SRI Testing and Lexile Levels

1. SRI Testing and Lexile Levels Where to Begin the Understanding…

2. The Lexile Framework The Lexile Framework is a scientific approach to reading and text measurement. The Lexile scale is a developmental scale for reading ranging from below 200L for beginning readers and text to above 1700L for advanced readers and text. Lexile measures allow parents to be involved in their child’s reading growth. When your child reads a text that is at the appropriate level, he or she is “targeted.” What this means is that the text is not so difficult that it is frustrating but difficult enough to encourage reading progress. “Targeted” readers should be able to understand about 75% of what they read on their own. Your child’s Lexile measure does not translate specifically to a grade level. Within any classroom, there will be a range of readers and a range of materials they are reading. To say that some books are “just right” for seventh graders assumes that all seventh graders are reading at the same level. This is not true! For example, the 2009 seventh grade class had lexile levels ranging from 243 to 1604. Imagine having BOTH of these children in the same classroom. Teachers and staff at CGMSC are using multiple literacy strategies to help children that are NOT a perfect match with the text levels. Look on the Literacy Tab for copies of these ideas. Other strategies will be presented during our Monday PRIDE lessons.

3. How the process works… Step 1 Child takes SRI (Scholastic Reading Inventory) on the computer in Language class Step 2 Child sees score immediately Step 3 Child finds reading materials that match Step 4 Child repeats process periodically throughout the year getting a new lexile

4. “Targeted” Lexile Levels When the student lexile and text Lexile align, it is a 75% match! To find a student’s Lexile range for materials… Take the score from the SRI test Add 50 to find the top of the range Subtract 100 to find the bottom of the range. Ex. SRI is 689 Range is 689 + 50 = 739 for top 689 – 100 = 589 for bottom So, the range for this child to find suitable reading material is 589 – 739. Keep in mind that children should be encouraged to stay at the top of their lexile score to help ensure progress.

5. CGMSC currently uses Lexile Levels to help our readers throughout the year… D.E.A.R. Day – Most Mondays your child is given PRIDE period to read a book. Teachers and librarians try to monitor their choice so they are always working toward raising their Lexile level. High Five Strategies - The CGMSC Staff is being trained on 5 literacy strategies that every teacher will use. These will be posted so parents can suggest using them at home as well. Teachers sometimes choose to group students according to their Lexile level for interventions, group work, projects, front-loading content, or test review. Library contains books at all lexile levels.

6. CGMSC parents can… Did you know that successful readers generally are products of parents who model this same behavior at home.? Did you know that 80% of parents say it’s very important for children to read books for fun, but only 21% of them read themselves. • Encourage your child to read a variety of books independently (fiction and non-fiction) • Help them to find books at their “Target” level (see www.Lexile.com ) for help. • Encourage quiet reading time at home. Just 20 minutes a day can help improve reading skills. • *Assist your child in increasing their vocabulary. The more they read, the more their vocabulary will increase. See the Vocabulary slide for activity ideas. • *Talk to your child’s teacher about Lexile concerns.

7. *Discuss what they are reading with question starters like… “If the book was a TV show, which actors would you cast in it and why?” “If the main character in that story lived next door, would you two be friends?” “Where does the novel take place? Would you take a trip there? Why?” *Find text that is relevant to a child’s life so he or she will want to read it. Try some of these… “Would you read that recipe to me while I cook, please?” “Look, here’s a review in the newspaper of that movie you’ve been wanting to see.” “I don’t agree with you about that issue. Find an article online to convince me.” “Can you look up that athlete’s stats so I can tell my friend at work tomorrow?”

8. Vocabulary Activities for Parents • Have your child keep a list of unknown words he or she has encountered while reading. • Help your child learn the definition of each word by trying to define it first with context clues and then a print dictionary. • Use each word in a sentence and then ask your child to make up their own sentence using the word. • Ask your child if the word is related to another word. (For example, the words cavity and cave both relate to a hollowed-out space.) • Ask your child if the word has a prefix or a suffix. Tell them to name a synonym or antonym. • Ask how the prefix or suffix changes the meaning of the root or base word. • *Ask your child to find the new word in the newspaper or other media print.

9. Resources to Look for Books: www.lexile.com www.destiny.com www.scholastic.com www.barnesandnoble.com These websites all have programs to input lexile levels and find possible reading material.

10. And finally, Celebrate any success with your child!