Lexile Scores; Understanding and Working With Them

LexileIt does not seem so long ago that schools in the area were depending on DRA and other reading level guidelines where reading levels and age appropriate materials go hand in hand. However, more and more schools and teachers are requiring students to read books that match their current Lexile level, which is problematic for parents and librarians alike, because the subject matter of the book and Lexile level do not always come together as nicely as they do in other reading measurement models.

How it Works
First, lets look at how Lexile scores for books are tabulated. First the text of a book is split into 125-word chunks. Each chunk is then compared to the nearly 600-million word Lexile corpus and words in each sentence are counted. The length and difficulty of the sentences and vocabulary is examined. These calculations are put into the Lexile equation. Then, each of the chunk’s resulting Lexile measure is applied to a model to determine the Lexile measure for the entire text. The problem is that the resulting measurement does not take into account the age-appropriateness, book quality, subject-matter, theme, or other such important factors. It only measures the technical difficulty of the text. For a more in depth look at all the details, I suggest checking the frequently ask questions page on the Lexile website.

lexile3The Lexile scores that students come home with are calculated through assessments done through schools or educational programs. If you want to see which companies and schools are officially working with Lexile to calculate these scores, I would suggest looking at the list of partners on the Lexile website. There are no sample tests available, so there is no measuring your own Lexile or figuring out your child’s level quickly.  However, you can look at the books your child is reading, talk about the books with them to gauge their comprehension, and then look up the books via any of the tools I will share with you below to figure out what level they are comfortably reading  at now.

According to Lexile‘s website the average correlation between grade level and Lexile level can be seen in the chart below. Keep in mind that these are the average; the levels vary in different studies, every child is different, and not all children perform well when it comes to assessment time. So do not feel bound by the Lexile levels or grade levels.

1 Up to 300L
2 140L to 500L
3 330L to 700L
4 445L to 810L
5 565L to 910L
6 665L to 1000L
7 735L to 1065L
8 805L to 1100L
9 855L to 1165L
10 905L to 1195L
11 and 12 940L to 1210L

In Search of the Right Book
The major flaw with the Lexile system is that it scores books or vocabulary and sentence length rather than anything to do with the actual content, and the reading levels the readers are given only takes reading comprehension into account. This means an advanced reader who is young or gentle-hearted is likely to run across book suggestions that are inappropriate or uninteresting if judged only by the Lexile numbers. Finding the right book, at the right level, that interests and is appropriate for the reader can be challenging.

lexile1Lexile is very much aware of the limitations of their system and offers a Find a Book tool that offers book suggestions by Lexile score or grade level (including how difficult the reader finds assigned school reading). The tool then allows the search to be narrowed down by subject matter, genre, and more. It can be a good tool when you are first starting the search for reading material. They also offer tool to find the Lexile level of books and articles.

NoveList also offers book finding help in its advanced search (enter the NoveList site via the Reading Resources toggle on the Cheshire Library website). Grade level, Lexile range, intended audience, and other options are available to help narrow down the books that fit the Lexile level, interests, and age appropriateness for your reader. Scholastic’s Book Wizard also offers some search tools to help find an appropriate book, or the Lexile level of a particular book. Even Amazon is getting onto the Lexile bandwagon and offers Lexile and Age range as limiters in their book searches.

Unfortunately, our catalog does not allow for search by Lexile level, although some catalog records do include Lexile level. However, if you use one of the tools listed you can easily use that list of suggested books to find or place holds on materials in our catalog. Also, do not be afraid to stop in the Children’s Room for help finding books, or placing holds. We are always happy to help!

Jane Austen Spinoffs

If one way to measure the popularity of an author is to note the number of spinoffs that his or her work has created, then Jane Austen is high on the popularity list!

longbourn Longbourn by Jo Baker
This is the story of Sarah, the Bennet’s housemaid in Pride and Prejudice, as she serves in their household while the events of the classic unfold. However, the downstairs is just as eventful as the upstairs, especially when a new footman arrives.

 

prideandprejudiceandzombiesPride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
This is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice during a zombie apocalypse. Elizabeth Bennett is fighting off the zombie infestation after a plague has settled on the village. However, she also finds herself fighting Mr. Darcy after his arrival.

 

scargravemanorJane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron
This is the first book in a mystery series about Jane Austen as a detective. In this book, Jane’s friend Isobel is newly wed to a man who is many years her senior. Then, during the night, her new husband dies. Soon after his death, Isobel’s maid accuses Isobel of murdering her husband and committing adultery with her late husband’s nephew.

anassemblysuchasthisAn Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aidan
This is the story of Pride and Prejudice, told from the point of view of Fitzwilliam Darcy. This is the book to read if you wish to know more about the mysterious man and his view of the events in the classic novel.

 

janeaustenThe Mysterious Death of Miss Jane Austen by Lindsay Ashford
Anne Sharp was Jane Austen’s governess. Ever since Jane’s death twenty-six years earlier, Anne has held onto a lock of Jane’s hair. However, Anne is following up on a suspicion that she has carried with her all this time. Jane may have been murdered, and the lock of hair may prove it.

 

missingmanuscriptofjaneaustenThe Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James
Samantha McDonough finds a letter that laments a missing manuscript at an estate in Devonshire. The author of both the letter and the manuscript is thought to be none other than Jane Austen. All that that Samantha needs to do is figure out a way of working with Anthony Whitaker, the handsome owner of the estate.

 

emmaEmma: A Modern Retelling by Alexander McCall Smith
As the title describes, this is the modern version of the classic novel about a young woman who interferes in the lives of those around her. Fresh from college, Emma is kept busy by running her own business, caring for her father, and playing matchmaker.

 

northangerabbeyNorthanger Abbey by Val McDermid
This is a modern retelling of Northanger Abbey. Cat Morland, who loves to read novels, constantly fantasizes about experiencing adventures. So, when she travels to Edinburgh to attend a festival, she begins to wonder about the mysterious Northanger Abbey and its seemingly perfect residents, one of whom is very handsome.

 

 

New Fiction Coming Soon! September/October

coming

Want a little heads up on when your favorite author is publishing a new book?  Here are some of the new fiction hardcover books coming out in September and October.  Clicking on the title will bring you to our catalog where you can place a hold if you’d like.   For a more extensive list, please see the ‘Coming Soon’ poster in our lobby.

September

pushing up daisiesBeaton, M.C.Pushing Up Daisies –  When a wealthy land developer who had been planning to turn a community garden into a housing estate winds up dead, Agatha Raisin is hired by the victim’s accused son to clear him of suspicion and identify the real killer among numerous suspects.    

homeCoben, HarlanHomeWhen one of two boys kidnapped from their wealthy families resurfaces a decade later, the young survivor is observed by two peers who would discover the fate of the other missing boy.

 

pirateCussler, ClivePirateConfronted by a determined adversary, husband-and-wife treasure hunters Sam and Remi Fargo embark on an international quest involving an 800-year-old relic and a brutal murder.

 

christmas caramelFluke, JoanneChristmas Caramel Murder  Preparing for the town’s annual production of “A Christmas Carol,” Hannah supports her friend, Lisa, who is implicated in the murder of her husband’s ex-girlfriend.

 

darkest journeyGraham, HeatherDarkest JourneyLooking to clear her father from suspicion in the murder of two Civil War reenactors, Charlie reunites with Krewe of Hunters agent Ethan Delaney on a cruise to get close to the reenactors and identify who has a motive to kill.

 

razor girlHiaasen, CarlRazor Girl Involved in a car accident with a young scam artist, a man helplessly watches his life spiral out of control in the wake of a sand-stealing company, a Hawaiian-shirt-clad NYC mafia capo, a reality show accordionist and other eccentric characters.

 

downfallJance, J.A.DownfallJuggling her pregnancy, family deaths, her daughter’s imminent departure for college and a reelection campaign, Cochise County Sheriff Joanna Brady investigates two suspicious falling deaths that may be the work of a serial killer.

 

the wishLewis, BeverlyThe WishYears after her best friend’s seemingly devout family is expelled from the Amish church for reasons no one will discuss, a heartbroken Leona receives a letter from her friend and leaves Lancaster Counter at the risk of her own shunning in the hopes of persuading her friend to return to Amish ways.

denim and lacePalmer, DianaDenim and LaceRough-and-tough Texas rancher Cade Hollister worries that lovely rich-girl Bess Samson will prove to be his downfall, so he suppresses his passion, leaving her to follow her heart and uncover the real reasons for their incompatibility.

 

woman of godPatterson, JamesWoman of GodScrutinized as the world’s first woman papal candidate, Brigid Fitzgerald, a doctor on the front lines in Sudan, reflects on her difficult childhood and a series of trials that have tested her faith before a high-stakes battle compels her to convert her enemies to a cause that threatens the Church and her life.

revenge in aPerry, AnneRevenge in a Cold RiverUnable to remember anything before the carriage accident he suffered years earlier, Commander William Monk is framed for murder by a man from his past and must rely on the help of his wife and close friend to prove his innocence.

 

apprenticeRobb, J.D.Apprentice in DeathInvestigating a Central Park sniper attack that has left three dead, Eve Dallas discovers that the killer was potentially miles away from the victims and may be the protegee of an even more deranged shooter.

 

October

cakewalkBrown, Rita Mae Cakewalk A post-World War I tale set in the Maryland community of Six of One finds residents split between belief systems on the Mason Dixon line, where free-thinking sisters Louise and Julia Hunsenmier and their indelible friends explore small-town sins and rivalries.

undeadDavidson, MaryjaniceUndead and DoneA conclusion to the best-selling series finds the PR team of Queen Betsy scrambling to contain the fallout of her first press conference, the Devil’s escape, the arrival of the werewolves and the assistance of the mermaids.

 

order to killFlynn, VinceOrder to KillA follow-up to the best-selling The Survivor finds anti-terrorism operative Mitch Rapp chasing false leads throughout the world to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into terrorist hands before posing as an American ISIS recruit in Russia, where he uncovers a catastrophic plot.

the whistlerGrisham, JohnThe Whistler A follow-up to the highly successful Rogue Lawyer combines the author’s signature legal savvy and high-suspense storytelling, in a latest thriller that pits an unforgettable cast of characters against unexpected twists and turns.

 

all the littleHarris, CharlaineAll the Little LiarsWhen four kids including her brother go missing from school and a dead body is found where they were last seen, a pregnant Aurora organizes a personal investigation that exposes the activities of a gang of bullies and her brother’s gambling debts.

 

winter stormHilderbrand, ElinWinter StormsA conclusion to the best-selling trilogy finds the Quinn family’s efforts to reunite and prepare for a long-anticipated wedding during the Christmas season overshadowed by a health scare, addiction problems and commitment issues.

night watchJohansen, IrisNight Watch When the surgeon who made it possible for her to see goes missing, Kendra Michaels recruits government agent Adam Lynch to accompany her on a trail that leads to the snowy California mountains, where the discovery of one of the doctor’s brutally murdered colleagues reveals the work of a killer.

kill or be killedPatterson, JamesKill or Be KilledAn anthology of four faced-paced thrillers collects four BookShots suspense stories”The Trial,” “Little Black Dress” “Heist,” and “The Women’s War by the author of the best-selling Women’s Murder Club series and such regular Patterson co-authors Emily Raymond and Shan Serafin.

 

missingPatterson, JamesMissingCraig Gisto and his elite team at Private Sydney are tasked with finding Eric Mossùthe, CEO of a high-profile research company, who has had all trace of his existence wiped away.

 

 

small greatPicoult, JodiSmall Great Things Hesitating to treat the newborn of a white supremacist couple who has demanded that a white nurse assist them, a black nurse is placed on trial in the tragic aftermath and is aided by a white public defender with whom she begins questioning their beliefs as the case becomes more racially charged.

excape clauseSandford, JohnEscape ClauseVirgil Flowers’ investigation into the theft of two rare Siberian tigers from the Minnesota zoo is complicated by a summer visit from his girlfriend’s sister, who would seduce him.

 

sex, liesWoods, StuartSex, Lies, and Serious Money New York City cop-turned-Manhattan law firm rainmaker Stone Barrington tackles a high-suspense case.

 

 

For more favorite authors’ titles, see our ‘Coming Soon’ poster in our lobby.

I’m in Love with lynda(.com)

ldc-desktop-icon-512x512-300x300Yahoo! The Cheshire Library now has lynda.com.

lynda is an online learning site with over 3,000 courses covering a myriad of topics. Microsoft Office. Personal Finance. Web Design. Social Media. Photography. Happiness.

You can login to lynda.com from the library’s eLearning page on our website. All you need is a Cheshire Library card.

You can take a class on Computer Literacy for Windows 10. You can follow one of lynda’s specially curated Learning Paths and learn how to become a graphic designer, digital marketer,  IT security specialist, and many other careers. You can take a ten minute class on Managing Your Time or an 8 hour course on Word Essential Training.

It’s not all about work and career, either! Focus on personal skills such as Balancing Work and Life, Managing Stress, or Overcoming Procrastination. There are classes on Mindfulness, Learning to Say No, Embracing Change, and Building Self-Confidence.

You can watch a video at midnight. At 2 in the afternoon. Or at 3 in the morning. lynda.com is available 24/7. And the classes are FREE if you have a Cheshire Library card.

Keep an eye on this blog. In the future, I will be highlighting groups of courses available from lynda ranging from business to technology to lifestyle. There’s something for everyone!

Whale of a Tail

whole-body-of-a-sperm-whaleThe Book of Lists – a wonderful book of eclectic knowledge by David Wallechinsky – lists Moby Dick, by Herman Melville, as the Number One Most Boring Classic of all time.

I can’t disagree.

It’s not an easy read, combining flowery Miltonian prose, poems, sea shanties, Shakespearean asides, and some detailed exposition on whaling. The only way I made it through at all was by looking for the thematic and quote references used in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan for a term paper (and there are a long list of them).

Don’t judge me. An easy English credit with an A is still an English credit.51K5TZOIvtL._SX318_BO1,204,203,200_

Moby Dick, the story of Captain Ahab’s obsessive pursuit to revenge the loss of his leg to a white whale, was based on a number of true stories – an actual white whale named Mocha-Dick, and the sinking of the whaling ship Essex in the Southern Pacific in 1820. The book was first published in 1851, but never gained ground. By the time of Melville’s death more than 30 years later, only 3,000 copies had been sold.

When cut up and rehashed to a sensible, modern vernacular, Moby Dick is a good, straight adventure novel at heart, the story of a man who feels wronged by a whale and will do anything, risk anything or anyone, to have his revenge, and a giant marine mammal who’s been around enough not to fear a wooden fish filled with pesky mariners. And there have been a number of decent movie adaptions to capture that fatal showdown.

imagesThe most recent, and most intriguing, is In the Heart of the Sea. This one gives the story a twist by going back further, to tell the tale of the Essex, as Melville is learning the facts and trying to write Moby Dick. Starring Chris Hemsworth, current action-hero, it’s a worthy film that covers all the points without getting bogged down in Melville. It’s the story behind the story, so to speak.

The “classic” Moby Dick tale comes from 1956, starring Gregory Peck, with a screenplay by Ray Bradbury. A masterpiece of its time, it’s dated for today’s audiences.0027616862945_p0_v1_s192x300

A longer but more modern version is 1998’s Miniseries, starring Patrick Stewart as Ahab (and Gregory Peck as Father Mapple, originally played by Orson Welles). Running four hours, it won Gregory Peck an Emmy award for Best Supporting Actor.

If you’ve hacked through Moby Dick, or enjoyed watching one of the films, there are similar books and films certain to keep your whaling interest. Leviathan, by Eric Jay Dolin, will give you a history of whaling in America. In the Heart of the Sea began as a book by detailed historian Nathaniel Philbrick.  War of the Whales by Joshua Horwitz uncovers the true story of an ultrasonic submarine detection program run by the US Navy that was causing whales to beach themselves. To learn more about several different types of whales, try The Grandest of Lives : Eye to Eye with Whales by Douglas H. Chadwick. For stories that mimic Moby Dick but aren’t about whales, try Ray Bradbury’s Leviathan 99, or, of course, Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. If you want to go for the thematic stretch, you could include the musical Sweeney Todd here, too. “To seek revenge may lead to Hell/ but everyone does it and seldom as well.” Of course, the perfect summer trip is to recreated whaling village Mystic Seaport, where you can walk the decks of the whaler Charles W. Morgan and feel the wind of the sea in your hair.

Whales Charles_W_Morgan_2008aren’t fish. They’re aquatic mammals: they breathe air, give birth to live young (ones that weigh a full ton), and feed them off milk just like any other mammal. They are known to be intelligent, and the scenario of Moby Dick, of such a mammal remembering who may have harmed it and seeking out revenge of its own, is entirely in the realm of possibility.