by Kristin Longmuir, Learning Ally's Content Acquisition Specialist
Did you know that Learning Ally has wonderful human-narrated audiobooks for both close and independent reading instruction, making stories come to life for students who struggle to read?
When you give children and teens the time and the text to help them connect with reading materials that are meaningful to them, magic happens! Students develop stronger reading skills, are more actively involved in learning, and they are excited to share what they know in your classroom.
Each month, we will feature books, by grade and lexile level, to support teachers' efforts to quickly find and assign appropriate titles for close and independent reading goals.
Share your comments on this blog to let us know what topics you are interested in.
What is close reading? Close reading is when readings are repeated and discussions focus on the text in order to increase comprehension. Close reading focuses on three interpretative goals: -- what the text says, -- how the text says it, and -- what the text means.
Independent reading enables students to choose their own reading material for their independent consumption. Providing time for reading enjoyment will increase reading engagement, build stronger reading skills and foster a love of reading in your students. Here are suggested titles:
Close Reading Titles
Grades K-3
Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story From Afghanistan
Jeanette Winter / Lexile Level: AD630L / Shelf Number: JX053
Harvesting Hope: The Story Of Cesar Chavez
Kathleen Krull / Lexile Level: AD800L / Shelf Number: JK724
Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story From China
Ed Young / Lexile Level: 670L / Shelf Number: JS165
Grades 4-8
Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths
Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire / Lexile Level: 1070L / Shelf Number: GW189
Refugee
Alan Gratz /Lexile Level: 800L / Shelf Number: NA153
Anne Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl
Anne Frank / Lexile Level: 1080L / Shelf Number: KD437
Grades 9-12
To Kill A Mockingbird
Harper Lee / Lexile Level: 870L / Shelf Number KM769
Of Mice And Men
John Steinbeck / Lexile Level: 630L / Shelf Number: KM755
Unbroken: A World War II Story Of Survival Resilience And Redemption
Lauren Hillenbrand / Lexile Level: 1010L / Shelf Number GS434
Independent Reading Titles
Grades K-3
Step Right Up : How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World about Kindness
Donna Janell Bowman / Lexile Level: 910L / Shelf Number: NA662
Journey Through Ash And Smoke
Kate Messner / Lexile Level: 730L / Shelf Number: NA748
We’re All Wonders
R.J. Palacio / Lexile Level: 370L / Shelf Number NA134
Grades 4-8
Grandpa’s Great Escape
David Walliams / Lexile Level: 760L / Shelf Number: NA628
The Seventh Wish
Kate Messner / Lexile Level: 720L / Shelf Number NA592
I Survived The American Revolution 1776
Lauren Tarshis / Lexile Level: 660L / Shelf Number NA293
Grades 9-12
Turtles All The Way Down
John Green / Lexile Level: 840L / Shelf Number NA448
Longbow Girl
Linda Davies / Lexile Level: 700 / Shelf Number NA700
All The Right Places
Jennifer Nielsen / Lexile Level: 830L / Shelf Number KW445
EXPERIENCE LEARNING ALLY IN A LIVE DEMO
Learning Ally is a leading nonprofit edtech organization delivering a comprehensive learning solution for struggling readers in elementary, middle and high schools. Our proven solution includes an extensive library of human-read audiobooks that students want and need to read, along with a suite of teacher-focused resources that ensure student success. Schedule a quick demo to learn how your school or district can transform more struggling readers into grade-level achievers. 800-221-1098