Nguyen Text Readability Evaluation – Week Four

Title of Textbook: Big Ideas Math, Course 2: A Bridge to Success

Author(s): Ron Larson and Laurie Boswell
Publisher: Big Ideas Learning (2017)
ISBN: 978-1680331233

1. Intended grade level of text: 7th Grade

2. Readability estimate:
Flesch-Kincaid – 8.0
SMOG – 8th Grade
Raygor – 7th Grade
Fry – 9th Grade

The text I chose, Big Ideas, is the new middle school math curriculum that has was adopted
district-wide two years ago in the Cherry Creek School District. There are over 4,000 seventh grade
students in CCSD; each student has access to their own textbook, and for five years, every student will
have their own corresponding workbook. Students that struggle with reading at grade-level do seem to
have a hard time navigating Big Ideas (I personally find Big Ideas visually overwhelming, and the lessons
“busy”). The use of word problems and stories are abundant, much different from the Saxxon Math I
used when starting teaching 15 years ago.
According the Flesch-Kincaid and SMOG readability tests, the text is above grade-level. The
Raygor came out significantly lower; yet, it was stated on the website
(http://www.readabilityformulas.com/free-fry-graph-test.php) that the Raygor typically scores a few
grade levels below other tests, based on its slightly different calculations. Scores were compiled by
using Word for the Flesch-Kincaid, our class text (p. 77-78) for the Raygor, and an online website for the
SMOG (specific results of these tests are compiled at the end of this summary). I also opted to conduct
a Fry Readability, via online website. Overall, I did not find it difficult to administer the Raygor per the
directions in our text.
As a learning specialist, most of the students I work with directly have a learning disability in
math and/or reading. Many of my students are not at a seventh grade reading level. I am curious if
teachers in my building did any form of readability on Big Ideas prior to its adoption in the district. For
the Math 7/8 students, the text might be more appropriate, as the majority of those students are above
grade level in reading, as well. I would venture to say that overall, Big Ideas is a somewhat appropriate
text for the grade seven classroom. Many of the words with six or more letters are repeated frequently,
helping to ensure commonality in vocab and predictability of terms for more emerging readers.

Decision: Appropriate ______ Marginally Appropriate ___x__ Unacceptable ______

Flesch-Kincaid Readability Scale

Raygor Readability Estimate

Sentence Length (Average): 8.7

Word Length (Average): 30

SMOG

Fry Readability Test