Independent Reading is that time where a students get to read alone all by them selves. Books that are read independently should be at the instructional level. Books that are too easy the student is getting no meaning from the book is is reading just to read. Students reading a book at the frustration level there is no comprehension going on because, students are usually concentrating on trying to pronounce words. If a student is reading a book that is frustrating to them, I can bet it sooner or later that student will begin hating reading. A way in my classroom that I will be able to tell what kind of book level my student is reading is during independent reading time walk around and ask the student to start reading aloud then ask them what have they read so far. From them reading aloud you can tell if the book is to hard or easy for them, but if you cant tell from that when you ask them what is the book about so far and they don't know then you know the book is not on their level.
