Re: [LM_NET] Lexile

[Bruce Seiden <b_seiden@YAHOO.COM>]

Paula,

I couldn't agree more!!! So what if they struggle a
little bit with the book.  Do they enjoy it any less??

Books are meant to enjoyed and children in libraries
want to try some books because they look good or sound
good or heaven forbid, ARE GOOD!

Hooray!

Bruce Seiden,
Teacher of Library Webster Magnet School
bseiden@nred.org
--- Paula Yohe <paula_yohe@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> My fellow media specialists - I had to speak out and
> I many not be popular for this --
>
> I have spent my entire life in media centers
> starting out as an ele. library worker. then my part
> time job in high school and college.
> I spent 23 years as a school media specialist and
> have spent the last few years as the Director of
> Technology and Library Media.
>
> Please all of you stop and think about what we are
> doing to students in this labeling, AR, RC, lexile.
> reading level craziness.
> Are we creating a lifelong love of reading?
> Think about asking these children in 15 years - what
> do you remember about your school library?
> Responses: I had to check out the yellow books or
> the star books -- I had to check out the 5 point
> books or green books --
>
> Please stop and think about this -- do we need a
> professional library media specialist to point kids
> to red books or green books or 200 point books or
> 4.5 Reading level books.
>
> I don't have a problem with labeling books for
> genre's, points, etc.
>
> But let's stop this craziness before we destroy any
> hopes for future libraries --
>
> where is common sense --
>
> I am seeing it fly out the door in many cases --
>
> I am a great believer in motivating students to read
> and don't have a problem with reading motivation
> programs as long as they are used as a tool not as
> way to pigeon hole students.
>
> I hope this has made some people think about this
> issue --
>
> I am now off the soapbox
> Paula
>
>
>
>
>
> Bev Nelson <bev.nelson@SPRINGGROVE.K12.MN.US> wrote:
> I have been involved in the lexile world for a few
> months now. Last
> year, our school switched to NWEA testing. After
> testing in this
> system, each child receives a lexile range based on
> their test.
> Students are tested 2-3 times a year, depending on
> the age. Each
> time, their lexile range is updated. We record those
> lexile ranges
> for each student in our check out book. This is what
> we do:
> I use a chart for lexile range that show grade
> levels. First grade
> range is 200-400, second grade range is 300-600,
> third grade
> 500-800, fourth grade 600-900, fifth grade 700-1000,
> sixth grade 800
> - 1050, seventh grade 850-1100, eighth 900-1150,
> ninth grade
> 1000-1200, tenth grade 1025-1200, eleventh grade
> 1050-1225, 12th
> grade 1075-1350. (The upper grades from 9th on may
> be slight
> approximations - my detailed chart has been borrowed
> by a teacher
> and not returned yet.) Anyway, these are the ranges
> suggested for
> text books for each grade level. Next to their names
> in our check out
> book, we color a very small dot so that whomever is
> checking out can
> see where each student is.
>
> Many teachers wanted to know lexile books for
> library books, so I
> wrote a grant to our staff development and arranged
> to work during
> the summer last year to start "lexiling" the libray.
> For me, lexile
> leveling the library has meant this:
>
> I select a material type and print it off. Then we
> go to lexile.com
> and search for the title. If I find a lexile number,
> I put L=(lexile
> number) on the first end paper - inside book. I
> ordered small star
> stickers for the spines of the books. Red is first
> grade, second is
> green, etc. The stars are placed at the top of each
> spine. If a
> book has a number of 550, it has two stars on the
> spine (2nd and
> 3rd). Lexile numbers are also put in the Marc record
> (Tag 521,
> Indicator 8, Subfield a). We placed large stars on
> the wall so
> everyone can see the sequence. When students check
> out, they know
> the color of the star which would be their top
> level. They can check
> out books at their level or below. We have their max
> color on the
> check out roster. So far, I have only been able to
> lexile the Easy
> section and the elem fiction (k-6). We have books in
> those sections
> that do not have lexile ******* yet. It is a
> frustration to me
> that I can not find lexile ******* for each title
> that I own. All
> students are given the checkout "mandate" You must
> check out (1,2,3)
> starred books. You may also check out (1,2,3,)
> "free" books - (those
> books not starred).
> The pros for our school - First and second and third
> grade teachers
> are ecstatic. The first grade teacher says she
> cannot believe how
> much this has helped. Students learning how to read
> are feeling
> successful. The teachers working with special
> education love the
> guidance. Students get to pick their own books and
> they are not
> feeling pigeon holed as lexile ******* are kept
> private and they can
> simply look for the colors they need. It also
> eliminates need for
> guidance with those students who want to check out
> the biggest book
> in the library. Parents like it as kids are bringing
> books home that
> are written at their level.
> Cons - A lexile ****** only reflects the reading
> level - not the
> level of sophistication needed to understand the
> text. Sometimes a
> book is inappropriate for a younger audience even
> though it has a low
> lexile ******. Some books have a very high lexile
> (such as Lemony
> Snicket and Little House books.) I used my
> discretion and did not
> label those books but kept them as free choice so as
> not to
> discourage students from selecting them.
>
> This system works best with trained personnel to
> guide the library.
> Is this a lot of work? You bet!! Has it been worth
> it so far? Yes,
> I think so. Do I think it will be as effective with
> older students?
> I will wait and see. If anyone has a way to make
> this workload
> easier, I would certainly like to hear it. I am
> planning on writing
> another staff development grant this year for
> another work session
> this summer. I would love to find lexile ******* for
> each and every
> book! Thanks and I hope this helps some.
> --
> Beverly Nelson
> Media Generalist
> Spring Grove Public School
> 113 2nd Ave NW
> Spring Grove, Minnesota 55974
> 507-498-3223
> bev.nelson@springgrove.k12.mn.us
>
>
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