What reading behavior is characteristic of a student at the frustration level in an informal reading inventory?

A student at the frustration level in an informal reading inventory typically demonstrates reading behaviors that indicate significant difficulties with the text. This includes reading aloud poorly, which can manifest as struggling with pronunciation, frequent hesitations, misreading words, and a lack of fluency. These characteristics reflect the student's inability to decode the text effectively and may lead to a lack of comprehension as they focus more on sounding out words than on understanding the overall meaning.

In contrast, reading aloud smoothly would suggest a higher level of proficiency, typically associated with an easier text level. Understanding a high percentage, like 80%, is indicative of a more capable learner who is likely at a more appropriate reading level for their skill set. Intertwined comprehension suggests that the reader can connect ideas seamlessly within the text, which is not characteristic of students who are struggling. Therefore, the behavior of reading aloud poorly distinctly marks a student at the frustration level.