Which pair is commonly associated with the leveled reading texts used in balanced literacy?

• A. Fountas, Irene & Gary Pinnell
• B. Adams, Marilyn
• C. Routman, Regie
• D. Taberski, Sharon

Answer: (A)

In balanced literacy, teachers use leveled books to match a student’s current reading ability with texts that provide the right amount of support and challenge. The pair most closely associated with these leveled reading texts is Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. They developed the widely used Fountas & Pinnell leveling system, which assigns levels to books and guides guided reading groups, book selection, and progress monitoring. Their framework forms the backbone of many classrooms’ leveled reading practices, helping teachers scaffold instruction as students grow.

Other literacy scholars are influential, but they’re not the ones known for the leveled-text framework used in balanced literacy.