One of my essays for my collection development class is on this topic. I don't see why students shouldn't be able to read books that they want to read at either higher or lower levels. My school librarians spouse often brings home for me YA literature that she thinks I would enjoy reading even at my retirement age. Most of the time she is right. One of my favorite books of the last year was "Stupid Fast." The other issue is those students whose reading ability outstrips their emotional maturity. Perhaps this isn't all that much a problem because I also read adult novels in grade school. I just didn't understand certain parts. Bob Robert P. Holley Professor, School of Library & Information Science Wayne State University Detroit, MI 48202 aa3805@wayne.edu 248-547-0306 (phone) 313-577-7563 (fax) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Amelia Nolan" <anolan@sjcity.com> To: "Ann Perrigo" <aperrigo@albionlibrary.org> Cc: michlib-l@mcls.org Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2014 4:28:53 PM Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Lexile level and reading counts Ann-agreed! Talk about killing the joy in reading. No, you can't read that-it isn't your level. Sure, you can read that, it is your level but we don't have a quiz on it so go find something else. Drives me absolutely bonkers and I feel for these parents who come to me for help with it. Also, I'm afraid that the higher the reading level (a concept I have a hard time with) the more difficult it is for me to find a title. Let alone a title that I would recommend a kid read. my rant over...for now. Amy Nolan Children's Librarian St. Joseph Public Library 269-983-7167 From: Ann Perrigo [aperrigo@albionlibrary.org] Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2014 4:21 PM To: Amelia Nolan Cc: michlib-l@mcls.org Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Lexile level and reading counts AARRGGHHHHH! One of my pet peeves! The whole "leveling" and testing thing just drives me nuts. Let the kids read what they WANT to read for heaven's sake! Rant over... Ann On Thu, Nov 13, 2014 at 4:09 PM, Amelia Nolan < anolan@sjcity.com > wrote: Help! Has anyone else discovered an easy way to help parents with this conundrum of lexile level books that also have reading count quizzes? Today I had a mom come in who had a sixth grade son who was at a high reading level (lexile 1130-1300) and she was looking for books. I had a really hard time finding titles for her that were still housed in the children's section. I pulled a bunch of novels that I consider higher reading level and then looked them up on the lexile website and many weren't even listed. The ones I did find (they were all nf), the mom would have to turn around and see if these particular titles had quizzes available. Has anyone figured out a more streamlined way of doing this or do you depend on the school librarian/teacher to pass out lists of titles and levels that have quizzes? Thanks for any advice! Amy Nolan Children's Librarian St. Joseph Public Library 269-983-7167 _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@mcls.org http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l -- Ann Perrigo, Co-Director Albion District Library 501 S. Superior Street Albion, MI 49224 517 629-3993 _______________________________________________ Michlib-l mailing list Michlib-l@mcls.org http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l