Measuring Readability / Reading Level

Microsoft Word includes readability statistics as part of its spell-checking capability.

To access this tool in Microsoft Word:

1. Highlight the text you're

interested in measuring.

2. Click "Tools."

3. Click "Spelling and Grammar.

4. The readability scores will

appear after the spell check.

How can this improve reading/writing in the classroom?

For low level reading students, use complete sentences to decrease reading level. Phrase require a higher reading level.

Level the work to first get engagement, then increase level with images and graphics. Comprehension will follow.

Have the students place the reading level on the bottom right/left corner of their papers. Soon they will learn how easily they can change the reading level by altering the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level.

This is very useful for business letters or forms where you may want or not want the passive voice. (Device for Proofreading)

RL 7.5UDL-Michele Lesmeister@RTC