1.Text Complexity The What, the Why, and the How Orange County Reading Association October 5, 2013

2. Approaches to Reading Instruction: A quick history lesson 1500s 1800s McGuffey Third Reader, Junior High Level A leveled reader 3. Text Complexity- A quick history lesson 1930s Dick and Jane A basal reader- whole word reading approach Basal Readers 1960s-70s Adapted text 1980s-90s Whole Language Child derives the text 4. Text Complexity- A quick history lesson 1990s-2000s Guided Reading 2000s-2013 Anthologys and Scripted Instruction 2014 Common Core Implementation Exemplar Texts Type of instruction? 5. Why is Text Complexity Important? 6. The Common Core brings a renewed focus on Text-Complexity Common Core and Fundamental Shifts Writefrom Sources Build Knowledgein theDisciplines 7. CCSS Standard 10-Text Complexity 8. What makes this difficult? Or is it? 9. WHAT IS IT? Text Complexity 10. Elements of Text Complexity 11. Quantitative Elements of Text The quantitative element of text complexity refers to factors of text that are easier for a computer to assess; word length or frequency, sentence length, and text cohesion. 12. How do most readability formulas determine the quantitative aspect of text? Number of syllables in words Number of words in sentences The dog ran home. The frisky puppy scampered toward the moss covered colonial mansion. Quantitative Elements of Text 13. How to Check Readability in Word What would you predict is the readability (Flesch- Kincaid) level of this passage? 14.2 14. What is the Readability Level of this Passage? 15. Ways to calculate the Quantitative element Other Methods: Scholastic- you can use book wizard http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/ Lexile- you can use the lexile analyzer http://www.lexile.com/analyzer/ Flesch-Kincaid: In Word 2010, click on File Click on Options Click on Proofing Select, show readability statistics 16. Common Core Lexile Levels 17. Qualitative Elements of Text What are other reasons this text might be considered difficult? 18. The qualitative element of text refers to factors best assessed by a human; Levels of meaning (literary) or purpose (informational)- surface or deeper levels Structure- simple vs complex; i.e., sequential order vs flashbacks; simple graphics vs complex Language conventionality and clarity- simple vs complex; conversational language vs figurative Qualitative Elements of Text 19. Qualitative Elements continued Visual device demands- types of graphics used And knowledge demands- does the reader have the background experiences to relate to the text? 20. This is a Grade 9-10 exemplar from the CCSS. How would you assess it qualitatively? Levels of meaning or purpose, Structure, Language conventionality and clarity, Visual device demands, And knowledge demands Qualitative Elements of Text 21. Reader/Task Considerations Reader considerations: Cognitive capabilities- analytical ability, inferencing, visualization Motivation- purpose, interest, self-efficacy Knowledge- vocabulary and topic, comprehension strategies Experiences 22. Reader/Task Considerations continued Task considerations: The readers purpose Skimming Studying The intended outcome Increase in knowledge A solution to some real-world problem (drivers test) Engagement with the text (reading for pleasure) 23. Things to Consider Heibert, E. (2013). Supporting students movement up the staircase of text complexity. The Reading Teacher, 66(6). 24. Types of Texts? Genres? Appendix A & B of the CCSS http://www.corestandards.org/ELA- Literacy/introduction/how-to-read-the-standards Media Text: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/relativit y-and-the-cosmos.html 25. Literature Informational Text Stories Dramas Poetry Literary Nonfiction and Historical, Scientific, and Technical Texts Includes childrens adventure stories, folktales, legends, fables, fantasy, realistic fiction, and myth Includes staged dialogue and brief familiar scenes Includes nursery rhymes and the subgenres of the narrative poem, limerick, and free verse poem Includes biographies and autobiographies; books about history, social studies, science, and the arts; technical texts, including directions, forms, and information displayed in graphs, charts, or maps; and digital sources on a range of topics English Language Arts Standards Standard 10: Range, Quality, & Complexity Range of Text Types for K-5 Students in K5 apply the Reading standards to the following range of text types, with texts selected from a broad range of cultures and periods. 26. Grades 6-12 27. Lets Try it! Well use the 3 elements Volcano! Ben Franklin 28. Lets Try it! Well use the 3 elements Volcano! Quantitative: Lexile level 750L (450-790 is Grade 2-3) Ben Franklin: His Wit and Wisdom from A-Z Quantitative: Lexile level 820L (770-980 is Grade 4-5) Quantitative Elements first: word length or frequency, sentence length, and text cohesion. 29. Evaluating text using the three elements of text complexity Volcano! Purpose- informational- straight forward message Structure- common informational text structure; easy to read graphic, supplemental to understanding Language- moderate with regard to vocab; clear Visual device- maps (depends on student and grade) Knowledge demands- moderate Ben Franklin Purpose- informational- explicit purpose Structure- not a common format, pictures aid in understanding Language- difficult with regard to vocab. Format is also unconventional. Visual device- no graphs or charts Knowledge demands- moderate Qualitative Elements second: Levels of meaning or purpose, Structure, Language conventionality and clarity, Visual device demands, And knowledge demands 30. Evaluating text using the three elements of text complexity Volcano! Appropriate for a reader who can comprehend explicit grade 3 text. Needs a student who is interested in informational text, particularly science and other peoples. Reader needs some knowledge of maps, the topic and comprehension strategies (sequential order, cause and effect). The reader would needs some background knowledge of earthquakes, people from other lands Ben Franklin Appropriate for a reader who can comprehend grade 4-5 text. Needs a student who is interested in history and new word meanings and where words and sayings derive from. Reader needs some knowledge of how to follow unfamiliar text structure and comprehension strategies (using context). The reader would need some background knowledge of US Presidents, the Revolutionary War, and colonial times. Reader Elements third: Cognitive capabilities Motivation Knowledge Experiences You Teach: Third Graders Some are below grade level Some are on grade level Some are language learners Some are English Only A few have been assessed as gifted 31. Evaluating text using the three elements of text complexity Task Elements third: The readers purpose The intended outcome For both books: You would like to use for guided reading You want to focus on comprehension of informational text, sequencing in particular. 32. So, which book do you choose? Would you only select one? OR Could you choose both, but use them for different purposes? 33. Resources for Text Complexity and the CCSS Can be found in iTunes- Common Core State Standards app On the Ca Dept of Ed website: http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/ The Common Core State Standards website: http://www.corestandards.org/resources