How to help high-achieving readers
It's not always easy to keep your high-ability and independent readers challenged. Between the requirements of the curriculum and the pace that the rest of the class needs, sometimes they have to wait for other students to catch up. You can use Lexile® measures to find additional reading materials that will provide these readers with the right level of challenge.
Leveling should not be limiting
Find a Book lets you look for books with higher Lexile measures at a low developmental level. In no time, you can build an individualized reading or enrichment plan with your advanced and enthusiastic readers. High-achieving students may take ownership of their Lexile measure and seek out harder books to challenge themselves. And enthusiastic readers may devour high-interest books, regardless of the Lexile level of the text.
Higher-level books provide a great opportunity for reading growth, particularly if you know the Lexile measure of the book. This way, you can gauge the comprehension gap between the student and the text, and bridge that gap with instruction, such as background teaching, vocabulary work or discussion.
Use your library's online resources to differentiate materials
Chances are your school or district subscribes to one or more content databases from companies like EBSCO and ProQuest. We partner with content aggregators to provide full-text, content-area reading materials searchable by Lexile measure. So when you do a unit on the Harlem Renaissance from your textbook, do a quick article search to find content with higher Lexile measures for your stronger readers.
Show parents the Lexile tools
The parents of high-ability readers often make reading a priority at home. They may be interested in using their child's Lexile measure to monitor the independent reading experiences that their family has together. They can look up books in their local public library right from Find a Book ! And now they can buy books online directly from Barnes & Noble (click here for details).
Independent readers like to find their own books
Encourage students to use Find a Book ! Whether or not they know their Lexile measure, they'll love to make reading lists on their own. If they know their Lexile measure, they can click on an individual book to see their forecasted comprehension rate. A reader's sweet spot for reading is between 65% to 80% comprehension rate. But if you have a first grader who's already read all the "Harry Potter" books, he or she may be up to the challenge of harder books, where the forecasted comprehension rate drops below 65%.
Find a Book enables an independent reader to browse the entire Lexile Book Database. The reader can easily see high-interest books at all Lexile levels, even while staying in an appropriate developmental range.