Updates from Fountas and Pinnell - on Reading Instruction

As I am preparing for my "Reading Foundational Skills" dialogue with K-5 teachers in WGSD and the three other feeder schools, I came across an interesting update from Fountas and Pinnell.  As we look at the Reading Foundational Skills as teachers we need to relate what the students need to know in guided reading groups to what they need to know when we are instructing them on their instructional and independent reading levels.

Here are a few things that I found interesting -
Why the updates?  I just love the whitepapers on things. :)
2015 Updated Instructional Levels per Grade Level  - if your running records pushes you to get the students independent reading level consider that when viewing this chart

I do remember when the end of kindergarten level was C, then it changed to D and now it is D/E.  It is nice to know that many districts, including my own district,  are making huge gains in the student's instructional reading levels.

One thought -- in the primary grades how many teachers have moved to having students have books on their laps at the shared reading time versus just a big book for the teacher?  Is there research evidence to show that if the students have books in their hands they are more likely to be engaged in the learning process?

Thoughts to ponder today.