KASL SUMMER NEWSLETTER
Is it June yet?
SUMMER REFRESHER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
We would like to invite everyone to attend the 2014 Summer Refresher in Berea, Kentucky, on Tuesday, July 15, 2014.
The location will be at Madison Southern High School, with Historic Boone Tavern as one of several lodging options.
Jennifer LaGarde, Library Girl Blogger, is our keynote speaker.
Don’t miss the Monday Afternoon Social, your opportunity to enjoy the best of Kentucky’s Arts & Crafts Capital.
Here is the registration link:
https://classic.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=1513613
For more information, you may also visit www.kasl.us
Don’t delay! We have room for only 300 of Kentucky’s best librarians!
If you have registered for Summer Refresher (as of May 8, 2014) and you indicated you will be using a purchase order for payment, I have sent you an invoice that you may submit to your school or district bookkeeper for their records. Remember, that we must receive your payment by June 30, 2014, or you will be unenrolled and have to register again at the on-site price of $100.00 with no guarantee of lunch or preferred sessions. We must do this to meet contract requirements for our vendors.
Please share that information with your bookkeeper instead of having your bookkeeper contact me or Jennifer directly.
Purchase Orders need the following information:
Vendor: KASL (Kentucky Association of School Librarians)
Permanent Address: c/o Fred Tilsley, KASL Treasurer, P.O. Box 331, Berea, KY 40403
Janet Johnson Wells
President, Kentucky Association of School Librarians, 2013-2014
School Librarian, Grades 9-12
Rockcastle County High School
P.O. Box 1410
1545 Lake Cumberland Road
Mt. Vernon, KY 40456
Phone: 606-256-4816 ext. 2533
FAX: 606-256-3755
NIE SUMMER WORKSHOP
You're invited to the annual
Newspaper in Education Summer Workshop
Thursday, July 10, 2014 from 10:30am to 3:30pm (EDT)
Where: Lexington Herald-Leader, 100 Midland Ave., Lexington, KY
3rd floor conference room
Workshop Offers 4hours professional development
Meet Kentucky author Leigh Anne Florence and the main characters, Woody and Chloe. Find out this year's topic for the new Kentucky fall newspaper serial story and how to give your students a free book! NIE workshop will demonstrate effective strategies for implementing newspaper (authentic text) into language arts, science, geography and more. Find out how to become a Newspaper in Education teacher and get a sponsored newspaper in the hands, and/or tablets ofyour students at no cost.
Workshop Registration is required and is FREE. (But registration after July 1, 2014, is $75)
How to sign up: Email your name, school, grade, county and summer email address to kjohnsongiherald-leader.corn
Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (J. K. Rowling)
Released June 19th
The Blood Olympus by Rick Riordan
Released October 7th
Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
Released May 27th
Other Professional Growth and Effectiveness System
Below is the link to a Lync Session held about OPGES. It’s a two-hour session that is a condensed version of the 3-hour and 6-hour sessions that some of you have or will attend. You will see a video glitch around the 7 minute mark because I leaned my elbow on my keyboard (ha!), but the video will come back on within about 20 seconds or so.
Kathy
Kathy Mansfield
Library Media/Textbooks Consultant
Kentucky Department of Education
500 Mero Street, 19th Floor - CPT
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-564-2106, x4500
Spring Into Reading Event
Rockcastle County High School Library Hosts Third Annual Spring into Reading Event
On Friday, May 16, 2014, over 100 people gathered in the Rockcastle County High School Library for 90 minutes of book discussions during fourth period. Students signed up to read a popular young adult book, with the discussion to be led by a surprise adult leader from the school district or community. After enjoying a spread of refreshments, the library was filled with 22 groups enjoying book discussions and conversation. This was the third year of the annual event organized by Mrs. Janet Wells, RCHS Librarian.
The following participated in this year’s event:
Dr. MaryAnn Kolloff (EKU Library Science Dept.), Insurgent, with students Alyssa Allen, Robert Renner, Andrew McKinney, Anthony Miller, and Marina Blevins.
Ms. Stephanie Anderson (RCHS Teacher), The Fault in Our Stars, with students Kelsey Mattingly, Kendra Kelley, Dakota Farthing, Lilliy Beichler, Kaitlin Hensley, and Sierra Sturgill.
Mrs. Molly Belcher (DAR), Beneath a Meth Moon, with students Caroline Coguer, and Aaron Pevley.
Mrs. Onna Kay Owens (DAR), The Help, with student Kamryn Brinegar.
Mrs. Janet Puzey (Retired RCHS Teacher), The Book Thief, with students Andrea Isaacs, Autumn Kirby, Kyra Haste, and Tristan Begley.
Mrs. Jean Gentry (DAR), A Perfect Snow, with students Laney Poynter, Lee Lear, Kyle Cornelius, Ally Sizemore, and John David Hurley.
Mr. Nicholas Hall (RCHS Teacher), Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, with students Adam J. McKinney, Ashley Hollin, Dalton Gray, and Shandi Johnson.
Mrs. Shawnetha Watson (RCHS Teacher), Divergent, with students Lacey Gastineau, Joseph Montano, Erika Howard, Makaya McGuire, Michael Collett, and Monica Bishop.
Mrs. Markita Proctor (RCHS Teacher), Copper Sun, with student Cheyenne Gilliam.
Mrs. Sherri McKinney (RCHS Attendance Clerk), The Longest Ride, with students Morgan Miller, Janie Bowman, and Cassidy Daugherty.
Mr. Les Scalf (RCHS Teacher), Conjured, with students Jennifer Mercer and Beth Denney.
Mrs. Holly Robinson (RCHS Teacher), Unwind, with students Harley Cain, Samantha Taylor, Keeley Goff, Andrea Coffey, Carissa Looney, and Lauren Fields.
Ms. Betty Holt (RCHS/RATC Teacher), Matched, with students Kristina Hayes, Hope Dull, Rebecca Abrams, Taylor McClure, and Elizabeth Pittman.
Mrs. Patsy McFalls (DAR), The List, with students Megan Cromer, Rebekah Pearson, Tara Mink, and Samantha Young.
Mrs. Mary Adams (RCHS Teacher), The Name of the Star, with students Nicole Cornelius, Presley Cromer, Michaela Barron, Amber Rice, and Sarah Callahan.
Ms. Shurree Clouse (RCHS Teacher), Just Listen, with students Hannah Hillard, Amelia Eversole, Mikayla Cass, Brook Isaacs, Alaina Coguer, and Sara Clark.
Mrs. Pam Chaliff (Rockcastle County Public Library Director), Between Shades of Gray, with students Rachel Cain and Brianna Burdette.
Dr. Ralph Turner (EKU Library Science Dept.), I Hunt Killers, with students Jacob Riley, Casey Chattelle, Noland Broaddus, Brad Taylor, and Kayla Smith.
Mrs. Norma Eversole (DAR), Artichoke’s Heart, with students Leanna Thacker and Madison Stewart.
Mrs. Nancy Bussell (Retired RCHS Teacher), The Lightning Thief, with students Will Ratliff, Alyssa Bustle, Bryan McGuire, and Mikey McGuire.
Mr. John Wells (SCC Instructor), Little Brother, with students Austin Harris, Akira King, and Garrett Baldwin.
Mrs. Sheila Leger (DAR), Impossible, with students Rachel Chadwell, Lindsey Harrison, Mahala Saylor, and Allie Renner.
An added treat for the students this year was the gift of a free book from Mrs. Wells’ travels to American Library Association conferences where she received pre-published copies of books by popular young adult authors. Several of these were autographed by the authors. Each student could choose a book of interest to keep.
Special guests who visited included: Mrs. Jennifer Mattingly, RCHS Principal; Mr. Barry Noble, RCHS Assistant Principal; and Mrs. Becky Smith, RCHS Assistant Principal. Appreciation is extended to the following for their efforts in preparing for this event: Mrs. Laura Durham, Mrs. Sandy Alexander, Mrs. Jennifer Houk, Mrs. Sondra Mullins, and Mr. Steve McKinney. A special thanks to the RCHS teachers who covered classes for those teachers who served as discussion leaders.
The event concluded with attendees signing the American Library Association’s “Declaration for Libraries” in support of all students having access to school libraries and quality reading materials.
Planning is already underway for the 2015 Spring into Reading event. If you are interested in being a discussion leader, please contact Mrs. Janet Wells at (606) 256-4816. She will be happy to suggest books and recruit up to six students for the discussion. The first year featured 60 students, last year garnered 72 students, and this year had 105 students. We are building interest each year and need you to be a leader in 2015. We especially need male role models from the community to interact with our young men.
Spring Reading Event
Rockcastle High School
Guest readers, students, food
Rockcastle County High School Library Hosts Signing Event
Rockcastle County High School students, faculty, staff, and community leaders held the “Declaration for the Right to School Libraries” signing event on Friday, May 16th, at the conclusion of the third annual Spring into Reading Event. Library supporters added their signature to the initiative organized by American Library Association President Barbara Stripling. The Rockcastle County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution joined in the signing.
Pete the Cat: a Pet for Pete by James Dean
Released May 27th
City of Heavenly Fire: Immortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare
Released May 27th
Anatomy of a Misfit by Andrea Portes
Released September 28th
Who are you following on Twitter?
Why not join Twitter this summer then you will be ready for our KYLChats starting back up in the Fall.
Find out what all the "Chatter" is about.
Librarians/Libraries in the Spotlight
Librarians and Libraries are the heart of the school
Karen Falkenstine, librarian at Simpsonville Elementary in Shelby County, was voted by her colleagues as Teacher of the Year. It shows that her colleagues value her collaboration and see her as a fellow teacher.
And, from Shelby County, Julie Webb - librarian at Shelby County High School is teacher of the year for her school!
Congratulations Karen and Julie !!
This is a newscast about some of the things happening in my library. Thought I’d share. There is also an article in the Hazard Herald Leader about the Perry County Public Library has teamed with me and two other school librarians to help build our collections!
Jocelyn White
Hazard High School
Library Media Specialist
KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
NEWS RELEASE
No. 14-043 April 24, 2014
MEDIA CONTACT: Nancy Rodriguez
Office: (502) 564-2000, ext. 4610 | Cell: (502) 330-5063 | E-mail: nancy.rodriguez@education.ky.gov
STUDENT WRITING WINNERS ANNOUNCED
(Frankfort, KY) – Today the Kentucky Department of Education announced the Kentucky winners in the 2014 national Letters About Literature (LAL) annual writing contest.
Sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, the Letters About Literature (LAL) writing contest for young readers challenges students to write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, of a book that inspired them. The book may be from any genre – fiction, nonfiction, poetry, contemporary or classic. The letter must explain how that author’s work changed the student’s way of thinking about the world or themselves. The contest is open to students in grades 4-10.
Kentucky students compete with each other in the state competition. First, second and third place winners in three grade levels receive cash awards (1st place – $150; 2nd place –$75; 3rd place – $50). The first place winners at each level advance to the national judging and a chance to win a $1,000 cash award or $150 for second place. National winners will be announced in May.
Kentucky’s 2014 Letters About Literature writing contest winners are:
Level 3 (Grades 9-12)
1st place – Lillian Beichler, Rockcastle Co. High School (Rockcastle Co.)
Teacher – Janet Wells
2nd place – Lauryn McNair, Henry Clay High School, (Fayette Co.)
Teacher – Kevin Lentz
3rd place – Rachael Gilbert, Henry Clay High School, (Fayette Co.)
Teacher – Kevin Lentz
Honorable Mention – Bethany Boggs, Lafayette High School (Fayette Co.)
Teacher – Amanda Wright
Honorable Mention --- McKenzie Florence, Pendleton, Co. High School (Pendleton Co.)
Teacher -- Angel Sudberry
Level 2 (Grades 7-8)
1st place – Noah Bunch, Brown School, (Jefferson Co.)
Teacher – Allana Thompkins
2nd place – Emily Frye, Mt. Washington Middle School (Bullitt Co.)
Teacher – Michelle Chitwood
3rd place – Alyssa Greer, Henry F Moss Middle School (Warren Co.)
Teacher – Laura Eason
Level 1 (Grades 4-6)
1st place – Mary Grace Vest, Shelby West Middle School (Shelby Co.)
Teacher – Teresa Walther
2nd place – Sophie Moore, T.C. Cherry Elementary School (Bowling Green Ind.)
Teacher – Michele McCloughan
3rd place – Anastasia Hinton, School for the Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) (Fayette Co.)
Teacher – Kelly Gunn
Visit our website at http://www.education.ky.gov
Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kydeptofed and Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kydeptofed
SUMMER READING
The Fault in Our Stars—by John Green
The One — by Kiera Cass
Allegiant — by Veronica Roth
Heaven is for Real — Lynn Vincent
The Book Thief — by Markus Zusak
Walking on Water — by Richard Paul Evans
Dorothy Must Die — by Danielle Paige
Pretty Little Liars #15: Toxic — by Sara Shepard
Reboot — by Amy Tintera
Flora & Ulysses — by Kate DiCamillo
To Kill a Mockingbird — by Harper Lee
Of Mice and Men — by John Steinbeck
Midwinter Blood — by Marcus Sedgwick
Twelve Years a Slave — by Solomon Northup
The Real Boy — by Anne Ursu
Hollow City — by Ransom Riggs
The Secrets of Mary Bowser — by Lois Leveen
Submitted by Darlah Zweifel, librarian Meade County High School
Find more reading suggestions by joining
7th Grade Required Summer Reading List 2013
The following books are the choices you have for summer reading. You must choose two of the following books to read over summer break. In the Fall you will be required to show what you have learned from the readings by completing a project. The Conkwright library has all of these books available if you cannot get them on your own. You may check them out from the school library for the summer.
Title Choices:
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Series-You will need to read The Hunger Games before reading this title.
Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Series-You will need to read The Lightning Thief before reading this title.
House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton
The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood
The Terrorist by Caroline B. Cooney
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
LTMS 7th Grade Language Arts Summer Reading List
Please select two books from the list below to read during summer break. Be prepared for an assessment activity when school begins in the fall.
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
In a future where the Population Police enforce the law limiting a family to only two children, Luke has lived all his twelve years in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another "third" convinces him that the government is wrong.
Bluford High Series by Paul Langan and Anne Schraff Students may read any book from this series. Meet the kids from Bluford High. You might be able to relate to their lives.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman The orphan Bod, short for Nobody, is taken in by the inhabitants of a graveyard as a child of eighteen months and raised lovingly and carefully to the age of eighteen years by the community of ghosts and otherworldly creatures. An exciting adventure with an interesting ending.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen After a plane crash, 13-year-old Brian spends 54 days in the wilderness, learning to survive with only a hatchet and learning also to survive his parents divorce.
Haveli by Suzanne Staples Having relented to the ways of her people in Pakistan and married the rich older man to whom she was pledged against her will, Shabanu is now the victim of his family’s blood feud and the malice of his other wives. This is a sequel to Shabanu.
Ranger’s Apprentice Series by John Flanagan Students may read any book from this series.
When fifteen-year-old Will is rejected by battleschool, he becomes the reluctant apprentice to the mysterious Ranger Halt, and winds up protecting the kingdom from danger.
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Presents Rachel Carson's 1962 environmental classic "Silent Spring," which identified the dangers of indiscriminate pesticide use; and includes an introduction by biographer Linda Lear and an afterword by scientist Edward O. Wilson.
LTMS 6th Grade Language Arts Summer Reading List
Please select two books from the list below to read during summer break. Be prepared for an assessment activity when school begins in the fall.
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
Moose Flannigan, 12, is dismayed when his family moves to Alcatraz after his father gets a new job as a prison guard. Life on the island is confining, the warden’s daughter is a pain, and baseball is the best game around.
An American Plague: the true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy (Non-Fiction)
Provides an account of the yellow fever epidemic that swept through Philadelphia in 1793, discussing the chaos that erupted when people began evacuating in droves, leaving the city without government, goods, or services, and examining efforts by physicians, the Free African Society, and others to cure and care for the sick.
Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley
A modern fairy tale story of a girl who was left by her father, an arrogant and unpleasant knight, to be raised by her nurse, after her mother’s death. When she is older and has been summoned to her father’s household, she finds that her new stepmother is unwelcoming and there is no place to sleep except in the kitchen. Bella uses her powers to change the destiny of the kingdom and save the prince she loves.
Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
When seemingly unrelated and strange events start to happen and a precious Vermeer painting disappears, eleven-year-olds Petra and Calder combine their talents to solve an international art scandal.
Chinese Cinderella: the True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah
The author tells the story of her painful childhood in China where she lived until the age of fourteen with her father, stepmother, and siblings, all of whom considered her bad luck because her mother died shortly after giving birth to her.
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman, the first free-born child in Buxton, Canada, which is a haven for slaves fleeing the American South in 1859, uses his wits and skills to try to bring to justice the lying preacher who has stolen money that was to be used to buy a family's freedom.
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Schlitz (Non-Fiction)
A collection of short one-person plays featuring characters, between ten and fifteen years old, who live in or near a thirteenth-century English manor.
Hardy Boys Mysteries by Franklin Dixon
If you enjoy mysteries you will love these classics. Students may select any title from the original series but their second choice must be another book from this list.
Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson (Non-Fiction)
Examines the history of the United States, focusing on events that influenced African-Americans and how they advanced liberty and justice in America.
The Key to Rondo by Emily Rodda
Through an heirloom music box, Leo, a serious, responsible boy, and his badly-behaved cousin Mimi enter the magical world of Rondo to rescue Mimi's dog from a sorceress, who wishes to exchange him for the key that allows free travel between worlds.
Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel by Xavier Garza
Eleven-year-old Maximilian, a big fan of lucha libre, makes an unexpected connection with his idol, the Guardian Angel, when he takes a tumble over the railing at a match in San Antonio.
Nancy Drew Mysteries by Carolyn Keene
If you enjoy mysteries you will love these classics. Students may select any title from the original series but their second choice must be another book from this list.
No More Dead Dogs by Gordan Korman
Eighth-grade football hero Wallace Wallace is sentenced to detention attending rehearsals of the school play where, in spite of himself, he becomes wrapped up in the production and begins to suggest changes that improve not only the play but his life as well.
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
In the summer of 1968, after traveling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.
Penny from Heaven by Jennifer Holm
Penny Falucci is 11 in 1953 when she learns the secret that has kept her mother and her deceased father’s family apart since she was a baby. Restrictions on Italian Americans during World War II, the fear of polio, wringer washing machines, and Penny’s mother starting to date the milkman combine to make this an interesting story of an imperfect family.
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A ten-year-old orphan comes to live in a lonely house on the Yorkshire moors where she discovers an invalid cousin and the mysteries of a locked garden.
The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake
Thirteen-year-old Maleeka, uncomfortable because her skin is extremely dark, meets a new teacher with a birthmark on her face and makes some discoveries about how to love who she is and what she looks like.
Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata
After Pearl Harbor is attacked, twelve year old Sumiko and her family are relocated from their flower farm in California to an internment camp in Arizona. The camp is on a Mohave Indian reservation. Sumiko struggles to adjust to her new surroundings, becomes friends with a Mohave boy, and tries to hold on to her dream of owning a flower shop someday.
Challenging Reads
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a lonely, middle-aged brother and sister on a Prince Edward Island farm and proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
With nowhere else to turn, a field mouse asks the clever escaped lab rats living under the rosebush to help save her son, who lies in the path of the farmer's tractor, too ill to be moved.
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson (Non-Fiction)
Draws on stories from survivors and archival photographs to describe the history of the "Titanic" from its launch to its sinking.
Uglies by Scott Westerfield
Tally is faced with a difficult choice when her new friend Shay decides to risk life on the outside rather than submit to the forced operation that turns sixteen year old girls into gorgeous beauties, and realizes that there is a whole new side to the pretty world that she doesn't like.
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip retracing her mother's route. Along the way, Sal recounts the story of her friend Phoebe, whose mother also left.
***LTMS students who participate in Lexington Public Library’s summer reading program can earn double credit if the book they are reading is on a required reading list. For example, if you read a required reading book for 15 minutes, you get to check off two 15 minute boxes for a total of 30 minutes toward your 15 hour reading goal. If you complete 15 hours of reading, you will earn a paperback book of your choice, a prize bag with coupons to area businesses and attractions and an entry form for a drawing of $25 gift cards to area stores.***
Lexile and Summer Reading
A Lexile measure indicates the reading level of an individual or a book, and is represented as a number followed
by an “L” (for example, 700L). By comparing your student’s Lexile measure with the Lexile measure of a book, you
can decide whether its text demand will be too difficult, too easy or just right for your student’s reading ability. To
best strengthen his or her reading skills, your student should read books within his or her Lexile range.
What is your student’s recommended Lexile range?
A student’s Lexile range spans from 100L below to 50L above his or her Lexile measure. When your student reads
within his or her Lexile range, he or she should be able to comprehend enough of the book to make sense of it,
while still being sufficiently challenged to maintain interest and learning.
How does your student get a Lexile measure in Kentucky?
Students in grades 3-8 receive a Lexile measure from the Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress.
Lexile measures will be included on the K-PREP score reports that parents receive in the 2013-2014 school year.
How can you use Lexile measures to help your student find books?
With the free “Find a Book, Kentucky” search tool, you can help your student select books that best match his or
her reading ability (Lexile measure), interests and goals. It’s easy and fun to use!
1. Go to www.lexile.com/fab/ky
2. Enter your student’s Lexile measure
3. Have the student select
interest categories
4. View and refine the
search results
If you don’t have a book in your collection, click
the “Find in a Library” button next to its title to use
WorldCat to check the book’s availability at the local
public library.
5. Print your student’s custom reading list
Using Lexile® measures to help students “Find a Book”
Students may ask for your help finding books in a Lexile range that match
their interests. The following information will help you with these requests.
For more information on Lexile measures,
visit www.Lexile.com.
“Find a Book, Kentucky” is offered in
partnership with the Kentucky Department of
Education and Lexile-developer MetaMetrics®.
The Lexile Framework for Reading
evaluates reading ability and
text complexity on the same
developmental scale. Unlike other
measurement systems, the Lexile
Framework determines reading
ability based on actual assessments,
rather than generalized age or grade
levels. Recognized as the standard for
matching readers with texts, tens of
millions of students worldwide receive
a Lexile measure that helps them find
targeted readings from the more than
100 million articles, books and
websites that have been measured.
Lexile measures connect learners of
all ages with resources at the right
level of challenge and monitor their
progress toward state and national
proficiency standards.
1000 Park Forty Plaza Drive, Suite 120
Durham, North Carolina 27713
Phone: 919–547–3400
Tollfree
number: 1–888–539–4537
Fax: 919–547–3401
Website: www.MetaMetricsInc.com
www.Lexile.com
METAMETRICS®, the METAMETRICS®
logo and tagline, LEXILE®, LEXILE®
FRAMEWORK and the LEXILE® logo
are trademarks of MetaMetrics, Inc.,
and are registered in the United States
and abroad. Copyright © 2014 by
MetaMetrics, Inc. All rights reserved.
Should your student try to read books outside of his or her Lexile range?
Your student can read books that are above or below his or her Lexile range.
However, books that are below your student’s Lexile range may offer little
challenge in terms of new vocabulary and complex grammatical structures.
Similarly, books that are above your student’s Lexile range may be too challenging
and discourage the reader.
Higher Lexile measures allow an advanced and enthusiastic reader to:
· be challenged with high-interest books above his or her Lexile level
· seek help with a hard but interesting book
· find other books on the same subject but at a higher Lexile level
Lower Lexile measures allow a struggling and reluctant reader to:
· build skills with less challenging books on topics of choice
· select high-low books based on Lexile and developmental levels
· find other books on the same subject but at a lower Lexile level
Does your student need a Lexile measure to use “Find a Book, Kentucky?”
No. “Find a Book, Kentucky” can estimate your student’s starting Lexile range
based on his or her grade and comfort with the reading materials at that grade
level. Then, based on the book search results, your student can further refine his
or her Lexile range to select books that best support successful reading.
How is the Lexile measure of a book determined?
A book’s Lexile measure is based on two characteristics: word frequency and
sentence length. Once these factors are determined, MetaMetrics uses a
proprietary scientific equation to assign a Lexile measure to the text, ranging
from below 200L for beginning-reader text to above 1600L for more advanced
text. More than 160,000 books have Lexile measures, and this number continues
to grow.
Is a Lexile measure the only criteria to consider when picking a book?
A Lexile measure is a measure of text complexity only. It does not address the
subject matter or text quality, age-appropriateness of the content or a reader’s
interests. The Lexile measure is one piece of information that you can use when
selecting books.
Some books also have a Lexile code—a two-letter designation that appears before
the Lexile measure (for example, AD580L)—to provide more information about
the book’s developmental appropriateness, reading difficulty, and common or
intended usage. Visit www.Lexile.com for more information on Lexile codes.
Where can I find more information on Lexile measures?
For more information and to watch a six-minute video on Lexile measures,
visit www.Lexile.com. The “News & Events” page also offers access to AASL’s
members-only Knowledge Quest newsletter, which includes an interview with
MetaMetrics President Malbert Smith on using Lexile measures in the library.
Survival Colony 9- by Joshua David Bellin
photo (B&N.com)
I Kill the Mockingbird by Paul Acampora
photo (B&N.com)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney
Released Nov. 4th
KYVL
If you are curious about joining KYVL, especially with the news of content additions of Britannica and Learning Express, please get in touch with me.
Thank you for all you for our educators and students.
Happy long weekend,
Enid
Director
Kentucky Virtual Library
@ Council on Postsecondary Education
Fall PD Opportunity
Fellow school librarians,
I want to share some news from the KY Storytelling Association, so you can consider including these events as you plan for the coming school year. In addition to our 1st Storytelling Week (see below), we are holding our 11th Storytelling Conference in Bowling Green, Nov. 7-8. This year will include a pre-conference 6 hour workshop on “Developing Student Storytellers”, led by Judy Sima, a leading authority on youth storytelling. Storytelling has strong connections to the ELA Common Core standards, as well as to Arts/Humanities standards.
Enjoy a break this summer, hope to see many of you at the Summer Refresher!
Patti Moore
NBCT
Newton Parrish Elementary, Owensboro
The Kentucky Storytelling Association is pleased to announce Governor Stephen L. Beshear has proclaimed September 8-14, 2014, as Storytelling Week in Kentucky.
Mark your calendars now as the proclamation “urges all Kentuckians to participate in its observance by telling a story, listening to a story, and celebrating the power of storytelling.”
The Proclamation states: “Storytelling is one of the traditional ways that Kentucky’s elders have taught younger generations about their ancestors, heritage and culture; and Storytelling can be used as an educational tool in any discipline for any age”.
KSA has many resources to assist you in planning a local school or community event, including an annual Storytelling Conference, a Teller Directory, Teller Wanted request form, and Storytelling Calendar which are available online at www.kystory.org.
Kentucky Storytelling Week Sept 8-14, 2014, is the beginning of an annual event to encourage tellers and listeners of all ages. Plan now to be a part of of Kentucky Storytelling Week.
Donna F. Slaton, President
president@kystory.org, 270-871-3719
Kentucky Storytelling Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 4148, Frankfort, KY 40604-4148