How to help a high-achieving reader
It's not always easy to keep independent readers challenged. Between the requirements of the curriculum and the pace that the rest of the class needs, sometimes they have to wait for other students to catch up. You can use Lexile® measures to find additional reading materials that will provide these readers with the right level of challenge.
Leveling should not be limiting
Find a Book lets you look for books with higher Lexile measures at a low developmental level. When you get to your search results, try setting the age slider to your child's age, and the Lexile range slider somewhat higher. In this example, you would see books that are developmentally appropriate for a 3rd grader, but with readability levels more typical of middle school:
High-achieving students may seek out harder books to challenge themselves. And enthusiastic readers may devour books about their interests, regardless of the difficulty level of the text.
Higher-level books provide a great opportunity for reading growth, particularly if you know the Lexile measure of the book.
Use your library's online resources to differentiate materials
Chances are your school or district subscribes to one or more article databases from companies like EBSCO and ProQuest. We partner with content aggregators to provide full-text, content-area reading materials searchable by Lexile measure. So when your child is doing a unit on the Harlem Renaissance, do a quick article search to find content with higher Lexile measures. Ask your child's teacher or school librarian for login access to these resources.
Independent readers like to find their own books
Encourage children to use Find a Book ! Whether or not they know their Lexile measure, they'll love to make reading lists on their own. If they know their Lexile measure, they can click on an individual book to see their forecasted comprehension rate. A reader's sweet spot for reading is between 65% to 80% comprehension rate. But if you have a first grader who's already read all the "Harry Potter" books, he or she may be up to the challenge of harder books, where the forecasted comprehension rate drops below 65%.