Thank you Paula!
I too have concerns about this. As long as I have
breathe in my librarian body my students will be able
to take a book they want to read no matter their
reading level (I do help my youngest find something
not too long for mom to read.) I always allow my
students to have two books (one for K & 1s but
exchangeable almost every day) they choose because
they want to. If a teacher requires they have a book
on their reading level or for a book report, that is
an extra book they may sign out. I've gone head to
head with several teachers on this over the years and
will keep doing so. I wasn't much of a reader as a
young child, but I became one using books that were
too hard for me just because I wanted to find out
about the subjects. No reading straight jackets for my
children.
Thanks for the chance to blow off a little winter
steam. I'm feeling much better now. <grin>
Barbara
--- 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 numbers yet. It is a
> frustration to me
> that I can not find lexile numbers 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 numbers 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 number 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 number. 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 numbers 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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=====
Barbara FritzElementary Librarian (K-5)Bloomsburg Area School DistrictBloomsburg
PAfritzlibrary@yahoo.com
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