Leveling Text

How and Why

The Why for Text Leveling

Text leveling determines the reading level of a book based on criteria such as amount of one syllable or multiple syllable words, sentence length, and if the word contains a known word within it. Most leveling systems use a readability formula as its basis for determining levels.

Leveling Systems from Simple to

Complex

To level books, you can: • Apply a readability formula but this can be very complicated. You usually

have to count all of the words, then count multiple syllable words or length of sentences, and then apply a formula.

• Do something as simple as using MS Word.• Consult a book such as Matching Books to Readers (Fountas &

Pinnell) or a framework such as the Lexile Framework.• Buy the books already leveled or use a simple system developed

by a company.

The following slides will share all of The following slides will share all of these different ways with you!these different ways with you!

Readability Formulas

Readability formulas require following a formula. The site below will show you two of the most popular readability formulas:

http://www.readabilityformulas.com/free-readability-formula-assessment.php

If you do not enjoy the math calculation this If you do not enjoy the math calculation this entails, go to the next slide for an easier entails, go to the next slide for an easier way.way.

ARTICLE THAT COMPARES READABIITY RESOURCES

• This site has an interesting article that compares different types of readability

resources:

http://www.articlealley.com/article_753014_50.html

Scholastic’s Teachers’ Book Wizard

• This is an interesting site that will tell you both the reading level and interest level of books along with some suggestions for books to support different teaching:

http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/homePage.do

The MS Word Alternative

MS Word has a built in feature that you may not know about which is based on the Flesch Reading Ease Score and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Score. This procedure is definitely preferred for those of us who don’t enjoy math:

1. Type about 100 words from the text into MS Word.2. Go up to “Tools” on the Tool Bar.3. Select Spelling & Grammar4. Choose “Options”.5. Then check “Show Readability Statistics”.Then with your document do a spell check. When the spell check is completed, the

Readability Statistics will come up in a dialogue box.Make sure to save this for Clinic and when you are a reading Make sure to save this for Clinic and when you are a reading

specialist!specialist!

Activating Readability in Word 2007

1. When you are in Word:-You have to push the Windows circle button at the top left corner.

2. At the bottom of that drop down menu (BOTTOM OF WINDOW, choose word options.

3. Then choose grammar and spell check-Then check the box marked readability statistics.

After that whenever you spell check it will show the Flesh-Kincaid readability.

Or Consult the Lexile Framework

The Lexile Framework was developed as an easy way for teachers and parents to find out the reading level of a book. On the Lexile website, you can search the level of a book. Check out the site below:

www.lexile.com/EntrancePageFlash.html?1

A conversion chart to convert Lexile levels to reading levels is also available at External Links on the Blackboard site. If you search “Lexile Conversion to Reading Levels charts” in Google, you will find many different kinds of charts.

This, too, can be time consuming for the teacher who wants a leveled classroom library. The American Reading Company has the answer to this problem. See the next slide.

The American Reading Company

Have you ever heard of the 100 Book Challenge? Grants from the ABELL Foundation has made this program possible in many Baltimore City Public Schools. Schools can buy books that are leveled, color coded, and packed in bins. Check out their website below:

http://www.americanreading.com/products/100bc/

While you are at the American Reading Site, check out their many innovative programs.

Matching Books to Readers

Fountas and Pinnell’s book, Matching Books to Readers, is used by many teachers and reading specialists to level classroom libraries. See the following website on more information about this book:

http://www.fountasandpinnellleveledbooks.com/

For Your Text Set

• Try a couple of different resources to determine reading level for your text set to give yourself that experience. When indicating reading level on your text set, report it in reading levels (not Lexiles). So if you use the Lexiles, also use the conversion chart.

Most of all, though, readability alone does not Most of all, though, readability alone does not determine if a book is just right for a student. determine if a book is just right for a student. Many times a student will read a more difficult Many times a student will read a more difficult text because of his interest in the topic. Also, text because of his interest in the topic. Also, sometimes a child will struggle with a text just sometimes a child will struggle with a text just because she doesn’t have the background of because she doesn’t have the background of experience to read it even if it is the right reading experience to read it even if it is the right reading level. Readability is only one factor in finding a level. Readability is only one factor in finding a “just right book”.“just right book”.