Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Lexile level question

That chart doesn't look like what I remember. I remember a chart with multiple color bands, published by scholastic. This chart looks a bit more like what I remember. The second lexile number. (CCSS Lexile®)

http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/guidedreading/leveling_chart.htm

Here is the thing....there is good lit that my 9 year old shouldn't miss no matter the reading level.

Just the other week his class was divided into groups to read novels. DS had already read the hardest book. The teacher gave him the choice of the next book down group or picking a book by himself. He chose the book with the group...stone fox. He loved the book. I had recommended it to him many times and he had passed.

The only problem was the pace. Stone fox is like a short story to be read in one sitting to him...not some long drawn out novel to be read over a week or two.

I find it interesting and telling that 1000 Lexile or thereabout is considered anywhere from "high normal" for grade 5 to 10th grade level.

I have a hard time guessing my DD's reading level. I would say she reads like a young adolescent, I guess. Adult-level nonfiction for a literate audience and complex adult fiction (say, Dickens or Austen) are still out of her range and interest. But exact grade level? Who knows.

I agree with what PP have said above. DD8 has that lexile as part of her range. At that level, your DD absolutely needs more challenge than the typical 3rd grade reading curriculum will provide. Does your DD's school have G&T reading or some sort of differentiation/acceleration?

In the meantime, keep her reading. Let her read in, over, and even under her lexile - you are right in thinking that a love of reading is key.

The school can ignore it DD was on level 30 (lexile 1000) as a 6yo last year, but was held on level 22 for silly reasons I won't go into.
Anyway this year her teacher says they're not allowed to give novels, as they're for the older kids, so he's keeping her with the top reading group working on levels 25-30 BUT as her homework reading she can read whatever novels she's got - A Series of Unfortunate Events at the moment. So that at least gets rid of the tedium of reading the easy book twice!
Maybe that's a workaround for an inflexible school, finding a flexible teacher and nutting out a similar solution?

So far we have a lovely teacher who is trying hard to work with us, I just think that after seeing the scores my daughter has received and reading all the comments here and elsewhere that she is definitely not being challenged enough. I started this thread with the idea that maybe I could use her Lexile score as leverage when we ask for more during our meeting with the principal; I just wasn't sure if I was understanding the score correctly. What is frustrating is that now that I know she is just as gifted in reading as in math, I only get to choose single subject acceleration for one subject, and that doesn't make sense (the school only lets kids do SSA in one subject). So, we will meet in a couple of weeks with the principal, and see what we end up with for DD!!!

greenlotus, I think most people would agree - having to choose one subject over the other for acceleration, when a student is capable of above-grade-level work in both - doesn't make sense. When you go in for your meeting, I would ask why - and if the answer is, "it's school district policy" then ask "why" again - basically dig until they give you an actual reason that makes sense (if they can). My guess is that it's either a scheduling issue, too much work on the part of someone, or.. maybe it has to do with too many parents wanting too much acceleration? Anyway, in situations like this when I'm advocating for my kids, I always try to think through all the possible answers the school staff will have, and have a comeback ready to present to them in the event I get that as a response. For instance, if they tell you that they can't offer subject acceleration in two subjects at the same time because their experience with that in the past has shown it's too much work for the student and the students aren't successful, then you right away answer back along the lines of "yes, but my dd's testing shows that she is clearly (here) and (here) etc, and she is asking for subject acceleration, so have her try both and if it doesn't work, then (option x)." Basically you have to come up with the plan, but have one - don't just let them say "no" without questioning it and without having good data / reasons to offer up something different for your dd.

I probably didn't explain that very well - hope it helps a bit. If you hadn't noticed, I'd be really annoyed about the "choose one" subject for acceleration

Best wishes,

polarbear

Yes, you mentioned she is giving your daughter work 1-2 grade levels accelerated ( 4th and 5th grade work )

As another poster mentioned, if a kiddo is being accelerated in both reading and math, it might as well be a full grade skip?

If one grade skip might not work for your family as it would place your younger daughter in the same class as your older daughter... might two grade skips work (to provide a comfortable amount of challenge, based on her high performance in reading and math)? Might a single acceleration in one subject and a double acceleration in the other subject be a way to provide a trial period and possibly ramp up to a double acceleration? What options would you like to see? What would you suggest?

I am not usually a shy and retiring type, but going against the school does make me nervous. This is why my husband and our testing psych. are coming along as well. I like the idea of the never ending "why's" until they tell me the reason a family gets to pick just one subject acceleration. We are going to really have to show what she is capable of which is one reason that I originally asked about the Lexile scores. I think that my plan is, that if she can do SSA for only math then I will ask if she can go to the 5th grade classroom and take her English class.

I like the idea of a whole grade skip as well, but her sister is 1 year above her so I know that is a red flag for grade skipping. That seems to be a big reason NOT to grade skip. I honestly don't think that a 2 year skip would happen - there are too many barriers. In addition, my daughter is a peanut. People already think that she is years younger than she is. I like the idea of it all being a "trial" period. Let's see how she does with all the advanced work with the idea that she could get even more challenging work if she needs it.