Benchmark
Assessment System 2
Recording Form Part One: Oral Reading
THIRD EDITION
Not Too Cold for a Polar Bear • Level Q • Nonfiction
Student
Grade
Teacher
School
Place the book in front of the student. Read the title and introduction.
Date
Summary of Scores:
Introduction: Polar bears adapt to their environment. Read to find out
how these interesting animals survive the cold.
Accuracy
Comprehension
Self-correction
Writing About
Reading
Fluency
Sources of Information Used
Page
1
Start Time
Do
you
warm
wrap
ever
in
and
scar ves.
how
animals
They
blankets
can’t
They
© 2017, 2011, 2008 by Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. This page may be photocopied.
But
keeping
Adapting
in
They
chocolate!
Not Too Cold for a Polar Bear Level Q, RW: 255, E: 15
environments?
themselves
heat.
sec.
wonder
cold
the
of
min.
or
bundle
can’t
animals
make
have
E
SC
M S V M S V
stay
can’t
turn
up
E SC
in
sweaters
soup
their
up
or
own
hot
ways
warm.
to
the
Environment
When
it
comes
to
sur viving
cold,
no
animal
is
better
extreme
adapted
than
the
Subtotal
Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System 2, Third Edition
1
Recording Form Part One: Oral Reading (continued)
Not Too Cold for a Polar Bear • Level Q
Sources of Information Used
Page Text
polar
bear.
largest
of
bears.
Arctic
reason
or
shiver,
great
deal
Polar
bears
land.
of
They
and
because
the
ocean,
or
excellent
near
can
if
seals
are
polar
bears
the
ocean,
ver y
that
M S V M S V
the
of
cold
the
cold.
to
too.
minus
not
icy
spend
Arctic
and
predators
found
They
a
Ocean.
eat
often
50
enough
largest
usually
are
the
also
the
hunt
polar
In
that ’s
the
of
mainly
of
kinds,
in
bears
in
one
or
drop
polar
time
are
icy
As
one
SC
region.
you
is
lower.
to
only
tells
temperatures
degrees
in
the
Arctic
is
species,
live
environment
winter,
on
eight
bear
bears
like
word
bear’s
polar
the
Polar
climates
The
The
E
seals,
in
found
are
swimmers.
Subtotal
2
Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System 2, Third Edition
© 2017, 2011, 2008 by Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. This page may be photocopied.
2
E SC
Recording Form Part One: Oral Reading (continued)
Not Too Cold for a Polar Bear • Level Q
Sources of Information Used
Page Text
3
E SC
Sur viving
the
How
do
polar
Polar
bears
the
even
bears
are
Arctic.
the
bottoms
fur
The
top
layer
hair
sticks
together
hair
is
barrier
© 2017, 2011, 2008 by Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. This page may be photocopied.
the
of
cold
sur vive
ver y
fur.
from
SC
M S V M S V
Cold
frozen
a
E
well
A
polar
of
its
protects
fur
it
is
bear’s
from
when
that
adapted
feet,
called
that
all
is
the
guard
it ’s
protects
cold?
to
life
entire
body,
covered
cold.
hair.
wet.
polar
in
in
The
Guard
The
wet
bears
water.
Subtotal
End Time
min.
sec.
Total
Have the student finish reading the book silently.
Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System 2, Third Edition
3
Recording Form Part One: Oral Reading (continued)
Not Too Cold for a Polar Bear • Level Q
Accuracy
Rate
Errors
15 or
more
12-14
9-11
7-8
4-6
1-3
0
%
Below
95%
95%
96%
97%
98%
99%
100%
Self-Corrections
Fluency Score
0
1
2
3
Fluency Scoring Key
0 Reads primarily word-by-word with occasional but infrequent or inappropriate phrasing;
no smooth or expressive interpretation, irregular pausing, and no attention to author’s
meaning or punctuation; no stress or inappropriate stress, and slow rate.
1 Reads primarily in two-word phrases with some three- and four-word groups and some
word-by-word reading; almost no smooth, expressive interpretation or pausing guided
by author’s meaning and punctuation; almost no stress or inappropriate stress, with
slow rate most of the time.
3 Reads primarily in larger, meaningful phrases or word groups; mostly smooth,
expressive interpretation and pausing guided by author’s meaning and punctuation;
appropriate stress and rate with only a few slowdowns.
Reading Rate
(Optional)
End Time
min.
sec.
Start Time
min.
sec.
Total Time
min.
sec.
Total Seconds
(RW  60) 4 Total Seconds 5 Words Per Minute (WPM)
15,300 4
4
5
WPM
Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System 2, Third Edition
© 2017, 2011, 2008 by Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. This page may be photocopied.
2 Reads primarily in three- or four-word phrase groups; some smooth, expressive
interpretation and pausing guided by author’s meaning and punctuation; mostly
appropriate stress and rate with some slowdowns.
Recording Form Part Two: Comprehension Conversation
Not Too Cold for a Polar Bear • Level Q
Beginning with the first prompt, have a conversation with the student.
Note the key understandings the student expresses. Use the prompts to
give you information about the student’s understanding. Score for evidence
of all understandings expressed—with or without a prompt. For scoring
details, see the rubric in the Assessment Guide. Circle the number in the
score column that reflects the level of understanding demonstrated.
Key Understandings
Comprehension Scoring Key
3 Student demonstrates proficiency in understanding the text.
2 Student is approaching proficiency in understanding the text.
1 Student demonstrates limited proficiency in understanding the text.
0 Student’s comprehension is not proficient.
Prompts
Score
Within the Text
Polar bears live in the Arctic where it is very cold. The polar
bear’s body is adapted to survive extreme cold.
Summarize the important information in
the book.
The polar bear’s whole body is covered with fur. It has black
skin that absorbs heat from the sun, and a thick layer of
blubber also protects them from the cold.
Is there anything else you want to add to
your summary?
0
1
2
3
0
1
2
3
Polar bears mainly hunt and eat seals, so they are usually
found near the ocean and are excellent swimmers.
Polar bears stay awake all winter, but their body functions slow
down to save energy.
Note any additional understandings:
© 2017, 2011, 2008 by Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. This page may be photocopied.
Beyond the Text
Their entire body is covered with fur that protects them from the
cold. They have a top layer of fur called guard hair that protects
them from the cold water. Under that they have another layer
of fur, black skin that absorbs heat from the sun, and a layer of
blubber. These characteristics help them survive the cold of the
Arctic and help them to be able to hunt seals in the cold water.
What characteristics of the polar bear
are especially important in helping
them survive in the cold? Why are these
characteristics so important?
Polar bears would probably be too hot. Their bodies are adapted
to live in very cold climates. Their body is covered with fur,
they have black skin that absorbs heat, and they have a layer
of blubber.
What problems would polar bears have
being in a warmer climate?
The physical features of animals, like the polar bear, must be wellsuited to their environment in order for them to survive.
Talk about the big idea or message of
this book.
Note any additional understandings:
Continued on next page
Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System 2, Third Edition
5
Recording Form Part Two: Comprehension Conversation (continued)
Not Too Cold for a Polar Bear • Level Q
Key Understandings
Prompts
Score
About the Text
This is a nonfiction book. It gives lots of facts/information
about polar bears.
What is the genre of this book? How do
you know?
The map helps readers get a visual picture of the places on
Earth where polar bears live.
Why is the map on page 1 important?
The diagram shows the layers on the polar bear’s body that
help protect it from the cold. It also gives the surprising fact
that they have black skin that absorbs heat from the sun.
Look at the diagram on page 3. How does
it help you?
Sample response: The writer begins the book with a funny
comparison of the ways humans stay warm and how animals
stay warm. (Accept logical opinions and note how well
students support their ideas with evidence from the text.)
What does the writer do to keep you
interested? What else? Show an example.
0
1
2
3
Note any additional understandings:
Total Score:
8–9 Proficient
/9
6–7 Approaching Proficiency
4–5 Limited Proficiency
0–3 Not Proficient
Part Three: Writing About Reading (optional)
Read the writing/drawing prompt on the next page to the student. Specify the amount of
time for the student to complete the task. (See the Assessment Guide for more information.)
Writing About Reading Scoring Key
3 Reflects excellent understanding of the text.
2 Reflects partial understanding of the text.
1 Reflects very limited understanding of the text.
0 Reflects no understanding of the text.
6
Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System 2, Third Edition
© 2017, 2011, 2008 by Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. This page may be photocopied.
Guide to Total Score, Levels L–Z
Recording Form Part Three: Writing About Reading (optional)
Not Too Cold for a Polar Bear • Level Q
Student
Date
Write about how a polar bear’s body makes it well-suited to its environment. You can draw a sketch to go
with your writing.
© 2017, 2011, 2008 by Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. This page may be photocopied.
Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System 2, Third Edition
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