TILS Standard A

4: Systematically monitors progress towards established

goals and makes decisions that lead to continuous
improvement
Reflection
In my middle/high school literacy course, we were required to conduct
a readability test on a textbook that we were currently using in our
classroom. The purpose of this assignment was to see if the textbook was
accurately aligned with grade level expectations. This was a very interesting
and simple assignment that provided me with a lot of information. Both
readability programs that I used were free and online. All I had to do was
type a portion of text from the book and the readability programs provided
me with a report on the actual reading level of the text. My fourth grade
math text book is of course supposed to at or slightly above 4th grade
reading level. According to both tests, the text scored at 11 or 12th grade
reading level. While I have been using this text book, Ive thought that the
text was above grade level, but I never wouldve imagined that wouldve
received a score that high. As we discussed our results in class, most of us
disagreed with the results of our readability assessments.
Although I do not believe that the results were accurate, I see the
benefits of conducting readability assessments. A leadership team or
textbook adoption committee could use these types of assessments when
considering or selecting a new textbook. I could also see literacy teachers
using this when assigning independent reading assignments or finding
literacy tests online. This is an excellent and quick tool that can be used
during planning to make sure that students are receiving and using materials
that are appropriate for them.

Jasmine Farrow
February 18th, 2014
OKAPI

Readability Analysis

Title: Tennessee Math Connects

Author: Carter
Total Rd Wds:_____|#Errors: ___|Correct.Rd Wds:_____|%Correct.Rd Wds:____
Total Words in Sample: 53 Total Sentences in Sample: 3
Average Number of Words Per Sentence: 17.66
Words Not Matched to Dale Familiar 3000-Word List: 12
Percentage of Words Not Matched to Dale Familiar 3000-Word List: 22.64
Dale-Chall Readability Index: 8.08 Raw Score; 11-12th Grade Level

The Wright brothers were self-trained engineers from

Ohio who designed, built, and piloted the first engine
powered airplane. On December 17th, 1903, the Wright
brothers completed the world's first successful controlled
flight. They later named the flyer the Kitty hawk, after
the location in North Carolina near where they made this
historic flight.
Dale-Chall Readability Formula for This Passage =
(0.0496 * 17.66 Avg. Number of Words Per Sentence) +
(0.1579 * 22.64 Percent of Words in Sample Not Found on Dale Familiar Word List)
+
3.6365 = 8.08 Raw Score = 11-12th Grade Level

Lexile Measure
1220L
Mean Sentence Length

17.67
Mean Log Word Frequency
3.20
Word Count
53

Typical Text Measures, by Grade

Grade

Text Demand Study 2009

25th percentile to 75th percentile (IQR)

2012 CCSS Text Measures*

230L to 420L

190L to 530L

450L to 570L

420L to 650L

600L to 730L

520L to 820L

640L to780L

740L to 940L

730L to 850L

830L to 1010L

860L to 920L

925L to 1070L

880L to 960L

970L to 1120L

900L to 1010L

1010L to 1185L

960L to 1110L

1050L to 1260L

10

920L to 1120L

1080L to 1335L

11 and 12

1070L to 1220L

1185L to 1385L