Text Leveling System

Lucy Knows Best

RDQ:	325	Max Word/Sent	18	Total Words	623		Diff Words	274
Lex	560	Ave Word/.Sent	5	Hi Freq occurs	319	51.2%	Hi freq	104	38%
AR	2.3	Long Sentences	0	Low Freq occurs	34	5.5%	Low freq	15	5.5%

Lucy has a booth where she helps friends with their problems. Lucy gives lots of advice, and it only costs five cents.]]
Charlie Brown is Lucy's biggest customer. Why are you so good at helping people? He asks.]]
Lucy lifts her chin proudly. I know everything! She says. That's a good reason, says Charlie Brown. I'm glad you agree, says Lucy. How can I help you today?]]
Charlie Brown wants to feel confident, like Lucy. Try whistling, Lucy says. You will feel better about yourself and everyone around you.]]
Charlie Brown walks home, whistling. He feels better! Then he passes Woodstock, whistling A fancier tune. Charlie Brown stops whistling. He doesn't feel as good about himself anymore.]]
Charlie Brown goes back to Lucy. I think I need another suggestion, he says. You're hopeless, she says. Next!]]
Will you help my dog, snoopy? He can't sleep because he's afraid of the dark, says Charlie Brown. I can help anyone with five cents. Lucy says.]]
Snoopy comes to see Lucy. The dark can't hurt you, says Lucy. Snoopy falls asleep at the booth. Stay awake while I'm talking to you. Screams Lucy.]]
Give me your paw, Lucy says. Say to yourself: I am loved. I am needed. I am important. Snoopy feels better holding Lucy's hand. He smiles. Lucy sends him home.]]
At home snoopy finds Woodstock. Woodstock looks sad. Snoopy knows what to do.]]
Snoopy brings Woodstock to see Lucy. Good grief. Why are you so mopey she says. you're a bird. You can fly. Remember there's a great Big Sky out there.]]
Lucy is right. Woodstock flaps his little wings and takes off. Rats. Lucy says. I helped him so fast, he flew away without paying.]]
Next Lucy's friend Schroeder has a problem. I want to go to summer music camp, but I don't know how to get there, he says.]]
Lucy thinks Schroeder is cute. She helps him really quickly. I booked you on flight fifty four, first class period. she says, handing him a ticket.]]
Wow, Schroeder says. You are so helpful. Yes, I'll even kiss you good-bye Lucy says.]]
Lucy leans in for a kiss, but Schroeder ignores her. I have to look for a magazine to read on the plane, he says.]]
Lucy is disappointed. When Schroeder comes back from camp, she tries again to get his attention.]]
I read that our arms weren't made for throwing baseballs, Lucy says. Really? Schroeder asks periods what are arms made for?]]
Hugging. Lucy grins. Schroeder rolls his eyes and says bleah.]]
Ugh! Lucy is angry with Schroeder. She stomps home to sulk. She crawls into her beanbag chair and sinks all the way down. She needs advice. Who can she ask?]]
Herself. Lucy goes to her own booth. I need some help, she says out loud.]]
Then Lucy moves behind the booth. Good. That's why I'm here. She answers.]]
Lucy moves to the other side of the booth. There's this boy I like, but he never notices me, she says. It makes me sad.]]
Lucy moves behind the booth again. What's the problem? She asks. You're smart and beautiful. You shouldn't chase after anyone.]]
Do you really think so? Lucy asks. Of course. She says from behind the booth. I wouldn't lie to you. That's just what Lucy needs to hear.]]
She walked straight to schroeder's house. On the way she thinks about how smart she is. She fixes everyone's problems. Crummy old Schroeder only cares about his music.]]
I got advice from the smartest person I know. Want to know what she said? Lucy asks. Schroeder ignores her. She sticks out her tongue. She said bleah!]]
Lucy goes back to her booth feeling great. After all, Lucy knows best.]]

Subjective Criteria

Illustrations: Little support

Dialog: Two speakers

Vocabulary: Few decoding/definition issues

Language: Few descriptive words

Sentences: Multiple phrases

Text structure: Blend of written/oral

Concepts: Concrete/Simple Social

Features

Character traits

Clear cause/effect

Present Tense

Topic

Challenges

Caring/Hugs

Self Esteem

Opinions

Helping

*Family & Friends

*Feelings, Behaviors

Low Frequency Words

advice	bleah	confident	disappointed	fancier
grief	handing	ignores	notices	schroeder
schroeder's	snoopy	suggestion	whistling	woodstock