Current Connection: 1.1

In Benjamin Wood's article entitled "Students Choosing Books Below Grade Level; Should Parents Be Worried" posted at Deseret News, he argues that books are read for one of two purposes and that with the implementation of Common Core, students will be reading more complex texts.
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According to "What Kids Are Reading" study, conducted by Renaissance Learning, a company specializing in education software, found that, with the exception of two titles, thirty-eight of the top 40 remained below grade level.

• CM: For example, according to Renaissance Learning, Hunger Games is on a 5.3 grade level.
• CM:  What is so wrong with this decision?  Nothing!  If a student is reading, then a student is reading!  This adds up to success and higher fluency.  Yes, a good thing!

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Erik Stickney, director of research for Renaissance Learning, further notes, "When you look at the books that adults read, most of the readability levels of those books is going to be in the fifth, sixth or seventh grades."

• CM:  In essence, when people read for pleasure, they do tend to select texts that are "faster" reads, reads that allow the reader to become more quickly immersed in the world being experienced.
• CM:  Do I fit within the above descriptor of what adults read?  Well...maybe...okay, yes!  Especially on a Friday night (the rare Fridays on which I am home!) or holiday breaks, I very much enjoy reading a novel that I can complete in a few hours, one that I can finish within a few hours.

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Stickney further acknowledges that young adults are reading more complex texts, for "it is Common Core’s intent to...increase the rigor and complexity of what kids are reading."  

• CM:  For example, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein made the above mentioned reading list.
• CM:  My question would be...are students reading this novel as a self-selection or because  this is now a more common required reading text within high schools.

NOTE:  check out the numbers above.  Notice that some are written out, while one is not.  Why?

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Connection outside text needed.


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Concluding Sentence





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Erik Stickney, director of research for Renaissance Learning, further notes, "When you look at the books that adults read, most of the readability levels of those books is going to be in the fifth, sixth or seventh grades.  In essence, when people read for pleasure, they do tend to select texts that are "faster" reads, reads that allow the reader to become more quickly immersed in the world being experienced.  Do I fit within the above descriptor of what adults read?  Well...maybe...okay, yes!  Especially on a Friday night (the rare Fridays on which I am home!) or holiday breaks, I very much enjoy reading a novel that I can complete in a few hours, one that I can finish within a few hours.