Text Leveling System

Young George Washington

RDQ:	204	Max Word/Sent	16	Total Words	411		Diff Words	200
Lex	460	Ave Word/.Sent	7	Hi Freq occurs	206	50.1%	Hi freq	72	36%
AR	2.0	Long Sentences	0	Low Freq occurs	31	7.5%	Low freq	17	8.5%

George Washington was America's first president.]]
He was born in Virginia in 1732. In those days America was ruled by the king of Great Britain. Virginia was a British colony.]]
Young George didn't care who ruled America. He was too busy playing games and helping his family on their farm.]]
When George was 7, he started school. He went to a one room schoolhouse. Children of all ages sat together and were taught by one teacher.]]
When George was 11, a very sad thing happened. His Father died. George was sent to stay with his older brother Lawrence.]]
Lawrence lived on a big farm called Mount Vernon. George loved it there.]]
At Mount Vernon, George learned a lot about farming. But there was time for fun, too. He hunted, fished, and rode horses. George loved riding horses most of all.]]
When George got older, he joined Virginia's army. He led many attacks against the French and the Indians.]]
George was a good leader. Soon he became the head of Virginia's Army.]]
One day George met Martha Custis. She was a young widow with two children. George and Martha fell in love. Soon they were married.]]
George took his new family to live at Mount Vernon. They were very happy there.]]
But life in America was not easy. The British king made the American colonies pay high taxes. And he passed laws the people did not like.]]
George Washington wanted to fight for America's freedom. Many people agreed with him.]]
The colonists went to war against Great Britain. This war was called the American Revolution.]]
Washington was in charge of the whole American army. The army fought hard against the British.]]
Washington's men had little money or supplies. But Washington was a brave leader. He made his army believe it could win.]]
Finally, after 8 long years, the war ended. The colonies were free. America was free.]]
After the Revolution, Washington still had important jobs to do. He helped create the Constitution. People set down rules for the new government to follow.]]
Then he was chosen to be the first president of the United States. He was president for 8 years.]]
When his days as president were over, Washington and his wife went home to Mount Vernon. Two years later, George Washington died there.]]
Across the river from Mount Vernon is Washington, D C, the nation's capital. It was named in Washington's honor.]]
America has had many presidents. But few are as well loved as George Washington.]]

Subjective Criteria

Illustrations: Some support

Vocabulary: Few decoding/definition issues

Language: Few descriptive words

Sentences: Simple phrases

Text structure: Oral/Natural

Index

Features

Character traits

Integral Setting - Historical

Topic

*History

American History

US Constitution

Presidents

Low Frequency Words

colonies	colonists	colony	constitution	freedom
government	honor	lawrence	mount	nation's
president	presidents	revolution	schoolhouse	supplies
vernon	widow