Reading Counts is a reading program selected by TOW that emphasizes reading comprehension. It has two components: the Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) and Reading Counts. The SRI or Lexile inventory measures your student’s ability to read and comprehend the presented material. Reading Counts is collection of quizzes designed to test your student’s comprehension on books they have read. The TOW PTA sponsors prizes to provide incentives for the students.

SRI is administered in the classroom, resulting in a Lexile number and a corresponding color that will help your student find books of an appropriate reading level in the library. The goal is to guide students toward books that are not too difficult, but still challenge them. Your student will be taking the SRI periodically throughout the year so teachers can assess reading progress.

When your student has completed a book, they can take a Reading Counts quiz on one of the Chromebooks located in the library, in their classroom or at home. Reading Counts can be accessed from Beachport. Each quiz contains 10 questions and students must answer 7 out of 10 questions correctly to pass. For each passed quiz, they earn points. The point value of a book is determined by the complexity of the text (length of sentences, word frequency, word count, etc.).

To motivate students to read and take quizzes, there is an end-of-the-year target point level. To get the students excited and reward them for achieving their goals, the PTA provides prizes at intermittent levels, culminating in a party for those who achieved the year-end target and beyond. In order to manage your student’s progress, there are suggested goals for each semester.

To determine point value for each book, look at the label on the spine.

sample-spine

To determine the Lexile level, it is the number following the Lex on the label or look for the color label that corresponds to the Lexile range.

lexile-colors

Not all books are labeled in the library yet. If you are unsure of the level or point value or if the book has a quiz associated with it, visit the Scholastic book expert site and enter either the title or the author of the book.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a lexile?

A lexile is simply a unit of measurement that is used to determine the difficulty of text and the reading level of readers.

How is a lexile determined?

A lexile is determined by analyzing text and determining its difficulty level based on vocabulary and sentence structure.

To earn Reading Count points, does my child have to read the book independently or can it be one read to my child by parent, caretaker or teacher?

The book can be read together or individually.

Has anything changed for the 2017/2018 school year?

>Yes!  The prizes have been updated. The end-of-year targets by grade level are the same. Also, prizes were previously awarded monthly and will be shifting to 4 times per year. Here is a guideline of when prizes will be distributed:

  • 1st award period – between September and December, likely closer to December
  • 2nd award period – between Jan and mid-winter break
  • 3rd award period – between mid-winter break and spring break
  • 4th award period – between spring break and end of May
What happens if a student doesn’t pass a quiz?

The student must wait 24 hours before attempting the quiz again. Once the quiz successfully completed, it cannot be taken again.

How can I see my child's progress?

Your child has access to their own progress reports every time they log on. Progress will be available at each trimester through your child’s teacher.

How were the goals for each grade level determined?

The goals were determined by surveying other schools in the area.

Which grades are participating?

Kindergarteners will take the Lexile assessment (SRI) only. Grades 1 through 5 will take both the Scholastic Reading Inventory and Reading Counts quizzes.

What are the target levels for each grade?

Grade Level Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3
1st 15 35 50
2nd 35 65 100
3rd 40 80 120
4th 45 90 140
5th 50 100 150

What are the prizes?
Level Prize 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade
1 Blue Dog Tag 5 pts 5 pts 10 pts 10 pts 10 pts
2 Restaurant Certificate 10 pts 15 pts 20 pts 30 pts 35 pts
3 Burgundy Dog Tag 20 pts 35 pts 40 pts 45 pts 50 pts
4 Treasure Box 30 pts 65 pts 80 pts 90 pts 100 pts
5 Purple Dog Tag 40 pts 85 pts 100 pts 110 pts 125 pts
6 Book 50 pts 100 pts 120 pts 140 pts 150 pts

Millionaires’ Club:

  • 1,000,000 pages – Gold Tag, Party & Wall of Fame
  • 2,000,000 pages – Black Tag, Party & Wall of Fame
What should my child’s Lexile score be based on their grade level?

There is no direct correspondence between a specific Lexile score and a specific grade level. To read and understand more about Lexile to Grade Correspondence, visit this website.

What does a Lexile tell me about a book I have not read?

The Lexile can only tell you about the comparative difficulty of the sentence structure and the level of vocabulary. A Lexile does not give any information about the age appropriateness of a text. Close attention must be paid to content when selecting books for children. Both The Firm written by John Grisham and Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White have a Lexile score of 680.

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