Longtime collaborators make 125 non-fiction titles accessible for early readers by providing measures of text complexity on the same scale as reading ability.
DURHAM, NC & NEW YORK, NY – March 7, 2023 – In a shared mission to combat the historically low reading comprehension scores among grade school students, MetaMetrics, Inc. and DK Learning are adding Lexile® measures to the DK Super Readers series, an evolution of DK’s popular DK Readers series, which has sold over 600,000 copies worldwide. Lexile measures provide a common scale for teachers and parents to match readers with appropriately challenging books that inspire a love of reading, and in this case, a thirst for knowledge about a range of topics from dinosaurs to natural wonders.
The DK Super Readers series of 125 books that will be released with Lexile measures between now and October 2023, leverages unique benefits of nonfiction reading including students becoming more knowledgeable as well as improving cognitive knowledge acquisition, concentration, information gathering, critical thinking and study skills. DK Super Readers progress in difficulty from Pre-Level with a corresponding Lexile range of BR40L – 300L (BR stands for “beginning reader”) to Level 4 with a corresponding Lexile range of 800L – 1010L.
“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to expand our partnership with DK Learning to measure the Super Readers series, which increases the number of high-quality nonfiction titles in our free Find a Book tool for parents and teachers,” said Malbert Smith, co-founder and CEO of MetaMetrics, Inc. “Now, when searching for books by interest, a whole new set of topics will be available. A critical component of learning to love reading is finding books that are really interesting, which is so unique to each student.”
DK Super Readers covers engaging, curriculum-aligned topics that supplement core literacy programs. The series gradually introduces features for reading and using nonfiction books for research, such as illustrated contents pages, glossaries, indexes, labeled diagrams and illustrations, fact call-outs and information panels have been carefully considered by experts in this field. Some of the engaging titles to be released this spring include Shark Attack! and Secrets of the Mummies.
“Super Readers books are carefully developed using the MetaMetrics Lexile Framework for Reading to ensure that content is the right level for readers between the ages of 3-11, who are all at different stages of their literacy journey,” said Hilary Fine, Education Development Director at DK. “By writing content that is interesting, factual, and at the right level to challenge readers, we can boost reading skills in a very natural and effective way.”
Since 1999, DK Learning and MetaMetrics, Inc. have measured nearly 800 books in series such as: DK Eyewitness, DKfindout!, DK Life Stories, DK Readers, and most recently, DK Super Readers. The newest series will be released in batches from March to October. For more information about how DK Super Readers leverages the Lexile Framework for Reading, visit the DK Super Readers website that includes resources for parents and teachers.
About DK
DK | For the curious
We believe in the power of discovery. That’s why we create books for everyone that explore ideas and nurture curiosity about the world we live in. From first words to the Big Bang, from the wonders of nature to city adventures, you will find expert knowledge, hours of fun, and endless inspiration in the pages of our books.
For more information about DK, visit DK.com. DK is a division of Penguin Random House.
About MetaMetrics
MetaMetrics is an award-winning education technology organization that offers the only scientifically valid, universal scales for measuring silent and oral reading and listening (Lexile) and math (Quantile) with plans to develop measures for writing. The Lexile and Quantile Frameworks measure student ability and the complexity of the content they encounter. Lexile and Quantile measures and related technologies link assessment to instruction and provide next steps for students of all ages and abilities. The measures also provide valuable insights about students’ potential for growth. MetaMetrics’ measures, products and services are licensed to dozens of education product companies to help achieve that growth. For 35 years, MetaMetrics’ work has been increasingly recognized for its research-based approach to improving learning. For more information, visit MetaMetricsInc.com.