Although rigorous curriculum standards have been established to help students in grades 6–12 develop the literacy skills needed to be successful in college and careers, as many as 66% of eighth-grade students lack these critical skills. These students often have different instructional needs, making it challenging for educators to deliver equitable, effective instruction. To address this large population of struggling and non-proficient adolescent readers, Lexia Learning created Lexia® PowerUp Literacy® (PowerUp).
PowerUp is designed to enhance core English language arts (ELA) instruction for struggling and non-proficient readers in grades 6–12. Research has shown that PowerUp is up to five times as effective as the average middle school reading intervention. By blending online student-driven instruction with offline teacher-delivered lessons and activities, the program accelerates the development of both fundamental literacy skills and higher-order thinking skills through adaptive learning paths.
Formats/platforms used:
PowerUp is available to students via computer, laptop, iPad or Chromebook. Teachers can monitor students’ progress through the myLexia® educator dashboard, which is available via web or the myLexia App for Educators, which is available for iOS devices and Apple Watch.
Primary website’s URL?
https://www.lexialearning.com/products/powerup
Problem solved:
PowerUp is designed to enhance core English language arts instruction for struggling and non-proficient readers in grades 6–12. By blending online student-driven instruction with offline teacher-delivered lessons and activities, the program accelerates the development of both fundamental literacy skills and higher-order thinking skills through adaptive learning paths.
The program addresses the instructional needs of a wide range of students, from readers who are several grade levels behind to nearly proficient readers, by identifying skill gaps and providing personalized, systematic instruction in three areas that are critical for literacy success: word study, grammar, and comprehension. Engaging texts, instructional videos and game-based motivational elements help students take ownership of their learning, acknowledging their growing autonomy and building their confidence. Additionally, embedded progress monitoring, actionable data, and scripted lessons empower teachers to deliver the exact instruction each student needs.
Age/Grade range:
PowerUp helps struggling adolescent students in grades six–12.
Core or supplemental?
PowerUp Literacy is a program designed to be a supplemental ELA tool, enhancing core instruction for struggling and non-proficient readers. In a US National Progress Report – looking at 197,000 students across 3,323 schools who used PowerUp for the 2018-19 school year – PowerUp had significant results in improving the literacy skills of students. Students who used PowerUp with minimum fidelity made substantial advances towards grade-level content. Across the year, most of these students (89%) moved up at least two zones – bands of activities covering approximately three grade levels of skills each – and almost two-thirds (63%) moved up one zone or more in all three areas of literacy instruction.
In a randomized control trial, all sub-populations benefited equally from PowerUp. Black/African American and White/Caucasian students achieved similar gains, as did general and special education students.
Professional development is included in Lexia’s Success Partnerships, including virtual and onsite training options.
Subject:
PowerUp supports English language arts instruction to bridge gaps and help students meet college and career readiness standards.
Lesson time needed:
85-145 minutes per week.
Pricing model:
Licensing follows an annual subscription model. Options include per-student or unlimited school-wide with bundled Lexia Learning Success Partnerships.
Additional services needed:
A free, built-in administration of Lexia's RAPID Assessment provides high-quality data on student ability in the skills most predictive of reading success. RAPID is a research-based, computer-adaptive reading and language assessment that allows educators to gather predictive, norm-referenced data with immediate scoring and reports. RAPID measures students’ foundational skills in the key reading and language domains of word study, grammar and comprehension, as well as important higher-level skills such as understanding and application of knowledge.
Lexia’s Success Partnerships are customizable, year-long implementation and training plans that provide professional support at the school and/or district levels. Plan options include virtual or onsite professional learning sessions, on-demand training resources, Getting Started and Science of Reading courses via Lexia Academy, planning and metric review sessions and a dedicated Customer Success Manager.
What makes PowerUp unique?
PowerUp Literacy has an expansive scope and sequence tailored to adolescent student needs by teaching skills with an appreciation for student time and maturity. The program offers exceptional personalization and acceleration, with 120 unique placement profiles to differentiate learning and address the diverse needs of struggling readers and adaptive instruction to enable students to progress at their own pace.
PowerUp provides unparalleled, high-quality data on student ability, giving teachers an insight into student skills most predictive of reading success and making it possible to tailor instruction to every student’s current ability and needs.
Characteristics:
Lexia PowerUp is engaging and motivating for adolescent students, with over 100 high-interest, authentic and original texts to engage students of all abilities in multiple genres. Game-based motivational elements like streaks and timed skill games help to encourage attention and stamina, while social components like opinion polls empower students to build a sense of community.
