January/February 2009
News and Notes from MetaMetrics
What’s New in Reading, Writing and Mathematics Assessment and Instruction
The Lexile Framework for Reading |
El Sistema Lexile |
The Quantile Framework for Mathematics
2009 Lexile & Quantile National Conference
- 2009 Lexile & Quantile National Conference Cancelled
MetaMetrics regrets to announce that due to the extreme budget concerns of nearly all state departments of education, the 2009 Lexile & Quantile National Conference, scheduled for June 15–17 in Orlando, Fla., has been cancelled.
We, and our conference sponsors, have been fortunate to bring this event to thousands of educators over the past five years. While we all are very disappointed, we recognize that the state/district funds typically designated for conference registration and travel now must support other critical educational needs. We would like to thank everyone for their support of the Lexile & Quantile National Conference and look forward to offering this important event again. Please direct any questions to lexileconference@Lexile.com. For other Lexile and Quantile professional development opportunities, visit www.lexile.com/profdev.
The Lexile Framework for Reading
- South Dakota Adding Lexile Measures to State Assessment
Beginning in fall 2009, South Dakota students in grades 3–8 and 11 will receive Lexile measures from the Dakota State Test of Educational Progress (Dakota STEP). The South Dakota Department of Education is linking the reading portion of its state assessment with the Lexile Framework to provide educators with more instructionally relevant information about their students’ academic achievement and mastery of the state’s academic content standards. The field study that will link the Dakota STEP with the Lexile scale will take place during the spring 2009 test administration. Schools and districts interested in participating in the field study should contact Marta Lemke at marta.lemke@state.sd.us or Dee Brewer at dbrewer@Lexile.com.
- Chicago School Officials Visit Broome to Learn
by Lee G. Healy, Spartanburg Herald Journal, Jan. 14, 2009
When leaders from Chicago Public Schools wanted to learn more about improving student achievement through data analysis, they turned first to Lexile-user Broome High School (in Spartanburg, S.C.). Implementing assessments to track academic performance was the vision of Chicago’s former superintendent and new U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Leaders visiting Spartanburg felt confident that Duncan would stay abreast of education efforts in Chicago and, perhaps, take a few of the new ideas with him to Washington. Click to continue.
- Wyoming Adopts Lexile and Quantile Measures
The Wyoming Department of Education has linked the Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students with the Lexile and Quantile Frameworks, making Wyoming the fourth state to adopt both Lexile and Quantile measures as a means to improve student achievement. In spring 2009, more than 44,000 students in grades 3–8 and 11 will receive the measures on their PAWS reports. According to Superintendent Jim McBride, “Because Lexile and Quantile measures support learning in and outside of the classroom, teachers and parents can use these measures to help students strengthen their reading and mathematics abilities and ensure that everyone is on track to achieve at the highest levels possible.” Read the press release.
- National Geographic Adds Lexile Measures to Hampton-Brown Edge Assessments
National Geographic School Publishing (NGSP) has added Lexile measures to the Hampton-Brown Edge instructional program to provide educators with a comprehensive solution for determining the reading abilities of high school-level striving readers and English language learners (ELL), connecting them with targeted instructional activities, and monitoring growth throughout the school year. According NGSP CEO Alison Wagner, Edge combines specialized, focused instruction with Lexile measures to move students to graduation and a rewarding future beyond school. Read the press release.
- Workman Publishing Adopts Lexile Measures
Workman Publishing Company has added Lexile measures to some of its most popular imprints, including titles from Algonquin Books, Storey Publishing, Play Bac and Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. The new titles with Lexile measures have been added to the Lexile Book Database and “Find a Book” Web site. Read the press release.
- Lexile Video Online
New to The Lexile Framework for Reading? The Lexile Web site now includes a brief, six-minute video on the basic concepts and uses of the Lexile Framework. It’s the perfect resource for educators, librarians and parents who need a quick introduction to Lexile measures. Click here to watch the video.
- “Find a Book” Enhancements
Be on the lookout for major improvements to the “Find a Book” Web site, including the ability to search for books by developmental level and the addition of more “interest” subcategories. For more information and to search for books, visit www.lexile.com/findabook.
- Summer Reading With Lexile Measures
Perhaps, you are already thinking about your school’s or district’s summer reading program? At MetaMetrics, summer reading has become synonymous with The Lexile Framework for Reading as more and more librarians, teachers and principals seek new ways to keep students reading outside of the classroom. (Hint: Let kids check out school library books over the summer!) This year, MetaMetrics is expanding the Durham READS program with its local chapter of Communities in Schools and is collaborating with Harvard professor and summer reading guru Dr. James Sangil Kim on the use of Lexile measures as the backbone of summer reading programs. For more information, visit www.Lexile.com.
- Drop by the Lexile Blog
In September 2008, MetaMetrics launched the “Lexile Teachers’ Lounge”, a blog about Lexile measures and literacy. Recent posts have dealt with banned books, targeted reading and educational ideas around the fall elections. Visit the blog anytime to learn how educators are using Lexile measures to support their students and to share your own literacy tips and tricks!
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El Sistema Lexile para Leer
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The Quantile Framework for Mathematics
- Wyoming Adopts Lexile and Quantile Measures
The Wyoming Department of Education has linked the Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students with the Lexile and Quantile Frameworks, making Wyoming the fourth state to adopt both Lexile and Quantile measures as a means to improve student achievement. In spring 2009, more than 44,000 students in grades 3–8 and 11 will receive the measures on their PAWS reports. According to Superintendent Jim McBride, “Because Lexile and Quantile measures support learning in and outside of the classroom, teachers and parents can use these measures to help students strengthen their reading and mathematics abilities and ensure that everyone is on track to achieve at the highest levels possible.” Read the press release.
- New Quantile Map Available
A new Quantile map is available for download on the Quantile Web site. While the information on the QTaxons (skills and concepts) and Quantile measures have not changed, the updated map includes more examples of the QTaxons and decreases the emphasis on the individual strands (numbers and operations, geometry, measurement, algebra/patterns & functions, and data analysis & probability). Research supports the reporting of one “math score,” rather than strand scores.
LearningLink is published bi-monthly by MetaMetrics, Inc., an educational measurement company based in Durham, N.C. The company develops scientifically based measures of student achievement that link assessment with instruction, foster better educational practices, and improve learning by matching students with materials that meet and challenge their abilities. MetaMetrics developed the widely adopted Lexile Framework for Reading; El Sistema Lexile para Leer, the Spanish-language version of the Lexile Framework; The Quantile Framework for Mathematics; and The Lexile Framework for Writing. Contact the editor.
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