Text Leveling System

Last Day Blues

RDQ:	393	Max Word/Sent	23	Total Words	791		Diff Words	306
Lex	600	Ave Word/.Sent	9	Hi Freq occurs	477	60.3%	Hi freq	116	37.9%
AR	2.4	Long Sentences	3.4	Low Freq occurs	22	2.8%	Low freq	16	5.2%

On the Monday morning before the Friday
that was the last day of school, Mrs. Hartwell took
attendance. She sighed as she called out the last
name.
"I'm going to miss all of you," she said.]]
The kids nodded in agreement.
"I'm going to miss my friends,"
said Shannon.
I'm going to miss Daisy," said Dan.
"I'm going to miss
chocolate milk and pizza
for lunch," said Joe.]]
Everyone felt a little blue thinking about
the last day of school. Even Daisy.]]
That afternoon during recess, the students
talked as they hung out on the jungle gym.
"Mrs. Hartwell said she's going to miss us,"
said Alexandra, swinging from a bar.
"We should get a present to cheer her up,"
said Eddie, hanging upside down by his knees.
But what could they get her?]]
"I could give her the rest of my sandwich.
It's my mon1's baloney special," said Josh.
"Or a coffee cup."
"Or a new pen, the kind with feathers
and beads."
The students thought and thought but
couldn't come up with one single idea that
they all agreed on.
"We'll think of something tomorrow,"
Eddie assured everyone as they lined up at
the drinking fountain.]]
On the Tuesday before the Friday that was , ,
the last day of school, Mrs. Hartwell read the
final page of their last read-aloud book.
"I'm going to miss circle time," said
Mrs. Hartwell.
"I'm going to miss science," said Emily.
"I'm going to miss seeing Mrs. Hartwell
wear her safety goggles during science,''
said Jack, giggling.
And so before they got too sad,
Mrs. Hartwell put on her safety
goggles one last tin1e. Just for fun.]]
We definitely need to cheer Mrs Hartwell up, said Andy during recess as he jumped out of a swing.
Any ideas about a present? Eddie asked.
Nope, they all answered back.]]
On the Wednesday before the Friday that was the last ' '
day of school, Mrs. Hartwell brought in her super-duper
sugar cookies with extra frosting.
I'm going to miss snack time, but I can't wait for
barbecues by the pool," said Jack.
I'm going to miss recess, but I can't wait to play hide and-
seek outside after dinner," said Alexandra.]]
I'll miss school, but
I can't wait for summer
vacation," said Josh.
The class discussed their
summer plans and drowned
their last day blues with
another round of milk and
sugar cookies.]]
"I don't know whether to be happy
or sad today," Andy said the minute
they all arrived at the jungle gym.
"Mrs. Hartwell is sad," said Olivia.
"She probably doesn't want the year
to end."
"While we're swimming,
she'll be reading her old
lesson plans," said Walker.
"And while we're
playing, she'll be trying to
remember the fun times we
had this year," said Dan.]]
And that's when an idea zipped, zapped, and
zinged through Eddie's brain. "I know exactly what
will cheer her up," Eddie said, jumping down from
the jungle gym.
The class agreed it was perfect.]]
On the Thursday before the Friday that was the
last day of school, Eddie raised his hand right after
Mrs. Hartwell started language arts.
"We need some privacy, please," he said.]]
And so Mrs. Hartwell took down bulletin
boards with her back to the class. She never
even peeked. Well, only once.]]
On the morning of the Friday that was the Friday
that was the last day of school, the students dashed
into the classroom.
They snapped open the shades for the very last time.
They did their chores for the very last time.
They fed Daisy for the very last time.
And as soon as the bell rang, they couldn't wait for
Mrs. Hartwell to see her present for the very first time.]]
The last day of school makes us so blue.,
We'll miss recess and pizza and reading, too.
We'll miss Daisy and cookies and friendship true,
Snack time and science and learning new.
We'll mis spelling bees for our test review
And groundhogs that play peek a boo.
The year's been great, a big Wahoo!
There are many thing to miss it's true
But mostly what We'll miss is you!]]
Later on during recess, Eddie said, "I think
Mrs. Hartwell liked her present."
"I just hope it helps," Margaret said.
"Poor Mrs. Hartwell," they all said sadly as
they pictured their final good-bye. "Teachers
must hate the last day of school."]]
And then it was time. The bell rang.
"Good-bye," the students called as they rushed
out the door.
"Good-bye." Mrs. Hartwell called after them. 
And then she returned to her empty classroom.
"It's just you and me, Daisy," she said. I'm sure . .
going to miss them this summer.]]
But I can't wait for vacation.}}

Subjective Criteria

Illustrations: Little support

Dialog: Multiple speakers

Vocabulary: Few decoding/definition issues

Language: Few descriptive words

Sentences: Simple phrases

Text structure: Blend of written/oral

Features

Clear cause/effect

Topic

Teacher/Teaching

Vacations

Gifts

*Feelings, Behaviors

*Schools & Education

Low Frequency Words

assured	attendance	baloney	drowned	duper
giggling	groundhogs	hartwell	language	mon
pictured	privacy	review	science	wahoo
zinged