[LIT] Reading Levels

[ReadersnRacers at aol.com]

Tena writes:   Sooo what do you think? The only books I could suggest are 
Diary of Anne Frank 7th , Hatchet 8th  and 1984 for 6th. Do you think it has gone 
too far?


Pam writes:   That's insane!   I feel for you.   I know that I certainly 
don't think many of those titles would be appropriate for the grade levels Lexile 
puts them at, nor would I recommend them being read by children who aren't 
mature enough for the content in them.   I did stop and think about some of the 
novels that I've worked with over the past 10 years (you're right most of them 
don't make the cut with a "high enough" lexile level).   However, some do.   
Hope this helps.

I would recommend:
Flush (lexile 830) - it's pretty close to entry level 6th grade & great for 
environmentalism

Once Upon a Marigold (lexile 840) - such a beautifully written story with a 
neat twist on the traditional fairy tale - both my boys & girls enjoyed

Truesight (lexile 850) - reminds me of The Giver and poses similar dilemma to 
main character

Bud, Not Buddy (lexile 950) - centered in 1930's north - haven't used it 
whole class, but kids in Lit Circles really enjoy it

The Unseen (lexile 990) - middle school age girl experiences magic feather 
and learns how her anger pushes her away from family and the chance of making 
friends - really good for making connections to actions/anger/consequences

Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 (lexile 1000) - great story of civil rights 
movement w/ bombing of church in Alabama - very powerful

Freak the Mighty (lexile level 1000) - another great story of misfits finding 
one another w/ disabilities being thrown into the mix - also very powerful 

Across Five Aprils (lexile level 1100) - good historical fiction about 
westward movement




Pamela Tempest
Team Neon - ELA Teacher

Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual 
differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules 
are flexible - the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing classroom. 
-- loosely based on quote from Virginia Satir