What is Accelerated Reading and how has it been used in the District?

Accelerated Reading is a tool that teachers use to monitor independent reading through computerized tests. This process provides a quick and easy way for teachers to monitor if students are indeed completing their independent reading.

Why are we moving away from Accelerated Reading?

Several years ago when District 23 started using Accelerated Reading, it was one of the few quick tools that was available for helping teachers assign correct reading levels and monitor independent reading. Since that time our knowledge base has grown and we have more tools to monitor student progress. With the current financial situation in the district, it is the right time to switch to other tools that are free, and offer more flexible ways to monitor student independent reading.

Why are we moving to Lexile scores for the 2011-2012 school year?

Recognized as the most widely adopted reading measure, Lexiles are part of reading and testing programs in the classroom and at our district and state levels. More than 100,000 books, 80 million articles and 60,000 Web sites have Lexile measures, and all major standardized tests can report student-reading scores in Lexiles.

What is the Lexile Framework?

The Lexile Framework for Reading provides a common, developmental scale for matching reader ability and text difficulty. Lexile measures enable educators, parents and students to select targeted materials that can improve reading skills. Lexile measures enable educators to monitor reading growth across the curriculum, in the library and at home. Lexiles are a powerful tool for linking assessment with instruction, by taking the guesswork out of selecting reading materials that meet and challenge a student’s ability.

What is the difference between the recommended Lexile range and Accelerated Reader’s ZPD range?

Both the Lexile range and Renaissance Learning’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) range are based on the premise that students can optimize their reading growth if they read books at a level that is appropriately challenging. The books should be challenging enough so that new learning occurs (e.g., the student encounters some new vocabulary), but not too difficult that students get frustrated and give up. However, the actual recommended reading ranges for the two systems are quite different.

A student’s Lexile range is the suggested range of Lexile measures between which the reader should be reading. The Lexile range of a reader is from 100L below to 50L above his or her Lexile measure. For example, a student with a Lexile measure of 750L is encouraged to select books with Lexile measures between 650L and 800L. This recommended Lexile range of -100L to +50L does not change according to the student’s Lexile measure, which helps to ensure that students at all levels are reading books at an appropriate level of complexity. Of course, students should never be discouraged from reading a book based on its Lexile measure alone. Reading books outside of the recommended Lexile range is fine, but these books may pose extra challenge or be less challenging than those within the recommended Lexile range.

Renaissance Learning’s (Accelerated Readers)  ZPD ranges are found on the company’s goal-setting chart and vary according to the student’s reading level. For example, the ZPD range of a student at the grade equivalent of 5.0 is 3.4 to 5.4, a range that spans two grade levels. The ZPD range of a student at a reading level of 12.0 is 4.9 to 12.0, a range that spans seven grade levels.

Will a Lexile score tell me it the text is age appropriate?

Lexiles are a measure of text difficulty. They do not address age-appropriateness, student interest or the quality of a text. Educators or parents should always preview books.

Will my child still be held accountable for independent reading next year?

There will still be student expectations for independent reading. The avenue to become a better reader is to read. That has not changed.

How will I know what level of books my child should be reading?

When you receive your child’s MAP report for the year, look for the Lexile score. A reader’s Lexile range is 50 Lexile points above and 100 Lexile points below his or her Lexile measure. Matching your child’s Lexile measure to a text with the same Lexile measure leads to an expected 75%-percent comprehension rate – not too difficult to be frustrating, but difficult enough to encourage reading progress.

For book selections, the Lexile Book Database (at www.Lexile.com) and “Find a Book”  website (at www.lexile.com/findabook) are available to create customized reading lists. These free databases allow you to search for books based on Lexile measures and by interest categories or school assignment topics. With the “Find a Book” site, you can even check the availability of titles at your local library.