1. Rigor: Text ComplexityReadability and other scores of text complexity whichare often best measured by computer software.Levels of meaning, structure, language conventionality andclarity- often best measured by attentive human reader.Background knowledge of reader, motivation, interests, and complexity generated by tasks assigned- often bestmade by educators employing their professional judgment.

2. Determining Text ComplexityA four step process Determine quantitative measures Systematically analyze qualitative aspects Reflect upon reader and task considerations Recommend appropriate placement 3. QUANTITATIVE:Lexiles ExplainedLexiles: Words in samples of a text are compared to a database thatbegan with a group of approximately 135,000 unique words.Word Level DifficultySentence Level ComplexityThe computation produces a lexile that can be placed on a scale, whichspans 0 (easiest texts) to 2000 (most complex texts).Sarah, Plain and Tall: 430Pride and Prejudice: 1030. 4. Lexile bands suggested by Common Core*K-1 Lexile Range is NOT included in the Common Core 5. Sarah, Plain & TallDid Mama sing every day? askedCaleb. Every single day? He sat close to thefire, his chin in his hand. It was dusk, and thedogs lay beside him on the warmhearthstones.Every single day, I told him for thesecond time this week. For the twentieth timethis month. The hundredth time this year.And the past few years.And did Papa sing, too?In the late 19th century a widowed Midwestern farmer with two children--Anna and Caleb--advertises for a wife. When Sarah arrives she is homesick for Maine..The tale gently explores themes ofabandonment, loss and love. 6. Henry & Mudge Mudge was huge. Heweighed one hundred andeighty pounds. He stood threefeet tall and he drooled. Im glad youre notshort, Henry said.In the story the young boy, Henry, wants nothing more than a dog of his own. At first his parents tell himthat he may not have a dog, however they eventually reconsider the matter. Henry and Mudge fall in love with each other and are as close as a dog and a young boy can be. 7. Using the Three Forms of InformationQuantitative Henry & Mudge (460L) grades 2-3 Sarah, Plain and Tall (430L) grades K-1Qualitative Henry & Mudge: one odd word included 30 times throughout thebook causes it to receive a higher lexile than Sarah, Plain and Tall Sarah, Plain & Tall: Rare words in Sarah typically appear once ortwice in the chapter or even the whole book, thus the lower lexile. Butwhen these words appear, they are challenging (e.g., hearthstones,wretched, holler) 8. Qualitative AnalysisThe quantitative analysis leaves us uncertain as to the appropriateness ofassigning Sarah, Plain and Tall to beginning second graders and the otherbook to slightly more able readers. Henry and Mudge is a clear choice for We verify these evaluations bya mid-second grade book. In evaluationlooking at the qualitativedimensions. Indeed, Henry andSarah, Plain and Tall, its NewberyMudge has a straightforward plot.award and its similarity to the LittleHouse series leads us to classify it as a Sarah, Plain and Tall, however, isthird grade book. much more than a simple recitationof facts about pioneer times or asitcom. It requires students to usebackground knowledge ongeographic differences (Maine andthe prairie) as well as understandingof the need for acceptance of amotherless family. Educator judgment prevails in thisanalysis