EDUC 333 - Learning to Read

Readability Test
May 30, 2020
Dr. A Harrison PhD
Kherion Miranda
Edward Fry Readability Test

The Readability Test

Although there are many app, sites and programs that can calculate the readability of a
passage or article, using the Edward Fry method was interesting. While reading chapter 4 of the
text for our course, Assessing students and Text, we were told how to estimate text book
difficulty. Even though this is not an accurate method because each person are at a different
level or reading, it does help to an extent to indicate the grade of students that the book is

more than likely used for.

As I searched up on Edward Fry readability graph, I noticed the two variable used to
determine the grade level of the text were sentence length and word length. One to determine
the total number of sentence in a particular 100 word passage, and the other determine the
total number of syllables in the passage. It is recommended that three different sections of 100
words each be used for the readability to me at its closes estimate. Before I proceed to share
the steps I took in performing a readability test, I will share the limitations of the test. One, not
all long sentence are harder to read, two, not all long words are difficult to understand. Also, as
mentioned, the child's experience and knowledge of reading and the setting plays a role in the
level that someone can read.

The Process:

Firstly, choosing a text in my content area, was not a easy task; due to the fact that I teach
mathematics. I taught the text won't work because of the numbers, but after a little research, I
found that it is possible not to count the numbers and still count 100 words for the estimate.

Knowing this, I decided to test the text that I used mostly for 1st form Math class,
'Mathematics A complete course volume 1'. I found three passage that explained different
topics, and decided to start my process. Passage 1 was about Measurement from page 105 of
the text, I counted the first 100 words and found approximately 8.5 sentences with 175
syllables. Passage 2 was about Number Base, from page 29, containing approximately 7.5
sentences with 153 syllables. Finally passage 3, Hire Purchase page 187, having 7 sentences
with 170 syllables.

Results

Having collected my data, and using the Fry Graph in my tablet, I plot the points. I found
passage 1 to be for about 14 grader, the second passage for 13 grader and the third passage
was for 8th graders. I agree with the results, that the text is kind of difficult for my 1st formers
to understand, who falls in the 7 or 8 grade level. I agree that the text difficulty if high because I
have tried assigning students to read a example and the solve the practice problems given, but
they find it confusing until I explain it to them. Hire purchase was one topic that I can relate this
experience to. After running late in a topic I assigned the students to read page 187 of the text
and explain what the understood sadly only 2 child from first form had an idea of the topic.
That was because they had help and used YouTube to get more understanding.

Reflection

As I reflect on the readability test, I can say that it really help me to open my understanding
of the level of text I use for my students. I know that the book has always been used for high
school students but never question if the level of the text was appropriate for my first form
students. Knowing this, I would be more cautious when choosing passage for my students to
read, passage that are for their level of reading.

Source:
Mathematics. Volume 1 : a complete course with CXC questions (Book, 2013) [WorldCat.org]