet it’s a bit challenging. Each level increases in difficulty because it includes higher-level English Vocabulary. Simply put, if you have low-level vocabulary, it’s difficult or almost impossible to read higher-level texts. If you find yourself needing to learn the most common American English vocabulary, we also offer vocabulary lessons based on the Dolch Sight Words, the Fry Sight Words, the VOA Wordbook, and at a more advanced English vocabulary level, the AWL Vocabulary List. If you wish to work directly with Maestro Sersea, participate in weekly webinars and online audio-video office hours, and be assessed online to identify your grade-level fluency in English as well as receive individualized English lessons at your grade level, you are invited to learn about the Platinum Level Monthly Membership.
Directions: Read the passages below. Identify the levels that are easy, and then identify the highest level you can understand and read, even if it is a bit difficult. You are then invited to write about what you learned in the comments section below.
Kindergarten Level
My favorite character is a hero. He’s brave and strong and helps people. He doesn’t give up even if it’s hard. He’s a leader and has good ideas. He’s strong in his body and mind and always does what’s right. He makes people feel better when he’s around and they respect him even if they don’t always understand him. He’s special and he stays in your heart even when the story is over. He shows us that good wins in the end.
1st Grade Level
My favorite character is the hero. He is brave and does things to help others, even when it is hard. He keeps trying even if he fails. He is a leader who helps people be their best. He is strong and always does what is right. He makes people feel good and they respect him even if they don’t understand him. He is a character we remember even after the story is done. Goodness and courage always win.
2nd Grade Level
The hero is really cool! He is brave and ready to help, even if it is dangerous. He doesn’t give up easily. He can think of things no one else can and is really strong. He always tries to do the right thing because he wants to be fair. People in the room can feel his power and even if they don’t understand him, they still respect him. He is a character that you will remember for a long time and is a reminder that good things can happen when you’re brave.
3rd Grade Level
My favorite character is a hero! He’s brave and courageous and tries to do what is best for everyone. He doesn’t give up, even if he fails. He’s a great leader, inspiring people to be their best. He has lots of ideas and can solve tough problems. He’s strong in body and mind. He does what’s right and knows what is fair. People look up to him and respect him, even if they don’t always understand him. He will stay in our hearts long after the story is over. He shows us that doing what’s good and being brave pays off.
4th Grade Level
My favorite character is the hero. He’s brave, courageous, and will do anything to help others. He’ll try his best even if he fails. He’s a leader and can think up great solutions to problems. He’s strong and always does the right thing. He has a strong sense of justice and people respect him even if they don’t understand what he’s doing. He’s a character you won’t forget and it reminds us that goodness and courage always win.
5th Grade Level
My favorite character is the classic hero. He’s brave, courageous and will go into danger to help others. He never gives up, and is a great leader. He can think of ideas that nobody else has, and he is strong and smart. He will always do what is right, and will stand up for justice. He has a strong moral code that he follows. He has a special way of making a room come alive, even if he is misunderstood. He will stay with you after the story is over and remind you that goodness and courage always win.
6th Grade Level
The hero is a classic character who is really brave and always looking out for the good of everyone. He’s not scared of facing tough times, and if he fails, he will try again. He’s a good leader and encourages those around him to do their best. He has awesome ideas and can think of things nobody else can. He’s strong in body and mind, and always does the right thing. He has a strong sense of justice and a moral code that he doesn’t break. He has an impact on everyone he meets and though not everyone gets him, he is respected. He’s a character that you won’t forget, and he shows that goodness and bravery will always win in the end.
7th Grade Level
My favorite character is the hero. He is brave, courageous and is willing to risk himself for the greater good. Even if he fails, he will get back up and try again. He is a leader, motivating those around him to do their best. He is also creative and comes up with ideas that no one else has thought of. He is strong in body and mind and always tries to do the right thing. He is driven by justice and his moral compass never changes. When he enters a room, people notice and respect him, even if they don’t understand him. He will stay with you after the story ends and reminds us that goodness and courage can win.
8th Grade Level
My favorite character is the classic hero. He’s brave, courageous, and willing to put himself in danger for a good cause. He never gives up, even when he fails. He’s a leader, encouraging people around him to be their best. He’s creative, coming up with answers to questions nobody else can. He’s strong in body and mind, and always does what is right. He always does what is fair and his moral compass never changes. His presence can make a huge difference, even if everyone doesn’t always understand him, they always respect him. He’ll stay in your heart long after the story is over, reminding you that goodness and bravery always wins.
9th Grade Level
The hero is my fave character. He’s bold, daring and even risks his own life to help others. He doesn’t get scared easily and even when he fails, he still tries again. He encourages those around him to be the best they can and he’s clever, finding ways to fix problems that no one else can. He’s strong both in strength and in his mind, and always does the right thing. He has a strong sense of justice and stands up for what is right. He can change a room just by being there, even if people don’t understand him, they still respect him. He’s a character that will stay with you even when the story is over, and reminds us that good and bravery always wins.
10th Grade Level
My favorite character is a heroic figure. He is bold, brave, and ready to risk himself for the greater good. He is not scared of difficulties and if he fails, he stands up and tries again. He is a leader, who encourages those around him to do their best. He is creative and can find solutions to problems that no one else has considered. He is mentally and physically strong, and always does what is right. He is driven by justice and has a steady moral code. His presence can make a difference in a room, even if not everyone understands him, they still respect him. He is a character that will stay with you after the story ends and will show that morality and courage will always win.
11th Grade Level
The hero is the classic example of a brave, courageous individual. They are not intimidated by obstacles they face, and they are willing to risk their safety for the greater good. Despite their failures, they never give up and continue to strive for success. This hero is a leader, motivating their peers to be the best versions of themselves and finding innovative solutions for problems. They are emotionally and physically strong, driven by a sense of justice and not swaying from their values. The hero’s presence can influence a room, and even if they are misunderstood, they are still respected. This character will stay in an audience’s mind after the story ends and remind them that goodness and courage triumph.
12th Grade Level
My beloved protagonist embodies the classic hero archetype: brave, courageous, and self-sacrificing for the sake of the greater good. Facing difficult challenges with determination, even when meeting failure, he persists in seeking creative solutions no one else has considered. His fortitude is both physical and psychological, and his moral code is unwavering in its pursuit of justice. His presence has the power to transform a room, and though his actions may not always be understood, he is deeply respected. His legacy endures long after the story’s end, a reminder that goodness and courage will always triumph.
