When I downloaded the Readability App, I didn’t get an app that made reading easier, it saved web pages to one location so they could be read at a later time. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, so I deleted it. However, at the secondary interrelated inservice, Newsela.com was presented. It’s a wonderful website. You must register, then when your students register with your code, you can set the reading lexiles for them. I really like it, plus, certain articles are tied to the core standards. Each article tied to a standard also has a four point multiple choice quiz. After the student takes the quiz, you are sent a notification that allows the teacher to track student progress against the standards!
Thanks for the tip Jerrie! I'll pass it on to other teachers if you don't mind. I can see it being useful for content area reading in upper elementary and middle school as well.
Several years ago our school did a readability check on our textbooks. This was before iPads and apps so we actually counted words and worked through a chart to determine the readability on the textbooks teachers were using in their classrooms. The results were all too depressing. All the textbooks we used at the middle school level were written at high school levels. No wonder our sped students especially struggle with textbooks! I have not done anymore readability since, I really don't like being that sad over something I cannot control!
One of my interrelated teachers often does readability checks on random passages that she has students read out of their assigned textbooks. When we get to the staffing, and she's reporting the results, classroom teachers are often shocked by the actual level students are being expected to read at. Whether it be much lower or much higher, it's rarely ever on the grade level that they're expecting.
The only thing I have really done for readability to is choose reading passages on my students reading level. I don't do this often, but try when I can.
I have installed readability on my iPad and have used it a few times. What I like about it is that it takes all of the "extras" out of a news article and just focuses on the news article itself. It makes it easier to read and easier to understand for the kids. There are a few teachers in my building that use newsela that seems to really make things better for the below level kids. Those teachers that use it highly recommend it to others.
I’ve suggested Newsela to a couple of my teachers who have expressed concerns about their older students becoming unmotivated with reading because of the stories’ content that’s available to them. They’re older, so have higher-level interests, but their reading abilities often hinder them from reading about those types of things. With Newsela, they’ve been able to choose from a wider variety of topics, understand the information, and feel more confident with their skills.
When I downloaded the Readability App, I didn’t get an app that made reading easier, it saved web pages to one location so they could be read at a later time. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, so I deleted it.
ReplyDeleteHowever, at the secondary interrelated inservice, Newsela.com was presented. It’s a wonderful website. You must register, then when your students register with your code, you can set the reading lexiles for them. I really like it, plus, certain articles are tied to the core standards. Each article tied to a standard also has a four point multiple choice quiz. After the student takes the quiz, you are sent a notification that allows the teacher to track student progress against the standards!
Teachers in my building also use newsela and absolutely love it! They highly recommend it to anyone they talk to.
DeleteThanks for the tip Jerrie! I'll pass it on to other teachers if you don't mind. I can see it being useful for content area reading in upper elementary and middle school as well.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago our school did a readability check on our textbooks. This was before iPads and apps so we actually counted words and worked through a chart to determine the readability on the textbooks teachers were using in their classrooms. The results were all too depressing. All the textbooks we used at the middle school level were written at high school levels. No wonder our sped students especially struggle with textbooks! I have not done anymore readability since, I really don't like being that sad over something I cannot control!
ReplyDeleteOne of my interrelated teachers often does readability checks on random passages that she has students read out of their assigned textbooks. When we get to the staffing, and she's reporting the results, classroom teachers are often shocked by the actual level students are being expected to read at. Whether it be much lower or much higher, it's rarely ever on the grade level that they're expecting.
DeleteThe only thing I have really done for readability to is choose reading passages on my students reading level. I don't do this often, but try when I can.
ReplyDeleteI have installed readability on my iPad and have used it a few times. What I like about it is that it takes all of the "extras" out of a news article and just focuses on the news article itself. It makes it easier to read and easier to understand for the kids. There are a few teachers in my building that use newsela that seems to really make things better for the below level kids. Those teachers that use it highly recommend it to others.
ReplyDeleteI’ve suggested Newsela to a couple of my teachers who have expressed concerns about their older students becoming unmotivated with reading because of the stories’ content that’s available to them. They’re older, so have higher-level interests, but their reading abilities often hinder them from reading about those types of things. With Newsela, they’ve been able to choose from a wider variety of topics, understand the information, and feel more confident with their skills.
ReplyDelete