[ISLMA-Share] Books for 6th Grade Avid Reader

Tue Sep 12 08:45:56 CDT 2017

To play the devil's advocate here, why does a 6th grader with a Lexile of 1160 have to read a book that falls within their numeric parameters? What is the goal? A higher Lexile? Should not a student reading at this level be encouraged to branch out broadly and encounter classics, biographies and non-fiction that are challenging but also age-appropriate instead of finding a book within a constructed and constricting framework. Fahrenheit 451 has a Lexile of 890; Diary of a Wimpy Kid has a Lexile of 1010. That fact alone should cause educators some concern about the relevance of Lexiles to the promotion of literature and literacy.

My opinion is that the student should be able to read whatever they want as long as they are reading. Reading is a muscle; there is good research that shows that it's the time a student spends reading that drives their fluency. More time spent reading equals better readers. Isn't that the goal?

Doesn't help you help the student, but it is my two cents.

Gretchen Zaitzeff
Librarian
University High School
Normal, IL

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From: islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info <islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> on behalf of Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info>
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2017 3:18:14 PM
To: Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association
Subject: Re: [ISLMA-Share] Books for 6th Grade Avid Reader

What about the Inheritance Cycle? Those books are awesome, very long, and fine for sixth graders. I'd stay away from anything realistic fiction!

Pam

On Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 8:18 PM, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma at list.railslibraries.info>> wrote:
Not sure how good these would be for a 6th grader.

One of Us is Lying is about detention where five students go in and only 4 come out.

This is Where it Ends is about a High School shooting

Pretty mature content for a 6th grader.

Good Luck.

Karyn Nadler, MLIS
Library Media Specialist
Robert Crown School
Wauconda, IL 60084

Phone (847) 526-7100
Fax (847) 487-3596

On Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 10:42 AM, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma at list.railslibraries.info>> wrote:
I have not read the books you listed so I cannot speak to that portion of your email.

As to your second part, I can give one glowing recommendation for The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. It is an 1160 Lexile. It is the first book in a LONG set of different series. The rest of the books in the different series have lower Lexiles, but if he likes it, he will love the rest of Brooks's books.

As an added note, the second book in the series (The Elfstones of Shannara) was made into a tv series (although not very true to the book) that started last year and will be starting season two in just a couple weeks.

Mr. Tim Yoder

Librarian
Harvard Junior High School
1301 North Garfield Street
Harvard, IL 60033
815-943-6466 ext.2337<tel:(815)%20943-6466>
Fax 815-943-8521<tel:(815)%20943-8521>
Email: tyoder at cusd50.org<mailto:tyoder at cusd50.org>

On Fri, Sep 8, 2017 at 10:28 AM, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association <islma at list.railslibraries.info<mailto:islma at list.railslibraries.info>> wrote:
The parent of a son who is an avid reader has requested my opinion on three book titles concerning whether the content would be too mature for a sixth grader.  He has a very high Lexile level (exact level?) and his teacher is encouraging him to read at his Lexile level.  The parent is concerned that the content is too mature for a twelve year old (suicide, resurrecting the dead, etc.). I don’t know the titles but was hoping someone out there might be familiar with them so that you could give your thoughts.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

This is Not the End by Chandler Baker

In addition, any title suggestions that would be at a high Lexile and interesting to a sixth grade boy would be appreciated.  Thanks so much in advance.

Anne Groesch
Librarian
Jefferson Middle School/Springfield Public School District 186
3001 Allis
Springfield, IL  62703
217-585-5810<tel:(217)%20585-5810>
FAX-217-525-5814<tel:(217)%20525-5814>
TDD-217-525-3023<tel:(217)%20525-3023>
Internal 585-5810

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Ms. Pamela L. Meiser
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