Just Another Manic Monday...

Good Evening Friends,
Well, it's actually Sunday night, but I'm already feeling the Monday blues...I'm trying to get motivated to have a great week-honest. I've been printing out some texts for my kids to read this week that are around their lexile levels, and I created some questions for an article we're going to read as a whole class. That way I can model what I'm looking for them to do.  We started working on Close Reading last week, and we're continuing with it this week. I know, it's a whole year strategy.  I thought my kids kind of understood the process, but after reading a worksheet with questions on it, I see I have some work ahead of me.  But I guess that's what this job is all about-right?

I eluded to the lexile levels, and here's the thing-we have been using Accelerated Reader for the past 8 years or so. We use the STAR test to assess reading levels, and group from there. This year, our district has purchased Ready Common Core.  Have you heard of that? Are you using it in your school?  I'd love to know if anyone else is using this.  Anyway, back to my problem...dilemma.  So, using the iReady assessment, the kids' scale scores are lexile levels.  I've never worked with those.  Our teacher specialist gave us a conversion sheet, which will help, but I don't really understand how these lexile levels are equated to AR.  You see, when I had my kids take the STAR test the 2nd week of school, and I looked at their IRL levels, I had kids ranging from 1.7-6.4!  But, I'm not supposed to level them that way this year.  According to the iReady assessment, my kids are all at either 2.7, 3.0, or 3.3 AR level.  How is this possible? Does this even make sense?  Am I really not getting it?  So I'm a little lost at how I should plan for groups.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

How do you assess and group your kids for small groups in reading?

Have a wonderful week, friends!