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AR360 

Formally known as Subtext.....Yes, it's that good , worthy of  its own blog page.

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Differentiate Like the Best of Them

11/22/2013

4 Comments

 
Another aspect of Subtext that rocks my boat is the ease of differentiating for students' abilities and really target their instructional levels.  Here's how I use Subtext to do just that.
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Then, I differentiated my students.  One helpful tool I use is the STAR test by Renaissance Learning.  It's a "down and dirty" assessment students take on the computer in a matter of minutes.  

One of the numerous results it provides is a student's ATOS range (ATOS is the readability formula used by Accelerated Reader. It provides a read-out numbers like 4.5, meaning fourth grade about fifth month).    This provides me a range of the student's independent and instructional level.

From there, I created my student groups and labeled them by the days of the week I meet with them.  For my students I need to meet with each day, their group is labeled "Daily." 

First, I made groups for my different leveled articles.  I made a high, medium (grade level), and low group.  As I find articles, I place them directly on the corresponding shelf.  (See my "Organizing Articles" entry). 

These groups are not to be shared out or joined by students, but I keep as a "holding" dock for me to access when I need them. 

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Once I had my student groups, I shared specific articles with them.  Then, I gave those students the group code to join and we were ready to go. 

Curating Leveled Content:
My Three Favorite Ways

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An amazing site where  current event articles are  available in different reading levels.  

I can find an article I'd like to use with all of my students, but then specify at which exact reading level. I then share it with my homogenous group of students. 

All articles are leveled by the Lexile system. If you view it on a tablet, you can view the grade level too.   
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When I come across an article or website I'd like my students to read, it usually does not have any reading level tied with it.  
Here's where the
ATOS Analyzer comes in.

It lets me copy and paste a portion of the text  and within moments get an ATOS level (ATOS is the readability formula used by Accelerated Reader. It provides a read-out like 4.5, meaning fourth grade about fifth month).


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ReadWorks is a great site where you can find leveled pdf's to incorporate into Subtext. (To incorporate a pdf, save it so you can open it on an iPad.  You can email, Dropbox, etc. On the iPad, make the selection, "Open in Subtext.")

There are a variety of different leveled passages both in fiction and non-fiction to choose from.  
4 Comments
Roberta Caudill
11/25/2013 07:48:04 am

I have just discovered Subtext and you have some great ideas that I will look into. Do you have the free version or the premium?

Reply
Dena link
11/25/2013 09:47:57 am

Hi Roberta,

All of my blog posts, so far, have included the free features. This is the first year I am trying the premium version. Subtext was nice enough to "Grandfather in" all of its existing users for a trial of the premium version for this school year only. I'm really liking it too.

Keep me posted. Would love to help in any way I can!

Reply
Roberta Caudill
11/26/2013 08:04:39 am

What would you say is the best benefit of using the premium version over the free version?

Dena
11/27/2013 07:18:27 pm

Hi Roberta,

I'd say the two best benefits right now (They are adding features all the time) are the assignments and text to speech.

With assignments, I can give students specific activities within a text, have them complete and then submit it for a grade. I keep a record of everything and can see it at a glance. The assignments are either created by me or from a bank of ones directly aligned to Common Core standards. Makes my life way easier!

The text-to-speech feature allows students who may either be English Language Learners or reading an article above their level the ability to listen to the text read aloud. I have some students that just enjoy listening it to as a change of pace. It's a great addition.

Reply



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    Dena Glynn

    On a quest to redesign education as we know it, while, at times, getting "schooled" by my 4th/5th graders on all things ed tech.   

    I'm lucky to teach at an Apple Distinguished Elementary School in California where each of my students has an iPad.

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