Factors related to how student time is calculated in myLexia

This is the customer question:
 I just watched a child finish a session and log out with the red x. However, when I logged into my lexia, he still didn't have any minutes registered under his name. Does this mean if he wasn't logged out properly then the system needs to wait another 30 minutes and will then log his minutes? If his minutes never show up, what could be the problem? 

Lexia Customer Support response:
Thank you for contacting Lexia Learning.  Usage in myLexia is calculated based on students' time actively using the program and appears in myLexia once a student is logged out.  The minutes that appear in the teacher's myLexia usage reports can vary from the timer on the student's dashboard if they spend a few moments clicking the fun facts on the level dashboard or if they time out due to inactivity.  The server is pinged to track student activity whenever a student 1) completes a unit, 2) goes into guided practice, or 3) logs out of the system properly.  Even if they close the browser or the app, Lexia thinks they are still logged in.  If students don’t log out explicitly, the system waits for 30 minutes of inactivity to time them out and consider them logged out.  Minutes are calculated as login to logout - when students time out, their idle minutes are subtracted from the total time.  To see student usage reported more accurately, please encourage your students to log out explicitly (i.e., with the red X until they get to the dashboard; then they can click on the big white X).  You can also recommend that they remain working on a specific activity until they are able to complete a unit.

Core5's Relationship with Orton Gillingham

Here is the way that we usually discuss Core5's relationship with Orton Gillingham: 

Core5 rests on the pedagogy and principles of Orton-Gillingham. The Scope and Sequence provides a systematic and structured approach in all areas of reading including phonological awareness, phonics and structural analysis. While working in Core5, students are placed automatically at the proper level based on their performance and work on developing their fundamental reading skills in targeted activities based on individual needs. Some words often associated with OG include: structured, systematic, explicit, multi-sensory, individualized. Lexia provides explicit, systematic, and scaffolded instruction for students as they struggle and advances them to higher levels as they demonstrate proficiency.

RAPID administration - things I am learning

These administration suggestion were made by teachers:

• allowing teachers to reset only one section if they felt that a student hadn't done their best, 
• increasing the font size, and 
• including guidance that older students may need more than one session for the
  reading comprehension passages.  

Some technical issues that have been reported:

I wanted to let you know that today, while we were administering RAPID to a group of 5th graders, the screen locked up for 3 kids at the same time on the same question. It was a drop down menu. After refreshing the screen, logging out and logging back in, it still would not allow the student to advance to the next question. Any suggestions? 

A possible cause as per Lexia technical support has to do with whitelisting.  Here's a complete whitelisting document.  We've had reports of programs freezing halfway through if some of the content is not fully whitelisted.

NOTE: this is still being investigated as the client does not think this is the issue (9/30/2017)

Another question:

In the first grade, the teachers were wondering about the following results as indicated by the screenshot.  In particular, the student only got 2 questions right and the Lexile level seems to indicate above grade level.  

In addition, she said that per the administration instructions, she gave--pronounced--the words that the student stumbled on and could not be read independently.  The teacher wondered if this would skew this student's results.  

Answers to more administrative questions that were raised:

• We were unsure about the different font sizes for different passages.
  The reading passages for different students (3rd graders) were in different font sizes. Some of our low readers had passages that were in a very small font. It was extra challenging for them. We didn't want to interrupt them while they were taking the test to see if we could adjust it in any way.
  I checked with the RAPID assessment team and the RAPID program.  They said the difference in font size would not be a based on the functionality of RAPID.  They thought it could have something to do with the browser settings and suggested that you may want to zoom in or out using the browser settings.
• Can kids adjust We wanted to know if we could divide the test into sections? If so, do we just X out? Many of our lower Grade 3 readers could not remain focused throughout the entire test. It would be great to be able to do the entire reading comprehension part on a different day, when students are fresh. Is this permitted?
  Response from the Lexia RAPID Assessment team. It sounds like they're asking about spacing out the administration of the tasks. This is definitely okay! Students can complete the Reading Comprehension task on a different day, as long as it's within 30 days of their "first click" (when they first started the test). The order of the tasks cannot be changed, but how spaced out they are administered is up to the teacher.
• If kids do not perform as expected because they were having a bad day, or feel sick, can we retest? Response from the RAPID Assessment Team.  If a student performs worse than expected, we recommend that they re-administer the test in 8 weeks. This allows educators to collect another data point, as opposed to deleting data and potentially getting the same results. In general, a score should only be reset if there are concerns around validity: a student logging in under another name; technology issues getting in the way of testing; etc.

Ways to utilize Lexia Core5 n a Montessori Environment

Below are insights from Lexia facilitators who have worked with Montessori schools.

- Random rotation: Having Core5 as an available center for students to choose supports the philosophy that students should be in charge of their own learning. This is also supported by the way in which students can pick what they work on within Core5.

- Skill Builders: While some Montessori teachers will bristle at what they perceive to be "worksheet" work, it is useful to highlight the fine motor skill development that our Skill Builders offer younger students (cutting, pasting, etc.). This occurs while they are working on vital reading skills.

- Blank Flash Cards: Students can use our resources to create their own flashcards for vocabulary, sight words, etc.

- Accentuate diagnostic reporting over Performance Predictors: In the Montessori model, it may be less important that students meet a particular grade level benchmark. What myLexia's reports can offer is a very clear picture of where the individual student is skill-wise, and what they individually need for support. The program cares about where the student IS instead of where one assumes they should be - and we work in a personalized way from that starting point.

- Mixed-grade classes: The automatic differentiation that occurs within Core5 is something that can work quite well if you've got varying levels of mastery, and grade levels in one classroom.

An approach for kinesthetic/SPED learners

Bonnie Burns shared this idea that emerged during one of her training events.

A special ed teacher had a clever idea. He has some of his students do Lexia on a Promethean Board and the student is able to move and be physically active as he works with Lexia. The teacher said students who struggle with sitting enjoy this active method of working with Lexia.

Core5 Student Information Apple Features

I sent this message to Lexia Customer Support on 8/9/2017

In today's training with the International School of Kuala Lumpur, I discovered we had the ability to change the reading direction language in the student program in the demo mode. Does this feature exist for the student? Can they change the reading direction language themselves?

I told the staff at International School of Kuala Lumpur that would pass along their interest in  having Korean added as a reading language option. 

I received this response.

Thank you for contacting Lexia Support.  The student does have the ability to change the Reading Direction Language when they are logged into their Core5 account.  They would have to click on the apple icon on the bottom left, then choose the gear icon on the bottom right of the window that appears.  They would then click "Student Information" and it would give them the option to change the language, although Korean is not currently an option.  There is also a language setting that can be adjusted for each student by a Lexia administrator from within their myLexia account!

Social Emotional Elements of Lexia Core5

On 8/1.2017 I sent this message to customer support.
I was working with Bricolage Academy yesterday and they asked me if we had any documentation related to introducing Lexia to students that also talked about the social emotional aspect of supporting fellow students versus competing. I said I would ask.

I received this response.

Hi Jessie & Beth,

Our motivation and growth mindset white papers may be a good references points to pull examples from:  https://www.lexialearning.com/resources/white-papers/importance-intrinsic-student-motivation-when-selecting-educational  & https://www.lexialearning.com/resources/white-papers/cultivating-growth-mindset-educational-technology

We don't have anything else formally written, however, Kate Ronstadt and I presented at an international motivation conference where we stressed the social-emotional aspect of Core5's development of relatedness through collaboration.

In practice, we find being on different levels more often fosters conversations about the places in the world where the students are working, rather than competition about the rank of the level.  Students frequently share with each other the features of their level and learn from other students what they have to look forward to in future (or past) levels.  For example, as I saw first hand, in a school that faces a beach, it is more likely to hear a student in second grade want to "do the beach level (level 2)" rather than make a competitive comment to another student who is working on the beach (i.e., kindergarten skills).  Students also share with each other which "fun facts" they learned about the animals or places in their current level.  Teachers can help support these conversations by celebrating the different locations students in the class "visit" in Core5.  

Another important aspect of fostering collaboration instead of competition is to take the time to celebrate as a whole class when a student passes a level - regardless of what level it is.  Praising students for their hard work and perseverance through a tricky skill, rather than the numerical level or their ranking in the class, also helps support collaboration, and growth mindset. There are many different ways classes have chosen to celebrate success that don't involve rank order of the levels.  For example, we've seen classrooms add neurons to a brain, leaves to a tree, monkeys to a tree, fish in a sea, etc. for each level completed, as classroom or school-wide displays of success.  Creating an visual representation of the levels completed together as a class or school reinforces the idea of working together rather than competing - everyone wants another fish or monkey added to the display!  

I hope these examples help -- I'm also happy to talk through additional examples, if needed!

Thanks,

Elizabeth (Kazakoff)

For conference reference:

Kazakoff, E.R., & Ronstadt, K. (2016, June).  Applying SDT in the Design of Literacy Software for Children.  Presentation at The 6th International Conference on Self-Determination Theory.  Victoria, B.C., Canada.

Motivation ideas

One teacher shared how she used the Achievement Charts. She said the students are really motivated when they can fill in the segments. At the end of the week this teachers takes this activity a little further by asking the students to set a goal for the number of units they want to complete the next week. This is such a cool idea.

One teachers let's the students pick a class reward when everyone in the class has leveled up.  She find that the student begin to motivate each other.  She uses a bulletin board to track their progress.

Lexia stickers can be used for a variety of activities. Many teachers have sticker charts in the rooms.  Lexia stickers could be given:

• When a student is halfway through a level
• When they Level Up
• After they complete their Skill Builders

How do you know when the auto placement activity is complete?

when the student has finished auto placement they will see a "Good Job!" message on the screen and then be logged out. If they have never used the program before, the teacher can let students know that when they see the login screen again that they are done and can stop.

What next after completing Core5

• Utilize the Skill Builders if she has not done so already 
• Utilize the Comprehension Lessons.
•  It's a heavy lift for the teacher sometime, but this student could be used to sit with others and support them to listen to the directions again...  NOT do the work or give the answers.  A Lexia Ambassador.  Like I said, it would require some work on the part of the teacher.
• Read
• Idea from Korrie. She was working with a client who wanted the students to still be on the computer after they finished Lexia.
   I talked to the school and we came up with some ideas but they really want them on the computer. I suggested using the fun facts from each level and letting the kids research what they heard from the fun fact and then write and present their information. 

How do I tell if my student was placed at the wrong level?

Q: How do I tell if my student was placed at the wrong level? 

A: One way to assess how appropriately a student has been placed is to let them work in the program for two or three weeks. The student’s Student Skills Report will show her "Accuracy" and "Rate" for the five activities in the level. If the student demonstrates “High” accuracy and a “Fast”rate for all five activities, it indicates that the student may have been placed at too low of a level. In contrast, if all five activities show accuracy and rate of "Low" and "Slow," respectively, it indicates the student was placed too high (this scenario might can occur if they get help from a well-meaning teacher or parent during the Auto Placement). In either one of these cases it would be appropriate to reset the student and have them take the Auto Placement again or manually place them into a higher/lower level. However, all prior work will be lost when a student is reset.

Another recommendation would be to try the Skill Builders with the students before making any changes. Do stress that they will need to save any current reports before re-Auto Placing the students because they will be deleted.

 short video in response to a customers question regarding placement

Instructional Support Materials Training ideas

Start with asking for some things that are going well with Lexia then ask for questions.

NOTE: this tends to be more of an advanced Data Coaching session.

Take the opportunity to review. Use Kahoot or Quizlet

Maybe first review how to access the various resources and what they are.

Have the teachers pair up and practice 

Using their data to pull the resources for small group.

Also, you can have them create folders for individual students with Skill Builders for the independent seat work center in their rotation model.

 Alexis in the Ed Team and she is working with a webinar version of this training however, I don't know about the timing of this.

Look at their data, use the Skills Report to pull a small group and then pull resources from Lexia Lessons, Connections and Instructional.Support materials to support the lessons.  

Scavenger hunt to find resources on various topics such as:

Teacher’s Manual

Reports Guide

Supplemental Comprehension Lessons

Letter Tiles

Keyword-Picture Cards

Achievement Certificates

Training on Demand Videos

Performance Perdictors

I was asked a question about performance predictors and how they work when schools are not in session for a few weeks.  Is the student penalized in these cases?

Performance Predictors are dependent on use and progress in the program, so
any time students take a break, both their usage and progress is affected. By focusing in on student usage and lessons for the whole month of January (or any month after an extended break) you'll likely see a substantial bump on February first. Our recommendation is that, for any evaluative purposes, the February first Predictor should be used as the middle-of-year progress measure.

Best Practices - Data Coaching

This document was shared after the Winter 2017 Sales Conference.

If/when you encounter a saboteur…

Suggestions for helping teachers fit it all in…

How schools are celebrating student achievement

Insights on facilitating Strategies training

Use the myLexia district demo site.  Unfortunately the demo data is not complete in all areas.

Connect users with Core5 resources as well as Strategy resources.

Talk about the how the auto placement works.

I would say that the Strategies Auto Placement starts with short vowels.  If students are successful, it moves to short vowels sounds in nonsense words, which can throw students, even good readers.  Students should be prepped for the placement by telling them it is going to start really low, but just keep answering all the questions you can correctly because the system is trying to determine where to get you started.  If you don't take it seriously, you will place at the very beginning and be expected to completed lots of activities that may be well below where you are capable of working.  I would also warn them about the nonsense words.  If they know their short vowel sounds, this should not be a problem for them, but a warning if fair.

Suzy added.  I think a key to getting buy-in is to spend time on motivational techniques.  They really, really need this. These kids have already experienced tons of failure and know it’s low level stuff they should know. Tough dynamic! 

Below is information related to the development of a new adolescent reading program

1/30/2017

If a current Strategies customer asks about replacement of Strategies, this is the official language from our marketing department to use:

"At Lexia, we are always working to improve our instruction, assessment, and service offerings and reach additional learner populations with targeted literacy solutions. We are currently developing an instructional product for the secondary market but have not announced a release date. Upon release of this new product, we will gradually phase out Strategies. We will share more details as they become available."

If you receive questions from customers who have not purchased Strategies, the statement is abbreviated to:

"At Lexia, we are always working to improve our instruction, assessment, and service offerings and reach additional learner populations with targeted literacy solutions. We are currently developing an instructional product for the secondary market but have not announced a release date. We will share more details as they become available."