2nd Grade Expository

Oliver had reached an Instructional level after reading a Level 1 expository passage

called “Air”. I wanted Oliver to test himself and his ability to read and comprehend a Level 2

expository passage. For the Level 2 expository passage, I selected the passage, “Whales and

Fish”. Before he read, I asked Oliver three concept questions in order to gauge his familiarity

with the subject. He answered two out of the three questions perfectly but responded “I don’t

know” to the last question. Despite his last answer, Oliver was 67% familiar with this topic.

Oliver began to read the passage orally. As he read, I did not notice any sign of

expressive interpretation. Oliver’s voice was monotone and soft, which was unusual for him.

This passage took him 160 seconds (2 minutes 14 seconds) to read. Oliver read 74 words per

minute before calculating for miscues. After calculating for miscues, he had read 70 words

correctly per minute. The total number of miscues was 11, which included 7 meaning-change

miscues. As a result of this data, I diagnosed Oliver to be on a Level 2 expository level for

reading. After he had finished the passage, I asked Oliver to answer eight comprehension

questions. He answered six of these questions correctly (2 explicit and 4 implicit). Given this

data, I was able to deduct that Oliver was at a Level 2 expository level for comprehension.